Industry News & Updates
The latest electrical regulation changes, government announcements and industry trends — relevant to homeowners, landlords and businesses across Kent.
EICR Now a Legal Requirement for Social Housing Landlords
New regulations that extended mandatory five-yearly electrical inspections to social housing providers came into force in May 2026 — with a compliance deadline of November 2026.
BS 7671 Amendment 4 (2026) Is Here — What It Means for Your Home and Business
The biggest update to the UK Wiring Regulations since the 18th Edition — new rules for home battery storage, and stricter EICR inspector qualifications — became the only recognised standard from 15 October 2026.
Home EV Charger Grants Just Went Up 40% — Now £500 Per Socket
The government increased home EV chargepoint grants to £500 per socket and extended the scheme to April 2027 — now open to renters, flat owners and homes without a driveway too.
Smart Homes Are Growing Fast — and Qualified Electricians Are in Short Supply
The UK smart home market is valued at over £5.3bn and growing at ~15% annually. Government data classifies electrical trades as "critical demand" in 2025 and into 2026.
Planning Permission for Home EV Chargers Scrapped in England
The UK government confirmed in May 2025 that most home EV charger installations no longer need planning permission — confirmed on 29 May 2025 by the Department for Transport.
Consumer Unit Upgrades: What the 2024/25 Wiring Regulations Changes Mean
BS 7671 Amendment 3, implemented throughout 2024–25, now requires Surge Protection Devices in more installations and tightens RCD requirements on fuse board replacements.
How Much Does an EICR Cost in Kent? What to Expect in 2026
EICR prices vary by property size, age and location. Here's a plain-English breakdown of what affects the cost, what's included, and what happens if remedial work is needed.
How Long Does a Full House Rewire Take? A Realistic Guide
Timescales, disruption, what's involved day-to-day — and the signs that your home might be overdue for a rewire. Everything homeowners ask before booking.
Garden Room Electrics: What You Actually Need and How It Works
Power, lighting, heating, data — what electrical work is required for a garden room or home office, what's notifiable, and why you can't just run an extension lead.
7 Signs Your Consumer Unit Needs Replacing
Tripping breakers, burning smells, no RCDs — the warning signs homeowners miss and what they mean. Spotting them early can prevent a costly emergency call-out.
BS 7671 Amendment 4 (2026) Is Here — What It Means for Your Home and Business
On 15 April 2026, the IET and BSI officially published Amendment 4 (2026) to BS 7671:2018 — the IET Wiring Regulations that underpin all electrical installation work in the UK. It's the biggest single update since the 18th Edition itself, and from 15 October 2026 it becomes the only recognised standard for new electrical certificates.
What's actually new?
Amendment 4 introduces several substantial technical changes, the most relevant for homeowners and small businesses being:
- A brand new chapter on Stationary Secondary Batteries — the first dedicated rules for home battery storage, solar-plus-battery systems and vehicle-to-home (V2H) EV charging
- New Section 716 covering Power over Ethernet (PoE) — relevant to smart home and network installations that supply devices like cameras and access points over data cabling
- A major revision of Section 710 (Medical Locations) — mainly relevant to healthcare premises, not typical homes
- New guidance on functional earthing for ICT equipment — server rooms and data cabinets
Home battery storage — the big one for homeowners
If you're considering solar panels with battery storage, or a bidirectional EV charger that can power your home (V2H), this is the change that affects you most directly. Before Amendment 4, installers had no dedicated section of the Wiring Regulations covering battery storage design, protection and verification — they had to rely on general principles and manufacturer guidance. The new chapter sets out clear requirements for system design, battery location, ventilation and fire safety.
📘 Planning solar panels with battery storage, or a battery-ready EV charger? Any installation certified from 15 October 2026 onward must meet the new Amendment 4 battery storage requirements.
What happens to work done under the old standard?
Amendment 4 is usable immediately, but there's a six-month transition period: between 15 April and 15 October 2026, electricians can design, inspect and certify work against either the previous edition (BS 7671:2018+A2:2022+A3:2024) or the new Amendment 4. From 15 October 2026, every new Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC), Minor Electrical Installation Works Certificate (MEIWC) and Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) must reference Amendment 4 — the previous "Brown Book" edition is formally withdrawn.
Existing certificates already issued aren't invalidated — this only affects new work and new inspections going forward.
New EICR inspector qualification requirement
Alongside the technical changes, the qualification bar for who can carry out an EICR is being tightened. From 1 October 2026, the "experience-only" route into EICR inspection work is closing — every individual carrying out EICR work, whether employee, subcontractor or sole trader, must hold the Level 3 award in electrical inspection and testing. This builds on the trend we've already covered around EICR requirements extending to social housing — inspection standards are being tightened across the board in 2026.
