Additional sockets, switches and lighting circuits
Sockets, Switches and Lighting
Socket, switch and lighting work covers adding or relocating power points, light switches and light fittings, from a single additional socket to a full room's lighting circuit, carried out to current wiring regulations.
Definition
What Sockets & Lighting covers
This covers the smaller, common end of domestic electrical work: additional double sockets, USB sockets, dimmer switches, downlights, pendant fittings and similar. Individual additions are usually straightforward, though some — such as a new circuit — are notifiable under Part P depending on the work involved.
Suitable for
- Additional sockets where a room has too few for current needs
- Replacing dated switches and sockets with modern equivalents
- New lighting circuits — downlights, pendants, dimmers — as a standalone job or part of a renovation
- USB or smart sockets added during a refresh
Not suitable for
- Extensive rewiring needs disguised as a 'few extra sockets' — we'll flag if the existing circuit isn't suitable and a wider scope is the safer route
- Bathroom electrics, which have specific zone requirements — see our bathrooms service for that scope
Process
How the work is carried out
- 01
Assessment
Confirming what's needed and whether the existing circuit has capacity for the additional load.
- 02
Installation
Running cabling and fitting sockets, switches or light fittings.
- 03
Testing
Testing the new points before energising.
- 04
Certification
Providing a Minor Works Certificate, or full certification and Part P notification where the work is notifiable.
Typical timescale
A single additional socket or switch is typically completed within a couple of hours; a room's lighting circuit or a batch of points is usually a half-day to a full day.
Cost guidance
Socket, switch and lighting work typically costs £60–£200 per point or per job in our area, with a single addition toward the lower end and a room's worth of points priced as a job. We provide an itemised quotation after assessment rather than a fixed headline price.
Limitations and exclusions
- Making good of plaster and decoration around new cable routes is quoted separately unless specifically included
- Light fittings are supplied to your specification unless a supply-and-fit package is agreed
- Some additions count as notifiable work under Part P and are certified accordingly
Areas we cover
Sockets & Lighting across Sussex, Surrey, Kent and South London
Local property styles, planning authorities and neighbourhood coverage for sockets & lighting in each town we work in.
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FAQs
Sockets & Lighting FAQs
How many sockets should a room have?
There's no single fixed rule for existing homes, but current guidance and typical room use inform a sensible number. We advise on a practical layout based on how you use the room.
Can you fit dimmer switches or downlights?
Yes, this is a standard part of the service. We check compatibility with your existing fittings and bulb type before installation.
Is adding a socket notifiable work?
It depends on the work — extending an existing circuit within the same room is often not notifiable, while a new circuit usually is. We confirm this and certify the work correctly either way.
Discuss your sockets & lighting project
Tell us about the property and what you have in mind, and we'll arrange a site visit.
Last reviewed 2026-07-28.