Millions of DIY fans could face hefty fines under a new law that comes into force on January 1.
Regulations mean anyone carrying out electrical work on their home may need to get official approval.
The move is designed to combat the rising number of deaths, injuries and house fires caused by faulty electrical installations.
But research published today suggests most people are unaware of the changes.
A survey by British Gas found 61% of people had not heard about the regulations.
A worrying 60% claimed the new law would not stop them carrying out electrical work at home themselves or asking an unqualified friend or family member to help.
Minor jobs like replacing sockets and light switches will not be affected by the new law, which covers England and Wales.
But anyone thinking of, for example, adding a new circuit to their house will have get the local authority building control department involved who will then inspect the work.
The alternative is to get the work carried out by a suitably qualified expert, certified by a relevant "competent person" scheme.
Breaking the law could result in a fine of up to '5,000.
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) published a leaflet earlier this month giving advice about the new law.
On average 10 people die and about 750 are seriously injured each year in accidents involving unsafe electrical installations in the home, according to the DTI.
In addition, 2,336 house fires last year were caused by faulty electrical work.
The DTI's leaflet was launched by Dr Jenny Tonge MP, who lost her daughter in an electrical accident in the home earlier this year.
Changes
Building Regulations Minister Phil Hope said: "These changes will give those renting or buying a property extra peace of mind and reinforce the message from DIY manuals and consumer associations to take special care when considering electrical work in the home.
"Our aim is to drive up standards of workmanship and protect consumers by making our homes safer."
The British Gas survey of 2,000 people found 56% call on family first for help with electrical jobs around the home or simply go ahead and do it themselves.
Neil Dickinson, chief electrical engineer at British Gas, said: "These new regulations should do for the electrical industry what Corgi has done for the gas industry - raise standards and improve safety.
"DIY enthusiasts will still be able to carry out some minor jobs around the home but our advice would be to check first with a qualified electrician."
British Gas employs 500 electrical engineers across Britain.
Comments
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Now the government have told us what not to do in our own homes regarding electrical jobs, to save ten lives a year. What are they proposing to do to get their own house in order, i.e NHS hospitals, for the 8000 deaths from MRSA? Maybe no MPs son or daughter has caught the disease yet. I won't mention Iraq.
i qualified some years ago, 15th edition electrician and get asked to do various small electrical jobs . how do i stand?
Funny how 200,000 People died, sick from smoking. No such legistration to stop them from dying. Oh I forgot good tax benefit from smokers and are dead before retiring. This is another stealth tax for the local CC.
what will it take for people to get rid of this ridiculous government.
another way to penalise hard working
citizens. what happened to the theory of a man and is castle
Why don't the government approve a scheme wherin competent people can be tested on their ability to carry out electrical work safely in acordance with current IEEE regulations. This would be a truer way of assessing ability as there is no guarantee that approved electricians who completed their apprenticeshipsay 20 to 30 years ago still capable of carrying out work safely. This also paves the way for electricians, as with gas fitters, to increase their hourly rate significantly as, like corgi engineers, they would have a monopoly.
This is just another mambypambyregulation just to create more pen pusher jobs, I am getting fed up of all these stupid regs not to mention all these traffic carming regs!soon we will not be able to do any home repairs on cars, there are many sensible people out there just trying to save money by diy and in many cases a better job none too! this country is crap now ,life is crap! next we will have a permit to shit!
Why oh why does the government keep introducing regulations that are virtually impossible to police. I have no formal qualifications, but have installed full electrical systems into at least 20 houses in my lifetime with no faults no fires and no deaths or injury. I have however received several shocks from professional installations, including one from loose bare wires hanging down in the garage of a newly built house! There are always going to be people in the world who muck things up, but a law to protect 10 people from death and 750 from injury seems a little over the top (how many of those were qualified in wonder?) especially in view of the number of deaths from smoking, drinking, joy riding and murder. Let's get our priorities right!
MY NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOUR LOST HER HUSBAND A YEAR AGO AND RELIES ON MYSELF AND HER LIMITED FAMILY TO HELP HER OUT.SHE RECENTLY HAD AN ELECTRICAL FAULT WHICH LEFT HER WITHOUT ANY POWER.I PHONED UP LOCAL ELECTRICIANS AND EVEN THE LOCAL ELECTRIC BOARD, ONLY TO BE TOLD THEY WERE ALL TOO BUSY TO ATTEND UNTILL THE NEXT DAY, DESPITE ME TELLING THEM THAT SHE WAS AN OAP LIVING ON HER OWN! I HAVE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF ELECTRICAL KNOWLEDGE, HOWEVER HAVE NO FORMAL QUALIFICATIONS IN THIS FIELD EXCEPT A LOT OF COMMON SENSE. I IDENTIFIED THE FAULT AND REPLACED A FAULTY EARTH TRIP SWITCH, WILL THE GOVERNMENT NOW STAND ME UP IN COURT AND GIVE ME A HEFTY FINE FOR TRYING TO IMPLEMENT THEIR POLICY OF CARE IN THE COMMUNITY????
How much will these qualified electricians charge for their inspection of DIY electrical work? It seems they have us all ways.
Will the Which? Book of wiring and lighting now be banned as illegal?
First I knew (Officially) about this law (which came into force 1st January2005?) was this week (7th March!!) when my electricity supplier sent an offer to insure me for a premium against electrical repairs (I think that's what it is). I'm a tenent anyway so it's landlord's responsibilty. Anyway I tried finding out more, BBC News on the internet says that there will be a new website launched and a publicity campaign, but I can't find either. So how am I going to know what I may and may not do? And anyway if it's your home you're working on you take more care than a contractor on a per job rate.