Homeowner guide
Essential electrical safety for your home
A practical checklist every UK homeowner should follow — from testing an RCD and booking an EICR, to avoiding socket overloads, choosing a registered electrician and staying safe when doing DIY.
Safety first
The guidance below is for general awareness. It is not a substitute for proper electrical training. If you are ever unsure, smell burning, see scorch marks, or a protective device will not reset, stop and contact a qualified, registered electrician.
Essential safety rules & maintenance
Small habits and regular checks make a big difference. These three rules cover the maintenance every household should carry out or arrange.
Test your RCD every 3 months
Press the test ('T') button on each RCD or RCBO in your consumer unit every three months. It should trip instantly. If it sticks, fails to trip, or will not reset, stop using the protected circuits and call a registered electrician — the device may no longer protect you from shock or fire.
Book an EICR periodically
A fixed electrical installation should be inspected and tested at least every 10 years for owner-occupied homes, every 5 years for rented homes, and before buying or selling a property. The report flags hidden dangers such as deteriorating cables, loose terminations and inadequate earthing.
Avoid socket overloading
A standard 13 A socket outlet can safely supply about 3 kW in total. Do not plug multiple high-draw appliances such as heaters, irons and kettles into the same adaptor or extension lead, and never daisy-chain one extension lead into another. Overloading is a common cause of overheating and fire.
Hiring an electrician
How to choose a registered electrician
Not every person advertising as an electrician is registered or insured. Follow these three steps to make sure the work is legal, safe and properly certificated.
Check scheme membership
Always use an electrician registered with a government-authorised Competent Person Scheme such as NAPIT, NICEIC or STROMA. Registration means their work is assessed, they carry appropriate insurance, and notifiable work can be self-certified.
Verify on the official register
Ask for the contractor's scheme membership number and check it on the Electrical Competent Person Register. This is the quickest way to confirm the person working in your home is genuinely registered and not just claiming to be.
Ask for the compliance certificate
For notifiable work in England and Wales, your registered electrician must notify the local building control and issue a Building Regulations Compliance Certificate. Keep this document safe — you will need it when you sell or remortgage the property.
Check the official register
The government-endorsed Competent Person register lets you search by company name, postcode or scheme membership number.
DIY & cable zones
If you are doing minor, like-for-like work yourself, always treat walls as if they contain live cables until proven otherwise.
- •Cables in walls usually run horizontally or vertically from a socket or switch, or within 150 mm of a corner or ceiling. These are the 'safe zones' defined in BS 7671.
- •Poor historic DIY or later alterations may mean cables run outside these zones, so never assume a wall is clear.
- •Before drilling, cutting or chasing into any wall, use a reliable cable detector or approved voltage indicator to check for hidden live conductors.
- •If you are unsure, stop. Hitting a live cable can be fatal or cause a fire. A quick check by a professional is far cheaper than an accident.
Quick safety reminders
- ✓Never ignore a fishy or urine-like smell — it can be overheating plastic.
- ✓Do not keep resetting a tripped MCB, RCD, RCBO or AFDD without finding the cause.
- ✓Unplug appliances by the plug, not by pulling the cable.
- ✓Keep liquids away from sockets, switches and extension leads.
- ✓Do not cover cables or extension leads under carpets or rugs.
- ✓Only use outdoor equipment on an RCD-protected supply.
Need advice or a safety check?
Paul is NAPIT registered and qualified to 18th Edition standards. Whether you need an EICR, a fault investigated, or just peace of mind, All Cabling© Limited covers Brighton, Hove, Sussex, Kent and London.