Check who can authorise the work. A landlord, utility, council or emergency service may be the right first contact. This enquiry form is not an emergency dispatch service. Local reporting contacts are below; this enquiry service does not provide emergency dispatch.
Is replacement actually needed?
Quick answer
The age or appearance of a consumer unit does not alone establish the condition of the installation. Explain the reason for considering replacement: damage, an inspection recommendation, additional circuits or a wider refurbishment. An electrician should assess the existing arrangement and propose a suitable solution. Changing the unit is not the same as rewiring every circuit, and a new enclosure does not repair all defects elsewhere. Ask which findings support the recommendation before comparing products or assuming the most expensive board is the right answer.
Protection and a suitable specification
The proposed protective devices and circuit arrangement should suit the actual installation and intended use. Ask the electrician to explain the design in plain language, including how faults and future maintenance will be handled. Device names on an advert are not a substitute for an assessment. Do not open the unit, select replacement breakers yourself or ask for protection to be bypassed to stop a trip. New loads, outbuildings and specialist equipment may alter the scope, so include them in the discussion before a quote is finalised.
Existing circuits need checking
Ask how the electrician assesses the existing circuits before replacement and deals with defects revealed by testing. A consumer-unit price should distinguish the unit change from remedial work elsewhere. Some findings may require correction before a circuit can safely be reconnected. Agree the approval process and what happens if an unexpected issue prevents completion. An EICR can inform planning where appropriate, but the business should explain the investigation needed for this job. Do not assume all circuits are covered by a promise simply to fit a new board.
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Replacement scope, records and retained fabric
Ask the electrician which existing circuits will be inspected, what may need additional work and which completion records or notification apply to the proposal. Replacing the enclosure is not proof that all the wiring is suitable; agree what the quote includes and how further findings will be authorised.
For an Ipswich listed property, discuss any change to the unit’s location or routes through significant fabric with the relevant authority. Council tenants also need the landlord’s alteration permission. Keep the specification, circuit information and final documentation together for later maintenance, rather than rely on the appearance of the new board.
Sources: Listed buildings advice · Council tenant handbook May 2025
Preparing for the power interruption
Agree when power will be unavailable and how essential equipment, refrigeration, access systems or business operations are managed. Tell the electrician about medical or other critical equipment before choosing a date; safe arrangements need direct planning, not an assumption that the outage will be brief. Clear access to the unit without touching electrical parts. The proposed position, working space and any changes to surrounding cupboards should be agreed. In a rented or shared property, ensure the person authorising the work has also coordinated occupant access.
Consider access for future maintenance as well as the installation day. A unit placed behind stored items or within an unsuitable enclosure can be awkward to use and inspect. Ask the electrician to confirm a suitable proposed position and any related building work. Moving it is a separate scope from changing the equipment in its present location.
A quote that exposes the full scope
Ask whether the quote includes…
Request the unit specification, existing-circuit checks, circuit schedule, remedial allowance, testing, documentation and VAT. Clarify any supplier or network coordination, altered meter tails, access and making good. These should be defined where relevant rather than automatically assumed included. If the quote contains an allowance, ask how it will be used and approved. Compare a complete scoped proposal with another complete proposal, not a bare hardware price with an installation total.
- Existing-circuit checks and separately approved remedial work.
- Testing, labels, certification and any required notification.
- Supply coordination, access, making good and VAT.
| Part of the job | Clarify in writing |
|---|---|
| Unit replacement | Equipment, circuit arrangement and installation scope. |
| Existing circuits | Checks, defects and separate remedy approval. |
| Completion records | Testing, certification and required notification. |
| Surrounding work | Access, enclosures, making good and exclusions. |
Handover and later changes
Ask for a readable circuit schedule and an explanation of normal user controls, without treating that handover as training to work inside the unit. Keep the relevant certificates and any unresolved recommendations. If a circuit was left disconnected, record why and what is required before reuse. Future additions should be assessed against the installation rather than simply placed on a spare way. For an enquiry, include the reason for replacement, postcode, existing report if available and planned changes, avoiding unnecessary private documents through the general form.
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