Outdoor socket, CU not RCD protected.

The regs are briefly, any addition or rearrangement of socket outlets and lighting must be RCD protected. It’s not economically viable imo to get a standalone RCD socket. By getting the consumer unit changed you will have RCD protection to every circuit then it’s good to go. Either way you go you will need a registered electrician EIC cert and notification to Building Control.

There are a variety of ways to provide rcd protection for an outside socket. 1) update consumer unit (which at some point would be advisable from how you described your current board) 2) fitting an rcd spur adjacent to the internal socket that your taking the supply from to feed the external socket (this has the benefit of being able to isolate the supply to the outside socket whenever you go away) 3) using an rcd ip rated socket

Hi, The regulations BS7671 state any socket outlet up to and including 32 amp must be rcd protected. In a domestic installation the entire installation will need to be protected by 2no rcd's on a split load consumer unit. you can either protect the socket by installing on an rcd protected circuit or you can alternatively install the cabling in steel conduit or armoured cabling which protects against mechanical damage and then install an rcd socket outlet, which is a cheaper short term option. i would recommend a change of consumer unit to future proof.

The new outside socket will need to be RCD protected so if your existing consumer unit does not provide this you will have to provide it. In likely descending order of expense you could: fit a whole new consumer unit which would provide RCD protection on all necessary circuits; you could fit a secondary small consumer unit with RCD protection specifically for the outside socket; you could fit an RCD protected socket on a dedicated circuit; depending on the existing consumer unit you may be able to replace the circuit breaker on the socket circuit with an RCBO which is a combined RCD and circuit breaker. There will be a very big difference in cost between these options so I would recommend you discuss further with an electrician before deciding. In my opinion any decent electrician will provide a free consultation before advising you which would be the best option.