How much does it cost to rewire a house?
For a small, one-bed flat, prices for a full rewiring begin around £2000-3000. And the work should be completed in under a week.
For larger houses, prices can reach as high as £12000 or even higher if you have a 5 or 6-bedroom house. Due to the sheer amount of rewiring that needs to be completed, this kind of job can take up-to two weeks to complete fully.
How often do you need to rewire a house?
It’s recommended that a house rewiring is organised once every 25 years. Your house might not need a full rewiring just because this time has passed. But it’s likely that at least some of the wiring will need updating.
How do you know when you need to rewire a house?
Without having specialist knowledge in electrics, it’s difficult to know when exactly your house needs rewiring. The most straightforward way to check the quality of your electrics is to book an EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report).
It’s a legal requirement for all landlords to have an EICR completed once every 5 years. There aren’t currently any laws requiring private homeowners to have an EICR completed. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t organise an inspection – and it’s generally recommended that you have one every 10 years.
As part of an EICR assessment, an experienced electrician will complete a number of tests, including:
- Visual inspection of the electrics
- Dead testing
- Live testing
- RCD testing
If any of the electrics pose a risk, your professional will advise on the necessary remedial work. This can include the recommendation for either partial or full house rewiring.
What are the signs my house might need rewiring?
While it won’t be possible for you to say for certain that your house needs rewiring, there are a few tell-tale signs:
- Fuseboard problems – fuses regularly blowing or tripping
- Flickering lights
- Burning smell around your sockets
- Sockets sparking
- Shocks when plugging or unplugging appliances
If you notice any of these signs, contact an electrician immediately for advice & to organise an assessment of your electrics.
What other costs will I need to consider when rewiring a house?
In addition to the obvious cost of hiring a qualified electrician, there are a number of other costs that you’ll need to think about when planning a house rewiring project. These include:
- Cost for accommodation throughout the project - depending on the length & nature of the work, you might need to stay elsewhere while the work is underway
- Cost of removing & storing belongings (e.g. furniture)
- Cost of any replacement sockets, switches & light fittings
- Cost of lifting carpets & floorboards to reach the electrics
- Cost of post-rewiring decoration work – such as replastering, repainting or replacing carpets
How can I book an electrician to rewire a house?
There are a number of ways you can find an electrician to rewire a house – from asking local friends & family for a recommendation to finding an electrician through a trade directory like TrustATrader, Rated People or Checkatrade. Or you can simply Google electricians in your area and scour through the results.
Housekeep has electricians available to rewire a house in London, Brighton and elsewhere in the South East of England.
You can get a quote & book online. Once you’ve let us know what you need, we’ll pair you with the best local electrician who can get the job done.