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Do you need an electrician for a garage consumer unit?

Yes, in practice. Fitting a garage consumer unit means a new consumer unit and usually a new circuit from the house, both of which Planning Portal lists as notifiable electrical work, so use a registered electrician or involve building control before work starts.

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By the QuoteZila editorial team. Editorial policy.

What is a garage consumer unit?

A garage consumer unit is a small fuse board, often with just a few circuit breakers, fitted inside a garage or outbuilding. It is fed by a cable from the main consumer unit in the house, and it supplies the garage's own lights and sockets. Some people call it a sub board or a garage fuse box.

In Cheshire, the garage might be integral to a house in Crewe or a detached block garage at the end of a garden in Nantwich. Either way, and in Sandbach or anywhere else, it is the same type of electrical work. QuoteZila starts in Cheshire, and anyone in the UK can post the job to electricians.

Why is it not a DIY job?

Planning Portal says that if you carry out electrical installation work in your home or garden in England and Wales, you must comply with the building regulations, and that work in a garage, shed or other storage building is included [S1]. It lists these among notifiable jobs [S1]:

  • the installation of a new consumer unit or fuse box
  • the installation of a complete new circuit

A garage consumer unit is a new consumer unit, and the supply cable from the house is usually a new circuit. GOV.UK's guide to building work also lists installing a new or replacement fuse box, or any new electrical circuit connected to it, among work you need to tell a building control body about unless you use an installer registered with a competent person scheme [S5].

This page gives no wiring steps. Use a registered electrician, who can self-certify, or speak to building control before any work starts.

Electrical Safety First: find a registered electrician; NICEIC; NAPIT. QuoteZila is not affiliated with this organisation.

You can also search the Electrical Safety First register or read GOV.UK on building regulations approval.

What should you tell the electrician?

The more the electrician knows, the closer the quote will be to the final bill.

  • Where the garage is. Attached to the house, or detached and how far away.
  • What it will power. Lights only, a few sockets, a freezer, power tools, a workshop, or an electric vehicle charger later.
  • Where the main board is. A photo of the house consumer unit with the cover on helps them see whether there is a spare way.
  • The route. Whether the cable can run through a loft, along a wall or across a garden, and anything that is in the way.
  • What is there now. An old extension lead through a window, an old cable, or nothing at all.

If you might add an electric vehicle charger, say so now. A solar and EV charger installer may need to look at the supply as well.

What should the quote cover?

Ask for the quote to name:

  • the consumer unit itself, or that you are supplying it
  • the supply cable, its route and how it is protected
  • the number of sockets and lights in the garage
  • any changes needed at the house consumer unit
  • testing, the Electrical Installation Certificate and the building regulations certificate [S2]
  • making good, such as filling holes or reinstating a path

Electrical Safety First recommends getting at least three written quotes unless the work is minor, and checking the electrician is registered with a government-approved scheme [S6]. It also suggests giving the electrician a written summary of the work, so you can compare quotes on the same job [S6].

If the house board itself is old or full, the electrician may suggest replacing it first. Consumer unit replacement explains that job. Electrician costs covers what changes an electrician's quote more generally.

Jobs you might post

These are examples, not taken from real job posts.

  • "Detached garage at the end of the garden, no power at the moment. I want lights and four sockets. Please quote including a garage consumer unit and the certificates."
  • "Integral garage with one light run from an extension lead. Please quote to put in a proper supply and a small consumer unit."
  • "Garage workshop. I may add an electric car charger next year. Please quote for a garage board and say whether the house supply needs looking at."

QuoteZila is free for customers and local businesses [QZ1]. Your job goes to up to five matched local businesses [QZ2].

Honest status: QuoteZila is new. We're starting in Cheshire, beginning with Crewe, Nantwich and Sandbach, and growing area by area. Anyone in the UK can still post a job or register a business. How fast you get quotes depends on how many local businesses have joined near you. Businesses can register and receive jobs straight away. We don't check insurance, qualifications or registrations, so please check these yourself before you hire.

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Questions about garage consumer units

Is a garage consumer unit notifiable work?

Planning Portal lists the installation of a new consumer unit or fuse box, and the installation of a complete new circuit, among notifiable jobs. A garage unit usually involves both. A registered electrician can self-certify the work, otherwise a building control body or, in England, a registered third-party certifier must be told before work starts.

What paperwork should I get at the end?

Planning Portal says a registered electrician will arrange for you to receive a Building Regulations compliance certificate within 30 days, and should give you a completed Electrical Installation Certificate to show the work has been tested for safety. Keep both with the house papers.

Can I buy the unit online and have it fitted?

Ask the electrician first. Many prefer to supply the unit so they know where it came from. Electrical Safety First publishes product recalls, and one listed recall is a garage consumer unit that it says presents a serious risk of fire. Whoever buys it, check the model against current recalls.

Does a garage need RCD protection?

Electrical Safety First advises using an RCD with all outdoor electrical equipment. If you use the garage for power tools or garden equipment, ask the electrician how the new circuit and any sockets will be protected, and where the test button will be.

Does QuoteZila check electricians?

No. We don't check insurance, qualifications or registrations, so please check these yourself before you hire. You can report a quote or a business from your job page.

This page is general information, not professional or legal advice. QuoteZila does not check Gas Safe, WaterSafe, NFRC, NICEIC or other registrations against the register on your behalf: look them up yourself.

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Sources

  1. QZ1: QuoteZila product fact. QuoteZila home and FAQ copy.
  2. QZ2: QuoteZila product fact. QuoteZila FAQ How does getting quotes work.
  3. S1: Electrics: Building Regulations general information, Planning Portal. Accessed 2026-10-30. https://www.planningportal.co.uk/permission/common-projects/electrics/building-regulations-general-information
  4. S2: Electrics: Building Regulations checking for safety, Planning Portal. Accessed 2026-10-30. https://www.planningportal.co.uk/permission/common-projects/electrics/building-regulations-checking-for-safety
  5. S3: Garden, Electrical Safety First. Accessed 2026-10-30. https://www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/safety-advice/home-and-people/garden/
  6. S4: SEG 4 Way Garage Consumer Unit recall, Electrical Safety First. Accessed 2026-10-30. https://www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/safety-advice/product-recalls/seg-4-way-garage-consumer-unit-63a-30ma-rcd-4mcb-2-star-6aplus20aplus32a/
  7. S5: Building work, replacements and repairs to your home, GOV.UK. Accessed 2026-10-30. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/building-work-replacements-and-repairs-to-your-home/building-work-replacements-and-repairs-to-your-home
  8. S6: Choosing a registered electrician, Electrical Safety First. Accessed 2026-10-30. https://www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/find-a-registered-electrician/choosing-a-registered-electrician/