I need an electrician. What should I know before I hire one?
Anyone who does electrical work, other than the homeowner, needs to be registered with the Electrical Workers Registration Board (EWRB) and hold a practising licence. You can look for a registered electrical worker on the EWRB website.
You should always ask to see their practising licence before hiring an electrician. You should also make sure that your electrician gives you a certificate of compliance after completing any fixed wiring work, and keep it in a safe place.
If you need to complain about any electrical work done on your property you can contact the EWRB at 0800 66 10 00.
Can I do the electrical work on my own house?
The law says you can do some electrical work on the house that you own and live in, but you have to follow the right standards and any electrical wiring work you do needs to be checked by a licenced electrical inspector.
You can do repairs on appliances, but only if they are owned and used by you or a close relative - and you can’t accept any payment or reward for the work you do. Make sure you have the skills and knowledge to do the job safely and legally.
Before you start, read the Energy Safety information on doing your own electrical work.