# Consumer unit replacement cost in Market Harborough (2026)

> Replacing a consumer unit (fuse box) in a typical house usually costs around £450 to £900 in 2026, with many quotes in the £500 to £650 region for a standard unit. The job normally takes half a day to a day. Extra work such as earthing upgrades or faults found during testing adds to the price.

Source: Kuote, Market Harborough trades (https://kuote.co.uk/market-harborough/prices/consumer-unit-replacement-cost-market-harborough/). Updated 2026-11-11.

The **consumer unit replacement cost in Market Harborough** is typically around £450 to £900 in 2026, according to the UK cost guides we checked. MyJobQuote puts the average at about £525. That covers a standard modern unit fitted, tested and certified in a typical house. Faults found along the way, or earthing and bonding upgrades, cost extra. These are typical ranges, not quotes, and your price comes from the electrician after they've seen your installation.

We're a Market Harborough family, not a company. We don't take commission. We just pass enquiries to the electrician we trust.

## Consumer unit, fuse box, fuse board: same thing?

Mostly, yes. "Fuse box" is the old name, from when they held rewireable fuses. A modern **consumer unit** uses circuit breakers (MCBs), residual current devices (RCDs) or combined RCBOs instead. People also call it a fuse board or distribution board. If yours still has fuse wire or a wooden back, it's very likely due for replacement.

## Typical prices in 2026

- **Fantastic Services:** £450 to £750 across most of the UK, with a standard 10-circuit unit at £470 to £650
- **MyJobQuote:** average about £525, based on quotes on its platform
- **Other 2026 guides:** roughly £350 to £850 including materials and labour
- **London:** higher, often £600 to £1,200

We didn't find a Leicestershire-specific figure. The East Midlands is generally around or a little under the UK average, so the national ranges outside London are a sensible guide for LE16.

## What's included in a typical price

- Removing the old fuse box or consumer unit
- A new consumer unit with a metal (non-combustible) enclosure, which BS 7671 has required for domestic consumer units since 2016
- RCD protection, often via individual RCBOs, and usually a surge protection device (SPD), which current wiring regulations require in most homes
- Testing every circuit
- An Electrical Installation Certificate and Building Regulations notification

Always check whether RCBOs and surge protection are included. A split-load board with two RCDs is cheaper but means one fault can trip half the house.

## What pushes the price up

### Faults found during testing
Before fitting a new board, the electrician tests the existing circuits. Modern RCDs are sensitive, so old faults that a fuse box ignored will show up. Finding and fixing those takes time. A good electrician will tell you before they start how they'll handle this.

### Earthing and bonding
If the main earth or the bonding to your gas and water pipes doesn't meet current standards, it needs upgrading. This is common in older houses.

### Moving the consumer unit
Relocating the board, for example out of a cupboard under the stairs to a garage or utility, means extending the meter tails and possibly each circuit. That adds cost. Moving the electricity meter itself is a job for your supplier or the network operator, not your electrician.

### More circuits or a bigger board
If you're planning an EV charger, electric shower, garden office or heat pump, it's worth fitting a board with spare ways now. See our [EV charger installation cost](https://kuote.co.uk/market-harborough/prices/ev-charger-installation-cost-market-harborough/) guide.

## How long does it take?

Most replacements take half a day to a full day. Your power will be off for most of that time, so plan for no heating controls, broadband or fridge for several hours.

## Part P: why you need a registered electrician

Replacing a consumer unit is **notifiable work** under Part P of the Building Regulations in England, even if nothing else changes. The electrician must either be registered with a competent person scheme (NICEIC, NAPIT, ELECSA or Stroma, for example) and self-certify the work, or the work must be notified to building control in advance.

At the end you should receive:

1. An Electrical Installation Certificate
2. A Building Regulations compliance certificate from the scheme, usually posted or emailed within a few weeks

Keep both. Your solicitor will ask for them when you sell. Our guide on [how to check an electrician is registered](https://kuote.co.uk/market-harborough/guides/how-to-check-an-electrician-is-registered/) explains how to verify someone before they start.

## Replacement or full rewire?

A new consumer unit doesn't fix old cabling. If your wiring is very old (rubber or fabric-covered cable, no earth on lighting circuits), it may make more sense to combine the board with a [full rewire](https://kuote.co.uk/market-harborough/prices/house-rewire-cost-market-harborough/). An [EICR](https://kuote.co.uk/market-harborough/prices/eicr-cost-market-harborough/) first gives you a clear picture. Our [signs your house needs rewiring](https://kuote.co.uk/market-harborough/guides/signs-your-house-needs-rewiring/) guide lists the warning signs.

