01The plain answer
Yes, a qualified electrician does the wiring
An electric rooflight runs on a power supply, and connecting that supply is electrician's work.
Electric rooflight wiring is not a job for a keen amateur with a screwdriver. The motor, the control unit and any rain sensor all need a safe supply, correctly protected and tested. We fit the rooflight itself, and a qualified electrician brings the power to it and connects it up, so that each part of the job is done by the right person.
That also protects you later. If the wiring is done properly and signed off, you have a clear record when you sell the house, and your insurer has no reason to ask awkward questions.
Think about what happens if a motor is wired badly. A pane that will not close in rain is an annoyance, but a supply without proper protection is a fire or shock risk sitting inside your ceiling. That is why the wiring sits with someone trained and equipped to test it, and why we would rather you hear this at the survey than discover it halfway through the job.
02Part P
Where the rules come in
Electrical work in homes in England is covered by Part P of the Building Regulations, and some jobs have to be notified.
Part P is the section that deals with electrical safety in dwellings. In general terms, adding a new circuit is notifiable, and so is work in what the rules call special locations, such as a bathroom, where water and electricity sit close together. A rooflight over a shower or a bath can therefore bring the wiring into notifiable territory even when the same rooflight in a hallway would not.
Minor additions to an existing circuit are treated more lightly. The exact line depends on what is already there and where the rooflight goes, so we cannot give you one answer for every house. The electrician will tell you which side of the line your job falls on, and the rules are published on gov.uk if you want to read them first.
| Situation | Likely position |
|---|---|
| New circuit run to the rooflight | Usually notifiable, electrician handles it |
| Spur from an existing circuit, ordinary room | Depends on the circuit, electrician advises |
| Rooflight in a bathroom or shower room | Special location, take extra care |
| Battery or solar powered opener | No mains wiring to the unit itself |
03Planning ahead
Getting the power to the right place
The cheapest moment to sort the cable route is before the ceiling is closed up.
A cable has to travel from a fused supply to the motor. In a house with a loft above, that route can be simple. In a flat roof extension where the ceiling is already plastered, it may mean chasing a channel or running trunking, so it is worth deciding early. If we are already lining the opening, the electrician can run the cable at the same visit and the finished reveal covers everything.
- Where is the nearest suitable supply, and does it have spare capacity?
- Does the control go on a wall switch, a remote or both, and where does the wall switch sit?
- If there is a rain sensor, where does its cable run on the outside of the roof?
- Is the room a bathroom, kitchen or other place where the rules are stricter?
- Does the supply need to be isolated at a switch, so the rooflight can be turned off safely?
- Is there a battery or solar option that avoids mains wiring altogether?
Timing matters too. The electrician needs access before the lining goes up, and the rooflight needs to be in place before the final connection and test. We agree the order with you at the quote stage, so nobody arrives to find the ceiling already sealed or the opening still empty. A short plan on paper saves a second visit, and it means the electrician can leave the room tidy and the cable hidden before we finish the lining and hand the keys of the job back to you.
For how the pieces work together once powered, read how electric rooflights work, and for sensors in particular, rain sensors and rooflight controls.
04Our part
What we do and what we hand over
One team handles the rooflight, and the electrics are lined up around it.
On a visit we survey the roof, note where power could come from and tell you what the rooflight needs. The survey costs you nothing and the quote comes in writing. The rooflight is fitted to current Building Regulations, with warm-edge glazing as standard, and where the work is notifiable we deal with the Building Control notification. We protect floors and furniture throughout, and the workmanship carries a 10-year guarantee.
If the rooflight is replacing an old one, see do rooflights need building regulations for what is notifiable. If you are asking about an existing fixed unit, can a fixed rooflight be made to open explains the swap. The full range sits on our electric opening rooflights page, and you can book a survey here.
Wiring, power and who does what
Can I wire an electric skylight myself?
We would not advise it. The supply needs correct protection and testing, and a qualified electrician should do it so that it is safe and recorded.
Is the electrical work always notifiable?
No. New circuits and work in special locations, such as bathrooms, can be notifiable under Part P. Smaller additions to an existing circuit may not be. The electrician will confirm for your house.
Does the rooflight come with power already connected?
The unit comes with its motor and controls, but the supply cable has to be brought to it and connected on site.
Can I avoid mains wiring?
Some opening skylights are available with battery or solar powered operation, which removes mains wiring to the unit. Ask us at the survey which suit your roof.
