Is your house 25 years old or older?
If so, it might be worth considering a house rewire. Electrical safety in homes is so important and ensuring that your wiring and electrical systems are safe and up to date with the latest regulations should be a priority.
In this guide, we will talk about when you should have your house rewired, the costs involved, the timescale and any other factors worth considering.
What is a house rewire?
In short, a house rewire is when the entire electrical system and wiring of a house is replaced. Typically, this process is done before the walls of the house are plastered and no carpet or furniture has been installed (also known as the first fix).
However, since changes in the regulation and through general wear and tear, older houses may contain electrical defects which could potentially put people living there at risk. So this is why it is so important to keep on top of it.
When does my house need a rewire?
There are many signs that may mean your house needs to be rewired. These include:
- Electric shocks from sockets and switches
- Poor condition of cables
- Loss of color of wiring and fittings
- Consumer unit (previously known as a fuse box) is outdated
- Noises such as buzzing and cracking coming from electrical appliances
Before jumping straight into a house rewire, it is worth getting a qualified electrician to inspect the house. A rewire of one room can be expensive but an entire house can be extremely costly so you need to make sure if a house rewire is the right move.
How much does a house rewire cost?
According to My Local Toolbox, a house rewire of a small flat could cost around £2,000 and a larger property, such as a medium-sized detached house, ranges around £5,000.
| Size of property | Cost | Time |
| 1 Bed flat | £1,500 – 3,000 | 5 days |
| 2 Bed flat | £2,500 – 4,000 | 5 – 8 days |
| 1 Bed house | £2,500 – 4,000 | 5 – 7 days |
| 2 Bed house | £3,000 – 5,000 | 5 – 8 days |
| 3 Bed house | £3,000 – 7,000 | 6 – 10 days |
| 4 Bed house | £4,500 – 8,000 | 7 – 14 days |
| 5 Bed house | £9,000+ | 14+ days |
Source – My Local Toolbox – house rewire cost guide
These average cost estimates are also influenced by a variety of factors such as
- Location of the property
- The difficulty of the job
- The type of electrical fixtures and fittings
- If the property has residents or is unoccupied
Do you need to be qualified to conduct a house rewire?
While it is tempting to consider this, especially after seeing the huge costs involved, a house rewire is an extremely dangerous and complex job. You need to be fully confident and experienced in handling electrical systems. Let alone the risks to personal safety, you could end up doing more damage to your property’s electrics and wiring, which will cost you a lot more in the long run.
Furthermore, a house rewire requires approval from your local building control and for all of the work related to be compliant with Part P of the building regulations.
That’s why it is strongly recommended that you hire a fully qualified electrician, who is registered with the NICEIC or ELECSA. This way you can be assured that all electrical work will be completed to a professional standard and is compliant with the latest regulations. Plus, electricians registered with these bodies can contact building control on your behalf and get all the necessary approval for the job.
Conclusion
A house rewire can be an expensive, time consuming and disruptive job. It is important therefore to make arrangements with your family or tenants around the time of the house rewire to minimize the disruption caused. Always check the qualifications and reviews of the electricians you are hiring to ensure the job is completed smoothly and to a professional standard.