Consumer Unit & Fuse Board Upgrade in Kent
NICEIC-approved consumer unit and fuse board upgrades for homes and landlords across Kent.
A consumer unit upgrade is the replacement of an old fuse board with a modern, RCD or RCBO protected consumer unit, bringing a property’s main electrical distribution point up to current safety standards. GW Property Maintenance Ltd, a NICEIC-approved electrical contractor based in West Malling, carries out consumer unit upgrades across Kent for homeowners dealing with an ageing fuse board and landlords needing to pass an EICR.
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Standards & equipment we use
Every consumer unit upgrade across Kent follows BS 7671 18th Edition wiring regulations, with the new unit fitted with individual RCBOs or grouped RCD protection depending on the property’s circuit layout. Circuits are tested using calibrated Megger multifunction testers, checking insulation resistance, earth loop impedance, and RCD trip times before the property is handed back. Consumer units are typically metal-clad, meeting current fire safety requirements for domestic installations. As a NICEIC Approved Contractor, all consumer unit upgrade work is self-certified under the Part P Building Regulations scheme, meaning no separate council building control sign-off is needed.
What does a consumer unit upgrade involve?
How a consumer unit upgrade is carried out
The electrician isolates the property's power supply, removes the old fuse board, and fits a new consumer unit sized to the number of circuits in the property. Each circuit is reconnected and protected by its own RCBO, or grouped under RCDs, rather than relying on a single, ageing fuse that offers little protection against electric shock or fire. Once wired, every circuit is tested before the power is restored and the property is signed back over.
Why does an old fuse board need upgrading?
Many properties across Kent, particularly older homes in and around Maidstone, Tonbridge, and the villages near West Malling, still have a fuse board with rewireable fuses or a wooden back panel, both of which offer far less protection than a modern consumer unit. Without RCD or RCBO protection, a fault is far more likely to cause a fire or an electric shock rather than simply cutting power to that circuit. For landlords, an outdated fuse board is one of the most common reasons a property fails its EICR, making a consumer unit upgrade one of the most effective single fixes available.
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EICR safety checks
Electrical Installation Condition Reports for homeowners, landlords and businesses across Maidstone.
Consumer unit upgrades
Modern, safe replacements for older Maidstone homes.
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Home and workplace installs, including Kings Hill.
Outdoor & security lighting
Driveway, garden and security lighting, wired safely.
Full & partial rewires
Suited to Maidstone's older and newer housing.
Emergency call-outs
Fast response for urgent faults and safety concerns.
Outdoor & security lighting
Driveway, garden and security lighting, wired safely.
Full & partial rewires
Suited to Maidstone's older and newer housing.
Emergency call-outs
Fast response for urgent faults and safety concerns.
EICR safety checks
Electrical Installation Condition Reports for homeowners, landlords and businesses across Maidstone.
Recent Consumer Unit & Fuse Board Upgrade work
How it works
1. Free Site Survey & Written Quote
An electrician assesses the existing fuse board, counts the circuits it serves, and provides a written, itemised quote before any work is booked.
2. Isolation & Removal
The property's power supply is safely isolated and the old fuse board is removed, ready for the new consumer unit to be fitted in its place.
3. Installation & Connection
A new RCD or RCBO protected consumer unit is fitted, and every existing circuit is reconnected with the correct protection for its load.
4. Testing & Certification
Every circuit is tested using calibrated Megger multifunction test equipment, and a signed Electrical Installation Certificate is issued confirming the work meets BS 7671 wiring regulations.
Why choose GW Property Maintenance Ltd
What some electricians do
- Replace the unit without testing every circuit
- Verbal quote, no written scope
- Certificate delayed for weeks
- One-off job, no guarantee
What GW Property Maintenance does
- Every existing circuit tested against the new unit
- Written, itemised quote before work starts
- Electrical Installation Certificate issued within 48 hours
- 5-year guarantee on all consumer unit work
What affects the cost of a consumer unit upgrade?
The cost of a consumer unit upgrade depends on the property’s circuit layout rather than a single flat rate. The main factors are:
- Number of circuits — a small flat with a handful of circuits costs less than a larger property with a dozen or more.
- Type of protection fitted — a fully RCBO-protected consumer unit, with individual protection per circuit, typically costs more than a standard split-load RCD unit.
- Condition of existing wiring — if the survey uncovers additional faults in the circuits themselves, this can add to the scope of work.
- Access to the consumer unit’s location — a unit in an easily accessible spot is quicker to work on than one in a tight or obstructed cupboard.
- Earthing arrangements — some older properties need their earthing checked or upgraded as part of the job to meet current standards.
- Urgency — same-week bookings are scheduled differently to a routine upgrade booked further in advance.
A free site survey is the only way to give an accurate figure, since the number of circuits and their condition varies significantly from property to property.
Why landlords across Kent need this
Landlords in Maidstone, Tonbridge, and Medway are legally required to hold a valid EICR for rental properties, and an outdated fuse board without RCD or RCBO protection is one of the most frequent reasons an inspection fails. Upgrading the consumer unit is often the single most effective step a landlord can take to bring an older property back into compliance.
Why local matters for this service
Kent’s older housing stock, from period cottages near West Malling to Victorian terraces in Maidstone and Tonbridge, commonly still has original fuse boards with rewireable fuses or wooden backing, neither of which meet current safety standards. An electrician familiar with this mix of property types recognises these older units quickly and can assess the existing circuits accurately during a site survey.
Standards and methods used
Every consumer unit upgrade follows BS 7671 18th Edition wiring regulations, uses RCBO or RCD protected units, and is tested with calibrated Megger equipment, with all work self-certified under Part P.
Electrical installation across Kent
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Frequently asked questions
Signs include a fuse board with rewireable fuses, a wooden back panel, no RCD protection, or an EICR that’s flagged the existing unit as unsafe or non-compliant.
Most consumer unit upgrades are completed in a single day, including testing and certification, though properties with a large number of circuits can take slightly longer.
Yes, briefly. The property’s power supply needs to be isolated while the old unit is removed and the new one fitted, typically for a few hours during the working day.
Not automatically, but if an EICR flags the existing fuse board as a fail, upgrading it is usually the most direct way to bring the property back into compliance.
Yes. Consumer unit and fuse board upgrades are carried out across West Malling, Maidstone, Tonbridge, Medway, Sevenoaks, and the surrounding areas.