## How to get an accurate quote

Send us:

- A clear photo of your current fuse box or consumer unit, with the cover on and off if it's safe to do so (don't remove anything)
- A photo of the electricity meter and main fuse
- House type and rough age
- Anything you're planning to add (EV charger, shower, outbuilding)

Message us on WhatsApp: https://kuote.co.uk/market-harborough/go/electrician

## Questions to ask

- Does the price include RCBOs and surge protection?
- What happens, and what does it cost, if circuits fail testing?
- Is earthing and bonding included or extra?
- Which scheme will notify building control?
- How many spare ways will the new board have?
- How long will the power be off?

For tips on comparing quotes, see [how to get quotes from tradespeople](https://kuote.co.uk/market-harborough/guides/how-to-get-quotes-from-tradespeople/).

## If something is wrong right now

If your consumer unit is hot, smells of burning, crackles or shows scorch marks, switch off at the main switch if it's safe and call an electrician. In a fire or serious shock, call 999. For a power cut, call 105. See our [emergency electrician](https://kuote.co.uk/market-harborough/emergency-electrician-market-harborough/) page.

## Selling a house soon?

If you're planning to sell, a consumer unit replacement with its paperwork in order can avoid awkward questions from a buyer's surveyor. Keep the certificates with your house documents. If you've lost them, the competent person scheme your electrician belongs to can often provide a copy.

We're not paid for recommendations. We just pass you to people we trust. More on our [electricians page](https://kuote.co.uk/market-harborough/electricians/).

Message us on WhatsApp: https://kuote.co.uk/market-harborough/go/electrician


## Typical prices

| Job | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Consumer unit replacement, standard house | £450–£900 per job | Typical 2026 UK range outside London (Fantastic Services £450 to £750; MyJobQuote average about £525). Excludes remedial work and earthing upgrades. Not a quote. |
| Consumer unit replacement, standard 10-circuit unit | £470–£650 per job | Fantastic Services 2026 figure for a standard 10-circuit unit. |

## Frequently asked questions

### How much does it cost to replace a fuse box in 2026?

Most 2026 UK cost guides put a standard consumer unit replacement at roughly £450 to £900 outside London, and MyJobQuote gives an average of about £525. Fantastic Services puts a standard 10-circuit unit at £470 to £650. Extra work, such as fixing faults found during testing or upgrading earthing and bonding, adds to the bill. Your exact price comes from a quote.

### Does replacing a consumer unit need building regulations?

Yes. In England, replacing a consumer unit is notifiable under Part P of the Building Regulations. Use an electrician registered with a competent person scheme such as NICEIC, NAPIT, ELECSA or Stroma, who can self-certify the work and notify building control. You should receive an Electrical Installation Certificate and, later, a Building Regulations compliance certificate.

### How long does it take to change a consumer unit?

Most consumer unit replacements take between half a day and a full day. The power is off for most of that time while the old board is removed, the new one is fitted and every circuit is tested. It can take longer if faults show up during testing or if earthing and bonding need upgrading.

### Why does my new consumer unit keep tripping?

Modern RCDs and RCBOs detect small earth leakage faults that an old fuse box ignored. So a new board can expose existing problems, such as a damp outdoor light, a faulty appliance or damaged cable. Unplug appliances to see if one is the cause. If the tripping continues, ask your electrician to trace the fault rather than replacing the breaker.

### Do I need a metal consumer unit?

Since January 2016, BS 7671 has required consumer units in homes to have a non-combustible enclosure, which in practice means metal. If you are having a replacement fitted, it should meet this standard. You do not have to replace an existing plastic unit just because of the rule, but an EICR may recommend it.

## Sources

- [Fantastic Services: Fuse box replacement cost 2026](https://www.fantasticservices.com/cost-guides/electrical/fuse-box-replacement/)
- [MyJobQuote: Consumer unit installation cost](https://www.myjobquote.co.uk/costs/replace-a-fuse-box)
- [Housekeep: How much does it cost to replace a fuse box?](https://housekeep.com/cost-guide/electrician/fuse-box-replacement/)
- [Bookabuilder: Consumer unit and fuse box cost 2026](https://www.bookabuilderuk.com/blog/consumer-unit-fuse-box-cost-2026)
- [IET: Part P (England and Wales)](https://electrical.theiet.org/bs-7671/building-regulations/part-p-england-and-wales/)
- [ECA: Part P FAQs](https://eca.co.uk/member-support/technical/faqs/part-p-faqs)