Consumer Units

Consumer Unit Replacement Cost 2026: Full Price Guide

Published by AFTA Electrical · May 2026 · Consumer Units

Consumer unit replacement costs between £595 and £895 for most homes, depending on the board size, brand, and any remedial work identified during the job. That price covers supply and fit of a new RCBO consumer unit, an Electrical Installation Certificate, and NAPIT building regulations notification.

Consumer Unit Prices by Type (2026)

BoardTypeBest ForInstalled Price
British General FortressRCBO (entry)Standard homes up to 12 circuitsFrom £595
FuseBox F100RCBO (standard)Homes up to 16 circuitsFrom £695
Hager VMLRCBO (premium)Large homes, commercialFrom £795

All prices include: supply and installation of new board, all circuit testing, EIC, and NAPIT Part P notification. Does not include remedial work on circuits found defective during testing.

Why RCBO Boards and Not RCD Boards?

An older split-load board uses two RCDs to protect groups of circuits. If one RCD trips, half your house loses power. An RCBO board gives every circuit its own individual RCBO — if a circuit trips, only that circuit loses power. Everything else stays on.

RCBO boards cost slightly more but are significantly safer and less disruptive. We only install RCBO boards as standard. Any installer still fitting split-load RCD boards in 2026 is behind the curve.

When Do You Need a Consumer Unit Replacement?

What Happens on the Day

The supply is isolated, the old board is removed, the new board is fitted and all circuits reconnected and tested individually. A full EIC is issued and the work is notified to your local authority via NAPIT. The job typically takes 4–6 hours for a standard domestic board.

NAPIT notification is not optional. Consumer unit replacement is notifiable work under Part P of the Building Regulations. It must be notified by the installer or via a building notice. An unnotified consumer unit replacement can cause issues when selling your property and may invalidate your building insurance.

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AFTA Electrical covers Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, and Hertfordshire. NAPIT & TrustMark registered.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Most homes pay £595–£895 for a new RCBO consumer unit fully installed including the Electrical Installation Certificate and NAPIT Part P building regulations notification.

A standard domestic board replacement takes 4–6 hours. The supply is isolated for most of that time, so plan for a half to full day without power.

An RCBO board gives every circuit its own individual protection device. If one circuit trips, only that circuit loses power — not half the house. It's the current best practice and what all reputable electricians now specify.

Yes. Consumer unit replacement is notifiable under Part P of the Building Regulations. Your electrician must be NAPIT or NICEIC registered to self-certify the work. Always ask for your NAPIT completion certificate.

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