The short answer
There is no legal requirement in the UK to replace a consumer unit before selling a house. A house can be sold with an older board, including one with old rewireable fuses, provided the sale is conducted honestly and all known defects are disclosed in the Property Information Form (TA6). However, an older or unprotected board can become a practical obstacle: a surveyor may flag it, a mortgage lender may require remediation as a condition of lending, or a buyer may use it to negotiate a reduction in price. A plastic consumer unit — which has not complied with new domestic installations since the 18th Edition (2018) — will not automatically fail a sale, but it may raise questions in a home buyers' survey. The strongest position at the point of sale is a board with current RCD or RCBO protection, a metal enclosure and a current Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC).
The question comes up repeatedly when a property with an older electrical installation is being prepared for sale. Here is what the rules actually require, what the practical risks are, and how sellers typically handle it.
Consumer unit and house sales
- Legal requirement to replaceNone
- Disclosure required (TA6)Yes — known defects must be declared
- Surveyor flag riskReal for unprotected or plastic boards
- Mortgage lender conditionsPossible — depends on lender and board
- Strongest selling positionModern board, EIC in place
What the law actually requires
There is no provision in English, Welsh or Scottish property law that requires a seller to bring a consumer unit up to current standards before exchanging contracts. The seller's obligation under property law is to disclose known defects accurately and not to misrepresent the property's condition.
The Property Information Form (TA6) — the standard Law Society form completed by sellers — asks about the electrical installation: when it was last tested, whether there is an EICR in place, and whether the seller knows of any defects. Answering these questions honestly is a legal obligation. Deliberately concealing a known electrical defect could give a buyer grounds to claim misrepresentation after completion.
However, honestly declaring an older board is not the same as being required to replace it. Many properties sell successfully each year with older electrical installations provided the price reflects the condition.
When an older consumer unit becomes a practical problem
Three scenarios can make an older board a real obstacle during a sale:
- The surveyor's report: a home buyers' survey or full structural survey will typically note an older consumer unit, especially one without RCD protection or with a plastic enclosure. Surveyors often recommend further investigation by a registered electrician, or directly recommend an upgrade. This gives the buyer a documented reason to request a price reduction or a replacement as a condition of proceeding.
- Mortgage lender conditions: some mortgage lenders — particularly in the buy-to-let sector or where a surveyor's report has flagged an electrical concern — will require a condition be met before releasing funds. This can include a requirement for an EICR to be completed, or for specific remedial work to be done. A seller unable or unwilling to do this may lose that buyer.
- Chain collapse risk: in a chain, a mortgage lender's condition on one property can hold up all the properties above it. An older consumer unit that triggers a lender condition can be a chain risk even if the direct buyer is cash.
| Scenario | Typical outcome | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Modern board, EIC in place | Clean sale, no electrical issue | Best position |
| Older RCD board, no EIC, sound condition | May be queried; EICR resolves it | Low risk if inspection passes |
| Plastic consumer unit (post-2018) | Surveyor likely to note it | Not illegal but non-compliant for new work |
| No RCD protection (rewireable fuses) | High chance of survey flag or lender condition | Genuine safety concern highlighted |
| EICR with C1 or C2 codes | Remediation typically required before sale | Seller or buyer to agree who does it |
Indicative guidance. Outcomes depend on the lender, surveyor and buyer. Sources: trade and conveyancing practice guides.
The EICR route — an alternative to full replacement
A seller who has an older but functional board with no obvious defects may be better served by commissioning an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) before listing the property, rather than replacing the board speculatively. An EICR that returns a Satisfactory result — which is possible for an older installation that has been maintained and has no actual safety faults — can be provided to buyers and their solicitors, demonstrating that the installation has been properly assessed.
If the EICR returns C1 or C2 codes, those findings confirm that remedial work — which may or may not be a full board replacement — is genuinely needed. In that case, the seller can either complete the remedial work and commission a fresh EICR showing a satisfactory result, or price the property accordingly and disclose the findings.
A typical residential EICR costs roughly £150–£300 depending on the size of the property and the number of circuits — significantly less than a speculative board replacement. It is a rational starting point.
Frequently asked questions
Can I sell a house with an old plastic consumer unit?
Yes, you can sell a house with a plastic consumer unit — there is no law preventing it. However, plastic enclosures for domestic consumer units have not complied with new domestic installations since the 18th Edition of BS 7671 (2018). A surveyor is likely to note it, and it may prompt questions from buyers or their lender. Whether it becomes a practical problem depends on the buyer's mortgage lender and the survey.
Will a buyer's mortgage lender require a new consumer unit?
Some will. It depends on the lender, the surveyor's report and the type of board. A board with no RCD protection, or one returning EICR codes, is more likely to trigger a lender condition than a sound older board that passes an inspection. There is no universal rule — it varies by lender and by the board's condition.
Is an EICR required to sell a house?
An EICR is not a legal requirement for selling a residential property in England and Wales (unlike rented properties, where landlords in England are required to have an EICR). However, a current EICR with a satisfactory result is useful evidence of the installation's condition and can preempt buyer or lender concerns.
Sources & further reading
- Electrical Safety First — replacing a consumer unit best practice guide
- gov.uk — Part P: electrical safety in dwellings
- Checkatrade — EICR cost guide
Figures on this page are typical UK ranges drawn from published sources and depend on your specific property and installation. They are guidance, not a quotation.