Do I need to do anything as a homeowner?
If you already have a valid EICR or certificate, nothing changes for you. It matters if you're planning new electrical work in the second half of 2026 — an extension, EV charger, battery storage or rewire — since it's worth checking your installer is up to speed on Amendment 4 before work starts.
Amendment 4-compliant electrical work across Kent
All our certification is kept fully up to date with the latest BS 7671 amendment, including the new battery storage and EV charging requirements. Get in touch for a free quote.
Get a Quote →Home EV Charger Grants Just Went Up 40% — Now £500 Per Socket
In April 2026 the government increased the home EV chargepoint grant by over 40% — up to £500 per socket — and extended the scheme through to April 2027, while also widening who's eligible to apply.
How much is the grant now?
The grant is now worth up to £500 per socket, up from £350 previously. With a typical home installation costing £949–£1,099, the grant now covers roughly half the cost for eligible households.
Who can apply?
The expanded 2026 scheme covers:
- Renters and flat owners
- Households with on-street parking (subject to local authority permission)
- Businesses — up to 40 sockets per workplace, via the Workplace Charging Scheme
- Homes without a private driveway, garage or allocated parking space
- Anyone who hasn't already claimed a chargepoint grant
💷 Homeowners with a driveway lost access to the original EVHS homeowner grant back in 2022. This 2026 scheme is different — it's specifically aimed at renters, flat-owners and on-street parkers who've never had a grant option before.
How do you apply?
Renters, flat owners and on-street parking applicants apply through the government's home chargepoint grant portal. Businesses apply via the Workplace Charging Scheme. In both cases, your installer submits the claim after the work is done and the grant is deducted directly from your invoice — you don't pay it upfront and reclaim it later.
Still needs a qualified, Part P-registered electrician
The grant doesn't change the underlying electrical requirements. EV charger installation remains notifiable work under Part P of the Building Regulations, and every new home charger must be a "smart" charger under the Electric Vehicles (Smart Charge Points) Regulations — meaning it defaults to off-peak scheduling (no charging 08:00–11:00 or 16:00–22:00 on weekdays unless you override it) and meets set cybersecurity standards.
EV charger installations across Kent
We handle the Part P certification and DNO notification as part of every installation, and can talk you through which grant route applies to your situation — driveway, on-street or workplace.
Get a Free Quote →Planning Permission for Home EV Chargers Scrapped in England
The Department for Transport confirmed on 29 May 2025 that most residential EV charger installations in England are now classed as permitted development — meaning no planning application is required for the majority of homeowners.
What changed?
Changes to the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 now mean that installing an EV chargepoint on or within the curtilage of a dwelling house is permitted development, subject to certain size and placement conditions. This removes what was previously a barrier for many homeowners — especially those on visible driveways or with limited parking.
⚡ For the majority of homeowners in England, you can now have a home EV charger installed without any planning application — saving time, cost and paperwork.
Are there any exceptions?
Yes. Planning permission may still be required for:
- Properties in conservation areas, AONBs or National Parks
- Listed buildings
- Certain height and placement restrictions (consult your installer)
- Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland — where different planning rules apply
Smart charger requirement — still in force
Regardless of planning, all new home EV chargers installed in England must include smart functionality under the Electric Vehicles (Smart Charge Points) Regulations 2021. Smart chargers must be capable of remotely adjusting charging based on grid demand and must log energy consumption data.
Does the installation still need a qualified electrician?
Yes — removing the planning requirement does not remove the electrical safety requirement. EV charger installation is notifiable work under Building Regulations Part P and must be carried out by a Part P-registered electrician who can self-certify, or notified to building control. The distribution network operator (DNO) must also be notified of every new charger.
What about the OZEV grant?
The EV Chargepoint Grant remains available in 2026 for flat-dwelling homeowners and renters (up to £350 toward installation costs). The previous EVHS homeowner grant for houses closed in 2022 and has not been reinstated.
EV charger installation across Kent
We install home and commercial EV chargers across Sevenoaks, Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge and Kent. We handle all Part P certification and DNO notification as part of every installation.
Get a Free Quote →Consumer Unit Upgrades: What the 2024–25 Wiring Regulation Changes Mean for Homeowners
Amendment 3 to BS 7671 (the IET Wiring Regulations) brought significant changes to the requirements for consumer unit (fuse board) replacements and new circuits — including stronger rules on surge protection and RCD coverage that apply to all installations carried out in England, Scotland and Wales.
What is BS 7671 Amendment 3?
BS 7671 is the national standard for electrical wiring in the UK. Amendment 3, which became effective during 2024–25, updated several key requirements — particularly around consumer unit replacements, the addition of new circuits, and protection devices. All electrical work carried out by a registered electrician must comply with the current edition of BS 7671.
