Wylex Consumer Unit Replacement London — Pre-2008 Fuse Board Upgrade
Got a wooden-backed Wylex fuse board? It almost certainly fails a modern EICR on RCD protection and fire-rated enclosure — that’s a C2 code (potentially dangerous) and means your EICR is unsatisfactory. F & A Electrical replaces Wylex, MEM and MK pre-2008 consumer units across north, east, central and inner south London — £550–£950 inc VAT, NICEIC-certified, Part P notified, 6 years’ warranty. Clears most C2 items in one job. Call 07407 627542 or 07500 721453.
Why Wylex fuse boards fail modern EICRs
Pre-2008 Wylex boards (wooden backboards, white-front with rewireable fuses, plus the older Crabtree C50 and MEM Memera ranges) fail current 18th Edition wiring rules on two counts:
- No RCD protection on the relevant circuits. 18th Edition requires RCD protection on every socket circuit, every bathroom circuit, and any cable buried less than 50mm in a wall. Old Wylex boards rarely RCD-protect anything except the shower — sometimes nothing at all. Automatic C2 code.
- Non-fire-rated enclosure. 17th Edition Amendment 3 (January 2015) requires consumer units to be non-combustible. Wooden backboards fail this instantly. Even some 1990s plastic Wylex enclosures fail. Automatic C2 code.
Two C2 codes on the same item = unsatisfactory EICR. For landlords that means a 28-day clock starts the moment the report is issued. For owner-occupiers it means insurance complications and a buyer’s surveyor will flag it at sale.
Wylex replacement pricing — London 2026
| Property | RCD board fitted | RCBO board fitted |
|---|---|---|
| Studio / 1-bed flat | £550–£650 | £700–£800 |
| 2-bed flat / small terrace | £650–£750 | £800–£950 |
| 3-bed terrace | £750–£850 | £850–£1,100 |
| 4-bed house | £850–£950 | £950–£1,400 |
All-in: new board, all RCDs/RCBOs, isolator, labour, NICEIC certification, Part P notification via Building Control, 6 years’ NICEIC warranty. Same-day attendance for solicitor-led conveyancing emergencies.
Wylex-specific issues we frequently find
- Wooden backboard — non-fire-rated, C2 automatic
- Rewireable fuses with no MCBs — sometimes the original rewireable fuse design with fuse wire, often with the wrong gauge wire from a previous “repair”
- No main earth at all — older Wylex installations on TT supplies often have inadequate or missing earth rods
- Undersized main earth conductor — should be 16mm² minimum; often we find 6mm² or 10mm²
- Damaged Wylex fuse holders — burnt, melted, or cracked
- Old Bakelite Wylex switches — material brittle, contacts pitted, often cracked
- “Shoebox” Wylex enclosure with cardboard backing — 1950s/60s era
- Wylex Plug-in MCB conversion — popular 1980s “upgrade” with no proper RCD
What we replace Wylex boards with
- Hager — UK-favoured, well-stocked, easy spares. Most landlord work.
- Schneider Easy9 / Acti9 — reliable, good for commercial
- Wylex (new metal range) — modern Wylex boards meet current spec
- MK Sentry — solid mid-range
- Crabtree (BG) — well-priced
The replacement process
- Photo + quote within the hour
- Site survey (earthing system, PSCC)
- Isolate, pull, label all circuits
- Remove old Wylex
- Fit new metal-enclosed board
- Test earth and bonding, upgrade if needed
- Test every circuit
- Commission + label
- Part P notification via NICEIC
- NICEIC EIC certificate
3-5 hours on site. Power off 3-4 hours.
EICR with a Wylex consumer unit
Landlords have 28 days from report date to clear C1/C2 codes. Replacing the board clears all C2 items related to the board in one visit. New NICEIC certificate goes to tenant within 28 days.
Active enforcement boroughs: Hackney, Tower Hamlets, Newham, Southwark, Brent, Lambeth, Waltham Forest, Haringey.
FAQ
Can I keep the Wylex? No. Wooden backboard fails fire-rating regardless.
Main earth upgrade? Yes if undersized. +£80–£200.
Same brand? Modern Wylex boards meet current spec.
Same-day? Yes for conveyancing. +£50.
Tenants vacate? No.
Warranty? 6 years’ NICEIC + 5-10 years manufacturer.
Book your Wylex replacement
Call 07407 627542 or 07500 721453. Send photo of current Wylex board, property type, recent EICR if you have one. Fixed-price quote within the hour.
Related: Fuse Board Cost · EICR Cost · Landlord EICR · Same-Day EICR · All areas