How much does a new consumer unit cost in Gloucester?
Replacing an old fuse box or consumer unit? Post the job for free and it goes to local electricians who cover your area. Only the electrician who takes it on gets your contact details.
Free to post, and only the tradesperson who takes your job on gets your details. Read our privacy notice.
Typical cost
£450 – £1,400
Best Builders 2026 electrical pricing · 29th August 2026
Reported by customers, not a quote from us. Your job will be quoted by the tradesperson who takes it on.
Replacing a consumer unit
The consumer unit, or fuse box, controls every circuit in the house. Older ones often have rewireable fuses or no RCD protection, and some have plastic casings where newer units are metal. Replacing it is notifiable work under the Building Regulations, so it has to be certified, either by an electrician registered with a competent person scheme or through building control.
The job itself means the power is off for most of a day in a typical house. The electrician disconnects each circuit, fits the new unit, reconnects everything and then tests every circuit before switching back on. That testing is where the surprises come from. A new unit with RCD protection can show up faults that the old fuses hid, such as a damp outside light, a nail through a cable or a neutral that has been shared between circuits. Those faults need sorting before the unit can be signed off, and that can add to the job.
Things that affect the scope include the age and condition of the wiring, how many circuits there are, whether the earthing and bonding to the gas and water pipes are up to standard, and any plans that need a spare way in the unit, like an EV charger or an electric shower. If the house hasn’t been rewired in decades, the electrician may suggest an EICR first so you know what you’re dealing with.
What to include when you post
A few details help an electrician judge the job before they call you.
- A clear photo of the current consumer unit or fuse box with the cover on, and one of the labels if there are any.
- Where it is, for example under the stairs, in a cupboard or in the garage, and how easy it is to get to.
- Roughly how old the house is and when it was last rewired, if you know.
- Whether anything trips now, or there are sockets or lights that don’t work.
- Any plans for new circuits, such as an EV charger, electric shower or garden office.
- Days when you can be without power for most of the day.
Choosing an electrician
Ask whether they are registered with a competent person scheme so they can self-certify the work. If they aren’t, ask how it will be signed off, because building control needs to be involved before the work starts.
A good written quote should say:
- what type of unit and protective devices are being fitted
- that testing of every circuit is included
- how they will charge for any faults found during testing
- whether earthing or bonding upgrades are included
- that you will get an Electrical Installation Certificate and, through the scheme, a Building Regulations compliance certificate
- that the old unit will be taken away
Ask what guarantee they give on the work, and keep the certificates somewhere safe. A buyer’s solicitor will ask for them when you sell.
Not quite the right job?
See every job on our Electrician page, or post it anyway and describe it in your own words.
Before a tradesperson starts work
Registrations
Some work must be done by a registered professional. Work on a gas boiler, cooker or fire must be done by a Gas Safe registered engineer, which you can check on the Gas Safe Register.
Our business check
Limited companies are checked with Companies House and sole traders upload their insurance certificate. Trade registrations are confirmed by the tradesperson when they sign up.
Get the price in writing
Ask for a written quote that sets out the work and the price before anything starts. Your contract for the work is with the tradesperson.
Questions
What people tend to ask before booking this job. For anything specific to your home, ask the tradesperson who takes it on when they get in touch.
A typical range is £450 to £1,400 (Best Builders 2026 electrical pricing, 29th August 2026). We ask every GlosFix customer who hires what they were quoted, and once enough have shared it this figure will be replaced by real local quotes. These are figures customers have reported, not quotes from us - we introduce you to a local tradesperson, who will quote for your job.
Yes. You should get an Electrical Installation Certificate from the electrician. If they are registered with a competent person scheme, the scheme will also send you a Building Regulations compliance certificate. If they aren't, building control signs the work off. Ask the electrician to confirm the route in the quote.
Replacing the unit means testing each circuit. If faults turn up, they need fixing before the new unit can be signed off. Ask the electrician how they will price that before work starts.
It depends on the number of circuits and what testing finds, but most of a working day is common for an average house. Ask the electrician for their estimate and plan around it, particularly if you work from home or have a fridge freezer full of food.
Not usually. Modern units have RCD protection that is more sensitive than old fuses, so it can trip on a fault that was always there, such as a damp outdoor fitting or a faulty appliance. Call the electrician who fitted it and let them trace it.
Not always. An old fuse box isn't automatically unsafe, but older ones often lack RCD protection. An EICR will tell you what condition your installation is in and whether the electrician thinks the unit should be replaced.