When a house actually needs rewiring
Rewiring is a big, disruptive, expensive job and plenty of houses that get quoted for one do not need it. The honest answer usually comes out of an inspection rather than a look at the fuse box.
Signs it is genuinely due
- Rubber, lead or fabric-sheathed cable — anything pre-1970s is likely past its life
- Round pin sockets, or a fuse box with rewireable fuses and no RCD
- Insulation resistance readings that have collapsed across multiple circuits
- Not enough circuits for how the house is actually used, with extensions daisy-chained off existing ones
- A previous inspection listing C2 items on most of the circuits rather than one or two
If it is two circuits rather than twelve, a partial rewire is usually the sensible answer and we will say so.
How a rewire runs
A full rewire is done in two stages, with the building work in between.
First fix
Floors up, walls chased, all the new cable run back to a new consumer unit position. Back boxes in. This is the messy part and it is when the house is least liveable.
Second fix
Once the plastering and making good is finished, the accessories go on — sockets, switches, light fittings — the board is wired and energised, and the whole installation is tested circuit by circuit.
Certification
You get an Electrical Installation Certificate with the full test results, and the work is notified to building control under Part P. That paperwork matters: it is what a buyer's solicitor will ask for in ten years' time.
Plan the rewire before the decorating, not after. The commonest expensive mistake we see is a house that has just been replastered and now needs the walls opening up again.
Living in it while it happens
Most people stay in the house. It is not comfortable but it is manageable, and we work in a way that keeps it liveable.
- Room by room where possible, so you are not without everything at once
- Power and lighting kept on to at least part of the house each night
- Dust sheets down, and the place cleared at the end of each day
- Kitchen and one bathroom prioritised so normal life continues
The thing customers mention most often in reviews is tidiness, and on a rewire that matters more than on any other job.
What affects the price
Rewires cannot be priced over the phone with any honesty. What drives the figure:
- The number of rooms, and how many sockets and lighting points you want in each
- Whether floors are accessible — solid floors and fitted carpets add time
- Solid walls versus stud, and how much chasing is involved
- Whether it is a full rewire or the circuits that actually need it
- Whether you want extras run at the same time: outside power, EV supply, data cabling
That last point is worth thinking about early. Running a cable while the floors are already up costs a fraction of doing it later.
Common questions
How long does a full rewire take?
Usually five to ten working days for an average house, spread across first fix and second fix with the plastering in between. Larger or more complicated properties take longer.
Do I have to move out?
Most people don't. We work room by room where we can and keep power and lighting on to part of the house each night.
Will it need replastering?
Chased walls need making good, yes. Plan the rewire before the decorating rather than after — that's the mistake that costs people most.
Can you rewire just part of the house?
Often, and it's frequently the right answer. If it's a few circuits rather than all of them, a partial rewire saves a great deal of money and mess.
Is the work certified?
Yes. You get an Electrical Installation Certificate with full test results, and the work is notified to building control under Part P.
Can you run extra cables while the floors are up?
Yes, and it's much cheaper to do it then. Outdoor power, an EV charger supply, network cabling — worth deciding before first fix starts.
