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In recent years you may have heard of “Part P” in regards to electrical work that is carried out in the home, and wondered what it is all about.

Part P is a part of the building regulations introduced in 2005 to improve the quality of electrical installations in dwellings. It is now a requirement that you notify the council's building control office of any electrical work that is planned. Alternatively electrical work can be carried out by a “competent person”, which is defined as someone who is registered with a government approved scheme and able to self certify that work meets the requirements of Part P, a similar system to the Corgi registration for Gas Fitters.

If you are having any major electrical work carried out for example re-wires, new circuits, additional outlets in kitchens and bathrooms, then check with your electrician that they or their company are registered on one of the government approved competent person schemes (these include the NICEIC, NAPIT and ECA). If they are, they will issue you with a domestic installers certificate when work is complete. If you do not get a certificate then the work you have had done will not comply with the building regulations and you will be breaking the law.

If the person carrying out the work is not a “competent person” then full plans of the intended work needs to be submitted to the councils building control office BEFORE work starts, but this does incur an additional charge by the council.

Only minor electrical work is exempt from notifying the council, such as changing a light fitting or adding a single outlet to an existing circuit(unless in a kitchen, bathroom or outside) but it is always best to check with a qualified electrician if you are unsure.

For more information about Part P and competent Person schemes go to www.partp.co.uk.

Simon Clayson of SDC Technologies is registered with the NICEIC Domestic Installer competent person scheme and a Gold Member of RH123 contact details

I love the word spring, it means summer is on its way. The word clean, to most of us means hard work, but the reward of a job well done is so satisfying . . . especially when there’s no grafting involved!! Here are two tips using only one product.

Use this product on tiled kitchen floors, “I know I haven’t told you what it is, please read on, and all will be revealed.”

First mix ½ a cup of the product into a bucket of hot water, then lightly soak the floor for 5 minutes, then mop up with fresh hot water. This will lift any grease or trapped dirt in your tiles and look great. This product is around £5 and gives you up to 60 washes, whereas your floor cleaner may give you 10 washes from a 500ml bottle @ £1.50. What is it? Ariel washing powder!

Tip two: you can also use this if your car has leaked oil on the driveway, you may have to scrub a bit to remove the oil from the holes. If you decide to pass this on to a friend . . . please don’t come across as flash (oh dear!!).

Apparently, it is also good for washing clothes, I know, bizarre!