Why DIY electrical work is illegal in NSW

Watch enough online videos and replacing a light switch or adding a power point looks like a quick weekend job. In some countries, homeowners are allowed to do some of their own wiring. In NSW, they are not. Electrical wiring work must be done by a licensed electrician, and that rule exists for good reasons.

What the law says, in plain terms

In NSW, electrical wiring work, which broadly means installing, repairing, altering or removing electrical wiring and fixed equipment, must be done by someone who holds the right electrical licence. That includes jobs that seem small, like:

• Replacing a power point or light switch.
• Swapping a light fitting or installing downlights.
• Installing a ceiling fan.
• Hard wiring an oven, cooktop or range hood.
• Adding or moving power points.
• Any work inside the switchboard.
• Installing hard wired smoke alarms.

Doing this kind of work without a licence is an offence in NSW, and it can also create problems with insurance if something goes wrong. NSW Fair Trading publishes information about the rules if you want the full detail.

What you can do yourself

There are still plenty of things homeowners can safely do:

• Change light globes.
• Plug in appliances and use power boards sensibly.
• Reset a tripped safety switch or circuit breaker, as long as there is no sign of damage.
• Test smoke alarms and replace batteries in battery-powered alarms.
• Test your safety switches using the test button.
• Set up plug-in smart devices and apps.

If a job involves opening up a fitting, touching fixed wiring or working inside the switchboard, it is a job for a licensed electrician.

Why the rule exists

Electric shock

Mains voltage can kill. Even with the circuit turned off, wiring can be mislabelled or fed from more than one place, and a mistake can be fatal.

Fire

Poor connections, the wrong cable size and incorrect terminations can overheat inside walls and ceilings, sometimes long after the work was done. Many house fires start this way.

Hidden hazards for others

A DIY mistake might not hurt the person who made it. It might hurt a future occupant, a family member, or the next electrician who opens the wall expecting standard wiring. Customers have told us Kalani found fire hazards in a meter box during other work, and unlicensed work is a common source of this kind of hazard.

Testing and compliance

Licensed electricians test their work before handing it over and provide a Certificate of Compliance for Electrical Work. That record shows the work was done to the standard. DIY work comes with no such check.

Spotting previous DIY work

If you have bought an older home, there may be DIY work you do not know about. Signs include:

• Light fittings or outlets that are loose, crooked or mismatched.
• Cables running along the outside of walls or loose in the roof space without protection.
• Junctions twisted together and wrapped in tape.
• Power boards and extension leads used as permanent wiring.
• A switchboard with odd labels or cables that do not seem to go anywhere.

If you notice any of these, have the wiring checked. Our guide to the electrical safety checklist for new homeowners has more on what to look for.

Getting it done properly

Most of the jobs people are tempted to do themselves are quick for a licensed electrician. Kalani regularly installs power points, lighting and ceiling fans across Shellharbour, Wollongong and Kiama, and will explain what he is doing as he goes.

If you have a small job on your list, call or text Kalani on 0424 400 346. Photos of what you want done help him give you a clear answer quickly.