Everything Exeter homeowners and landlords need to know about consumer unit replacement — 2026 costs from £450 to £800, the mandatory metal enclosure requirement, Part P Building Regulations, and older wiring in Exeter's Victorian and Edwardian terraced properties.
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Written and reviewed by Andrew Moore, founder of Elec-Mate, against BS 7671:2018+A4:2026, IET Guidance Note 3 and the IET On-Site Guide.
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A consumer unit — commonly called a fuse box or distribution board — is the main electrical distribution point in your Exeter property. It receives the incoming supply from the DNO (Western Power Distribution / National Grid Electricity Distribution) and distributes it to all circuits in the property, while housing the protective devices that disconnect circuits in the event of a fault.
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Exeter is a historically rich city with a substantial proportion of older housing stock. The Victorian and Edwardian terraces of St Thomas, Heavitree, Newtown, and St James, alongside inter-war semis in Pinhoe and Pennsylvania, contain many electrical installations that pre-date modern RCD requirements.
The following are the most common triggers for consumer unit replacement in Exeter properties. If an EICR has been carried out and is rated Unsatisfactory with C2 observations relating to the consumer unit, replacement is a legal obligation within 28 days for rental properties.
Amendment 4 to BS 7671:2008, in force from 1 January 2016, added Regulation 421.1.201 requiring that consumer units and similar switchgear assemblies in domestic premises have a non-combustible (metal) enclosure. This requirement is unchanged in BS 7671:2018+A4:2026. Every consumer unit replacement in Exeter must comply.
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Exeter South West labour rates are higher than the national average. The following 2026 price ranges cover a complete consumer unit replacement: metal unit, all labour, BS 7671 Chapter 61 testing, Electrical Installation Certificate, and Part P notification via the competent person scheme.
Remedial work identified during the replacement process (damaged cables, missing bonding, deteriorated accessories) is quoted and agreed separately before proceeding.
A compliant consumer unit replacement in Exeter follows the same structured process as any other Part P notifiable electrical installation.
Exeter's mix of Victorian terraced housing, University of Exeter student rentals, HMOs, and a growing owner-occupier market in areas such as Cranbrook and Topsham creates consistent demand for consumer unit replacement work. The student and HMO rental market in particular generates steady EICR-led remedial enquiries.
Use the Elec-Mate EIC app to complete the certificate and full schedule of test results on your phone while still at the property. Send the PDF before you leave — no evening admin.
When an Exeter EICR identifies C2 consumer unit deficiencies, use the Elec-Mate quoting app to send a quote on the same day. Landlords must act within 28 days — the first quote sent wins the job.
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