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Electrical work in a townhouse

Townhouses pack a family home into a narrow footprint. That shapes where cables can go and how much room the board has for anything new.

A townhouse usually has a single board, often in a utility area or under the stairs, with most ways already used. Adding circuits for an extra split unit, an outdoor kitchen or an EV charger can run into the limit of spare space or the supply’s capacity. Cable routes are tight because rooms are stacked and some walls are shared with neighbours.

Property guides describe how electrical work changes with the type of building it happens in.

Shared walls mean chasing or drilling has to be careful: cables and pipes from either side may be close, and noise affects the next house. Small gardens are often paved, so new outdoor supplies need routes that avoid lifting large areas. Community rules may also govern external fittings, visible cable runs and working hours.

01In short

The points that matter most

  • Little spare board space

    New circuits may need a larger board or a small sub-board.

  • Shared walls

    Drilling and chasing need care on party walls.

  • Community rules

    External changes and working times may be restricted.

02Detail

Common townhouse requests

  • Patio and courtyard lighting

    Wall lights and low-level fittings with cable routes that avoid lifting paving.

  • Extra sockets in small rooms

    Placed where furniture actually goes, often in surface trunking where walls are shared.

  • Roof-terrace supplies

    Lights and sockets for terraces, with weatherproof fittings and sensible routes up through the house.

  • Board capacity checks

    Confirming spare ways and supply capacity before planning new loads.

03Checklist

Before work starts

  • Check community rules

    Ask the community management about external fittings and working hours.

  • Count spare ways

    Photograph the board so spare space can be seen.

  • Tell the neighbours

    Drilling on a shared wall is loud on their side too.

04Questions

Questions people ask

Can I add an EV charger to a townhouse?
Often, subject to supply capacity, board space, a cable route to the parking space and community approval.
Why is there so little space in my board?
Townhouse boards are usually sized for the original layout, and additions use up spare ways quickly.
Is it safe to drill into a party wall?
With care. Cable detection and shallow fixings reduce the risk of hitting services on either side.
Can outdoor lights be added without lifting paving?
Often, by running cables along walls or under edging rather than across the patio.

05Related

Related guides

This guide sits under electrical work. All topics are on the guides page.

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