Consumer unit changes for landlords in Folkestone and Kent

Short answer first. If you let out a home, the consumer unit is one of the first things anyone asks about when a tenancy starts, changes hands or the property is sold. Changing an old one starts from £550 with us. This guide covers what to ask for and how to plan the work around tenants.

Why does the board get looked at in a rented home?

A tenancy starting, a change of tenant or a sale are the moments when somebody else looks closely at the property: a letting agent, a buyer, a buyer's solicitor. An old board, with fuse wire, no RCD protection or a cracked plastic case, is the sort of thing that gets raised. It is a lot easier to deal with before that conversation than in the middle of it. We do not give legal advice, so check what applies to your tenancy.

What are the signs a board is due?

• Ceramic fuses and fuse wire, or old rewirable carriers.
• A plastic board rather than a metal one.
• No RCD protection, so nothing cuts out quickly on a shock.
• It trips often and tenants keep ringing about it.
• Any scorching, buzzing or warmth at the board. That one is not a wait and see.

What should I ask for in the quote?

• A written price that says how many ways the new board has, and whether it is RCBOs, so one tripped circuit does not take out the whole flat.
• Whether surge protection is included.
• What happens if something turns up behind the old board. With us you are told before anything extra is charged.
• How the work is certificated.
• A labelled board at the end, so the next person can read it.

How do you work around tenants?

The power goes off while the board is changed. Tell us it is a rental, whether the tenants are living there, and who we should speak to for access. How long we will be at the property is confirmed when we quote, once we have seen the board and how many circuits it feeds, so you can give the tenants proper notice.

What paperwork do I end up with?

All completed work is inspected, tested and certificated through a registered contractor we work with, and we provide all the required certificates. Where the work is notifiable, the notification to Building Control is handled as part of the job.

What does it cost?

Consumer unit upgrades start from £550. What moves the price is the number of ways, RCBOs, surge protection, the tails and earthing, access, and whether the board needs to move. Our page on what a consumer unit upgrade costs in Kent goes through each, and the other prices are on the price guide. A fixed price is given once we have seen the board.

I have more than one property

Send a photo of each board with the town it is in, and say which are tenanted. We will tell you what we need to see before pricing them. Our page on consumer unit upgrades in Folkestone and Kent has the detail on the job itself.