Fuse Box to Consumer Unit Upgrades in London — 2026 Buyer's Guide
Old plastic fuse boards without RCD protection no longer meet the 18th Edition. Here is when — and why — to upgrade your consumer unit in London.
What is a consumer unit and why is yours so important?
Your consumer unit — sometimes still called the *fuse board* or *fuse box* — is the brain of the electrical installation. Every socket, light, appliance and EV charger connects back through it.
Its job is threefold:
- Distribute power to the final circuits
- Isolate circuits so faults do not spread
- Protect people from shocks and property from fires
An out-of-date board cannot do the third job properly, and that is why upgrades are the single most valuable safety improvement most London homes will ever make.
7 signs your London home needs a new consumer unit
- Your board still has rewireable fuses (old ceramic BS 3036 fuses)
- There is no RCD protection on socket or lighting circuits
- The board has a wooden back or metal front with no MCBs
- Fuses or breakers trip repeatedly and cannot be reset
- You can smell hot plastic or burning near the board
- You are installing an EV charger, electric shower or new kitchen
- The property is rented out and your EICR flagged a C2 or C3
If any of these apply, do not delay. Even a healthy-looking board can hide loose terminals, missing bonding or bypassed RCDs.
What does a modern consumer unit actually include?
Since Amendment 3 of the 18th Edition (BS 7671:2018+A2:2022) was published, all new domestic boards should be:
- Metal-clad to contain any internal fault arcs
- Fitted with RCBOs on every circuit (or dual-RCD as a minimum)
- Provided with Surge Protection Devices (SPDs) for sensitive electronics
- Fitted with AFDDs on selected higher-risk circuits (recommended)
We favour full-RCBO boards from Hager, MK Sentry, Wylex NM and Fusebox — they give every circuit its own dedicated RCD, so a single fault cannot black out the entire home.
How much does a consumer unit cost in London?
Typical fully-fitted, certified prices for 2026:
- 6-way dual-RCD board: £450 – £600
- 10-way dual-RCD board: £550 – £750
- 10-way full RCBO board (recommended): £700 – £950
- Rewire pigtails, new bonding, main earth upgrade: £150 – £350 extra
Prices vary based on access, existing bonding, meter position and whether a DNO isolation is required. We provide a fixed itemised quote after a free 30-minute site visit.
Notification, testing and certificates
Consumer unit replacement is notifiable work under Part P of the Building Regulations. Because we are NICEIC registered, we self-notify and issue:
- The Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC) for the new board
- A Schedule of Test Results for every circuit
- Building control notification to your local authority
- A BS 7671 compliance certificate for the whole installation
Keep these safe — you will need them for insurance, selling or renting the property.
Book your consumer unit upgrade
A modern board takes 6 – 8 hours in an average London flat, and you will have full power back the same day. Request a free quote or call 0203 503 1240 to book a free survey.
Upgrade your fuse box safely
Free quotes on Hager, MK, Wylex and Fusebox consumer units — installed, tested and certified by our NICEIC team.
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