Key change 1: Surge Protection Devices (SPDs) now more widely required
SPDs protect connected equipment from voltage spikes caused by lightning or switching events on the network. Under the updated regulations, SPDs are now required in a greater number of scenarios — particularly where the loss of equipment would cause serious consequences (medical equipment, fire alarm systems, sensitive electronics). A formal risk assessment is required to document any decision to omit an SPD.
🔌 If you're replacing your consumer unit, your electrician will need to assess whether an SPD is required and document the reasoning either way.
Key change 2: RCD protection requirements tightened
RCDs (Residual Current Devices) protect against electric shock and fire caused by earth faults. The regulations now require additional protection by 30mA RCDs on a wider range of final circuits — particularly socket outlets, lighting circuits and outdoor supplies. A consumer unit replacement in 2025 or 2026 must meet these requirements for any circuits that are being added or altered.
When do I need to replace my consumer unit?
You're not legally required to replace a consumer unit simply because it predates the latest regulations — provided it passes an EICR. However, replacement is typically required when:
- An EICR records C1 or C2 observations on the board itself
- You are adding new circuits (e.g. EV charger, extension, garden room)
- There is visible damage, signs of overheating or insulation deterioration
- The board contains rewirable fuses rather than MCBs
Does replacing a consumer unit require Building Regulations notification?
Yes. Consumer unit replacement is notifiable work under Part P of the Building Regulations. It must be carried out by a Part P-registered electrician (who self-certifies), or pre-notified to your local building control office. You should receive an Electrical Installation Certificate and a Building Regulations Compliance Certificate on completion.
What does a consumer unit upgrade typically cost in 2026?
Industry figures for 2025 put the average cost at around £1,000, with a range of approximately £600–£1,800 depending on property size, number of circuits and whether any remedial work is required on existing wiring.
Consumer unit upgrades across Kent
We carry out Part P-compliant consumer unit upgrades across Sevenoaks, Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge and surrounding Kent areas. Every installation is fully certified.
Get a Quote →Smart Homes Are Growing Fast — and Qualified Electricians Are in Short Supply
The UK smart home market was valued at over £5.3 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach £7.8 billion by 2028 — growing at roughly 15% per year. At the same time, government labour market data classifies skilled electrical trades as being in "critical demand" through 2026 and beyond.
What's driving smart home growth in 2026?
Three converging forces are accelerating smart home adoption across the UK:
- EV charger mandates — millions of UK homes now need EV infrastructure
- Energy costs — smart thermostats, time-of-use tariffs and battery storage are being adopted to reduce bills
- Matter protocol adoption — the arrival of the universal smart home standard means most 2026 devices work across different ecosystems without complexity
What is the Matter protocol?
Matter is a connectivity standard supported by Apple, Google, Amazon and Samsung that allows smart home devices from different manufacturers to work together. By 2026, most new smart home devices — lighting, thermostats, locks, sensors — are Matter-certified by default, making it easier for homeowners to set up and expand their systems without being locked into a single brand.
🏠 In 2026, AI-driven home systems can coordinate lighting, climate, security and EV charging autonomously — optimising around energy tariffs and occupancy patterns.
AI-driven automation: what homes can do in 2026
Modern smart home installations go well beyond smart plugs and voice assistants. According to TechHousing's 2026 home technology report, AI systems now analyse usage patterns to optimise heating and cooling, integrate with solar panels or off-peak EV charging tariffs, and adjust lighting in real time to support sleep quality (so-called circadian lighting). These systems require proper electrical infrastructure — dedicated circuits, correctly specified cabling, and professional commissioning.
Why are electricians in short supply?
Government labour market analysis for 2025 classifies "skilled metal, electrical and electronic trades supervisors" as being in critical demand. The training pipeline has not kept pace with demand generated by:
- The EV charger rollout
- EICR compliance work for both private and social housing
- New-build electrical fitout
- Smart home retrofits
- Solar, battery storage and heat pump electrical work
According to Logic4Training, smart home installation is also becoming one of the highest-paying specialisms available to qualified electricians — commanding a premium over standard domestic work.
What smart home work can an electrician help with?
A qualified electrician can help with the electrical infrastructure behind any smart home upgrade — from dedicated circuits for smart panels and home batteries to commissioning EV chargers, installing smart lighting and ensuring everything is safely certified. The "smart" elements (apps, voice control, automation logic) sit on top of reliable electrical work.
Smart home electrical work across Kent
We install the electrical infrastructure for smart homes, EV chargers, garden rooms and extensions across Sevenoaks, Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge and Kent. Get in touch for a free quote.
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