Old consumer unit with fuses

If the old fuse box is a metal box, cream/ white in colour with ceramic rewireable fuses inside, please take care as there may be white asbestos flash pads under the fuses. In answer to your question if you want new sockets installed then the best solution is have the installation tested and a new consumer unit fitted.

Something you need for new wiring work is RCD protection on the circuit. If you can't see a fuse anywhere with this written on then you'll probably need to upgrade the board. A new fuse board will have resettable fuses and RCD protection for all circuits. If you do employ an electrician just make sure they are at least registered! Good Luck

Installing new sockets to old circuits requires by law it has to be RCD protected tested and certified under the 2020 electrical regulations and requires a Building Regulations application in most cases the electrician can self-certify their work as they’re normally registered with a body that gives them the necessary ‘registered installer’ status (also known as ‘competent persons’) such as the ECA (Electrical Contractors Association) or NICEIC (National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting). So to your question it’s a NO you need your consumer unit changing 1st

In order to install new socket you will need RCD protection on the circuit, the only way to achieve this would be to install a separate consumer unit for the sockets. you would be best to have the main consumer unit replaced this would be the most cost effective way

It is possible, but a new Consumer Unit would be required to bring the installation up to current regulations. RCD protection is a must in this instance. The devices monitor for earth leakage to protect you against electric shock. In order to fit a new Consumer Unit, testing of the current installation would be necessary, to make sure that it is safe and that the new unit would work correctly without faults occurring

If you want to add sockets just add them. The way to look at it is this. If you were to have no work carried out at all the electrical installation is still safe. The wiring regulations never have, and never will, require old installtions to be upgraded per se. That unfortunately is a very common and false 'selling' point. Similarly, 'must have 30mA RCD protection' is also a myth. It only applies for new installataions, not adding a couple of sockets to existing installations. Think about it. When your electrical installation was installed was it unsafe? Of course not. Safety gets improved. New regulations don't make old installations unsafe like many electrictions would have you believe. By all means if you want to have a new CU there is nothing stopping you, just don't feel you must just because its old.