Fitting ceiling light with no earth

Some older properties do not have an earth in the lighting circuit. Without seeing the ceiling rose you aren't going to know if there is an earth or not. As long as the fitting (pendant) you are installing is double insulated (look for a symbol which is a square within a square) or isnt metal then you will be ok without an earth. Best bet would be to get access to the ceiling rose to determine if there is an earth.

Older properties may not have earths in lighting circuit, which is not good. To check take a look at other light fittings or in switches, it could be the pendent has been covered up and a bit of 2 core flex has been used to extend to the light fitting. The lighting circuit (as all circuits) should have RCD protection.

Prior to 1967 lighting circuits did not contain an Earth. For as long as I’ve been practicing and for many years before that this has been a unacceptable. With the only remedial action being to completely rewire that circuit. If your wiring did date from pre 67 it would like be at or beyond end of life any how. If you are lucky the wiring is newer and there is an Earth connection behind your ceiling that has not been done professionally/ brought through. Maybe a professional could install a dry lining conduit box and a pvc pendant pattress to make the Earth accessible. Using a double insulated fitting is a stupid half measure and the measure of a poor quality contractor. As someone could later connect a class one fitting that is then unearthed. potentially this could cause serious injury. My own father needed surgery and spent 6 weeks in plaster when an unearthed class one appliance electrocuted him and the jerk your hand out the way reaction caused him to cut several tendons in his hand on a sharp piece of the appliance casing.