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If suitable for your (future) needs, this 'compliant' CU is worth considering: http://www.screwfix.com/p/mk-sentry-16-module-10-way-metal-split-load-consumer-unit/2186g The discounted price is not likely to last forever and worth grabbing. I bought one of these a week ago for my son's forthcoming flat refurb/extension - and got an extra 10% off with a Screwfix discount code I was kindly sent; £72.00 net is pretty good, I feel. No, I'm not building the extension for my son! And not likely to be doing much of the peripheral work there either. The flat was my late mother's and I fitted a new kitchen in it some 6 years ago, which saw very little use. It now has to come out (kitchen area to be subsumed into new bedroom) and my son has offered it to me gratis if I will remove it. That I will do (with a modicum of help) and then transport it (hired van) some 75 miles to my wife's aunt's house (which my wife owns and lets) where it will be reinstalled, replacing a time-expired and rather shabby kitchen. Result (I hope): two satisfied relatives - or three in the unlikely event I please my wife too! That is the next major project and will keep me occupied; removal in early January to temporary storage near aunt's house and installation there when I feel like it, but probably early March. Meanwhile, back at the ranch, there are 'minor tasks' on my wife's list to complete (pre-Christmas, naturally) ...

A very good point, thank you. Thing is, the two sparks I know, also know I'm not overly generous with money, and also know I like the job done right. They are both more than capable, but both get 'good' money without any grief elsewhere. Christmas is an uber busy time as folk tend to get work done in the house for the holiday period. (I've just upset someone because I turned down the opportunity to help him install a new kitchen... And that kitchen needs to up up and running quickly.) My landlord mate/employer has had me nagging him, to nag one of these two electricians to get an extractor installed in the bathroom I refurb'd recently, to help keep the mould away. Is he returning his calls? Is the plumber with two jobs on the table returning calls? (One of which I almost certainly expect to get.) Bit of an aside, (but the punchline is pertinent), but today ..... I got an 'urgent' call about a blocked sink in the house I'd been working in. The tenants (bless 'em) had tried in vain to deal with it, to no avail. Despite having a pre-arranged job elsewhere (that I finished at 11.30pm tonight) I went there to have a look first. It didn't look good. Bottom line, it seems there has been some history of blockages dealt with by previous tenants. However, as time has passed, the old iron (we'll call it metal) pipework has 'furred up' and partially blocked. Tenants who don't know how to deal with fat, had added to the long-term problem associated with metal pipes, and managed to effectively bung up the metal pipe. Fortunately, access was possible, and 20 minutes of prodding with a 10 inch file, all but completely cleared the obstruction. The 2" (-ish) metal pipe that hangs off the metal soil pipe, is now probably the cleanest it has been for 20 years .... The landlord who had arrived earlier, slightly freaked out because I had told him this was potentially a serious problem, helped me re-assemble the pipework leading back to the sink. As we were clearing up, I asked again about the extractor. He says; "If only the good people you want, were as reliable as you'd like." Obviously, I pointed out to him, some were reliable.... We are both aware, none of the plumbers we know would have come out today (unless the place was flooding) and getting out A.N.Other plumber from the Yellow Pages on an 'urgent' basis, would have involved £150-£200 appearance fees. Earlier while at Screwfix en route, the place was as busy as I have ever seen it, and not just with enthusiastic DIYer's. Most were Trades on the job. It's a shame I wasn't aware of the impending change 6 months ago really. There may have been some prospect of me having gotten the job done. But despite your good advice, it just can't happen.

My point was merely that, if a new CU is on the horizon, it would be simpler and cheaper to organise it now than to wait for the new regs and extra cost, as metal-clad CUs are dearer, quite apart from discounts on stocks of current types. If you have a quote for supplying and fitting one, it is not likely to remain valid if the cost increases under the new regs - unless your sparky is on really good terms with you. I wasn't expecting you to fit it yourself, even though you might wish to supply a CU of your choice (bought wisely). My house has some 18 circuits split between 2 CUs, both with a mixture of hard-wired fuse carriers and plug-in MCBs. Two additional circuits (one outdoor) have RCDs and subsidiary fuses. Ideally, I would like the whole set-up to be RCD protected but replacing everything right now with a new 17th edition CU is not justified in terms of work or cost; I have other priorities. I do have 'in stock' a nice Wylex CU with 2 RCDs and room for 15 MCBs (scarcely used and including some 10 MCBs, bought for a very low boot-sale price) which could be used for the main circuits, if installed before 31 Dec, but that ain't going to happen. The MCBs etc can still be used elsewhere and were well worth the outlay.