Thinking about some house rewiring? Take a look at our guide which sets out estimated house rewiring prices, as well as everything else you need to know about house rewiring, including timescales and the problems with this type of job.
Is your property more than thirty years old? If so, you may want to consider having your entire rewired if you have not done so already.
This will ensure your home is safe from the risk of electrical fires and will also improve energy efficiency, resulting in reduced electric bills and a reduced carbon footprint.
You can also increase your home value by updating your wiring, along with the added benefit of new light fixtures and sockets.
House rewiring involves removing outdated wiring and installing updated wiring to meet modern electrical standards.
To help you understand the costs associated with house rewiring, take a look at our guide which sets out estimated house rewiring prices, as well as everything else you need to know about house rewiring, including timescales and the problems with this type of job.
The average cost of rewiring a house ranges from £1900 for a one-bedroom bungalow up to £6000 for a five-bedroom detached home.
The price of rewiring will vary depending on the condition of your existing wiring, as well as how many electrical installations you have.
To help you get a better idea of house rewiring costs, the below table sets out the price of rewiring different-sized properties.
| Type of Property | Rewiring Cost |
|---|---|
| One-bedroom bungalow | £1900 - £3000 |
| Two-bedroom terraced house | £2500 - £3500 |
| Three-bedroom semi-detached house | £3000 - £4500 |
| Four-bedroom detached house | £3800 - £5700 |
| Five-bedroom detached house | £4400 - £6000 |
This job should be completed by a qualified electrician.
The cost of labour is usually included in the overall house rewiring cost; however, some may charge an hourly rate of around £25 to £50 per hour.
This price, will, of course, depend on the location of your property, as electricians in London tend to charge more than those in the north-west.
They may also charge an additional fee for more remote areas.
Tradespeople may also charge more if the wiring in your property is hard to access, as this will increase the amount of time spent on the job.
House rewiring is a complex job which must be conducted by a qualified electrician who will assess the condition of your existing wiring before replacing it with updated fixtures.
To do this, they may need to move furniture, rip up floorboards and knock through walls, so if you are planning to renovate you should get your house rewired beforehand.
Once the assessment is complete, the installer will proceed with the first stage of the house rewiring process.
This will involve replacing all cabling, wiring and backboxes, which will then be tested to double-check they are working safely and correctly.
The second stage of house rewiring involves re-installing or replacing light fixtures, light socket and switch faceplates.
Again, these will be tested to ensure everything is working as it should.
Once all the stages are complete, the installer will then conduct an Electrical Installation Condition Report along with an Electric Safety Certificate to determine that the rewiring has been successful, and the property is safe.
You may have to pay an additional fee for a report which is usually around £175 to £350.
Other additional costs include moving a light switch or socket which tends to cost around £100 to £300, installing a hardwired smoke alarm for £70 to £90 or even a fuse box replacement which ranges from £200 to £350.
Rewiring a house can be a dangerous job, so it is definitely not something you should conduct yourself unless you are a qualified electrician.
It is best to hire someone who is listed under the competent persons scheme who has the ability to self-certify electrical work while maintaining planning permission and building regulations compliance. If the person you hire is not listed under this scheme, then the work must be approved by somebody who is in order to comply with the current rules.
Attempting a house rewiring with no formal qualifications could result in creating an electrical fire hazard. It will also put you at risk of electrocuting yourself if you remove or install wiring incorrectly, which could be fatal.
There are various things that can go wrong with a house rewiring, including the risk of electrical fire which can occur if a wire is disconnected incorrectly. This is why it is imperative that you hire a competent electrician who has at least five years’ experience with rewiring properties. Any electrical work conducted should follow the safety standards states in the BS 7671 wiring regulations.
Suppose electrical work is conducted and it does not meet building regulations or planning permissions. In that case, you may need to pay for a report to be undertaken by a qualified person, and you may have to pay them to complete compliant rewiring.
Another issue with house rewiring is that it is hugely disruptive and usually involves lifting up floorboards and moving furnishings. This is why it is advised to have this job completed before conducting any renovations.
We have hundreds of homeowners each day checking the prices on YourJobCost before hiring a tradesperson. That way they've already got a good idea of how much they should be quoted.
House rewiring is one of the most disruptive jobs; however, it is a necessary task that will protect your home and family from the risk of electrical fires and faulty wiring. House rewiring will involve moving furniture out, lifting up floorboards, knocking walls through in order to access old wires and replace them.
When it comes to house rewiring, every property is different, so it is essential that you take note of any electrical failures as this could be a sign that your home needs rewiring. However, on average, you should have your property rewired every twenty-five years or so to ensure that your electrical installations are up to date and safe.
If you are a homeowner, you should try to have your house inspected every ten years to ensure everything is working as it should. In comparison, landlords should check their properties every five years to guarantee tenant safety and satisfaction.
There are various signs to look for when checking if your house needs to be rewired. This could include blown fuses and tripped circuits which can be extremely dangerous and cause deadly electric shocks if they are not replaced as soon as possible, as they are one of the biggest causes of electrical fires. Another obvious sign is a constant burning smell which could be triggered by a hidden electrical fault somewhere in your home.
A more subtle sign which you may notice is browning or staining around your sockets or switches. This is usually a sign of that tiny fires as a result of loose connections which may have occurred when you were out of the house or may not have been big enough for your smoke alarm to detect. You may also notice your lights flickering in several rooms. In this instance, you should double-check your bulbs to see if they are working, and if so, an electrical fault could be the cause.
The cost of rewiring an average-sized three-bedroom property is typically around £3000 to £4500; however, this will vary depending on the size of the home and the number of electrical installations.
House rewiring can be a time-consuming job, especially if you live in a large property. If you reside in a one-bedroom flat or bungalow, then rewiring should only take four to seven days, while a two-bedroom detached home could take up to eight days to rewire.
An average three-bedroom property should take no less than six to ten days, while a four-bedroom detached home could take anywhere from one to two weeks. Larger properties such as a five-bedroom detached house could even last up to fifteen days or more if you have a lot of electrical installations.
