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Does my house need rewiring?
The warning signs, how to find out for certain, full or partial, and what a rewire costs, with prices including VAT.
Most homes don’t need rewiring. Many do need checking. The wiring you can’t see behind walls and under floors is what keeps your family safe from electric shock and fire, and it doesn’t last forever. This guide covers the signs that wiring is past its best, how to find out for certain, and what a rewire costs with SEGplc.
Signs your house may need rewiring
Any one of these is a reason to have the wiring tested. Several together usually mean a rewire.
- An old fuse box. A wooden-backed board, ceramic fuses with fuse wire, or a mix of old boxes rather than one modern consumer unit.
- No RCD protection. Modern consumer units have RCDs that cut the power in a fraction of a second if someone touches a live part. Older boards don’t.
- Old cable types. Black rubber, fabric-covered or lead-sheathed cables are found in homes wired before the 1970s. Rubber insulation goes brittle and crumbles.
- Old sockets and switches. Round-pin sockets, sockets mounted on the skirting board, or brown Bakelite switches.
- Burning smells, scorch marks or buzzing at sockets, switches or the fuse box. Switch off at the main switch and call an electrician the same day.
- Warm sockets or plugs, flickering or dimming lights, and fuses or breakers that trip often.
- Not enough sockets. Extension leads and adaptors in most rooms suggest the installation was designed for a very different way of living.
- No record of testing in 10 years or more. Owner-occupied homes should be inspected at least every 10 years, and rented homes every 5.
How to find out for sure: an EICR
An Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) is a full inspection and test of the wiring. Each problem is given a code:
| Code | Meaning | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| C1 | Danger present | Made safe straight away |
| C2 | Potentially dangerous | Fix urgently |
| FI | Further investigation needed | Investigate before the report can be finalised |
| C3 | Improvement recommended | Not urgent, but worth planning |
A handful of C2 codes can usually be fixed with remedial work. Widespread problems with the cables themselves are what point to a rewire. Ask your electrician to explain which applies and why. A good one will tell you when you don’t need a rewire.
Full rewire or partial rewire?
A full rewire replaces every circuit in the house, plus the consumer unit. It makes sense when the cables throughout are old or failing, or when you’re renovating and the floors and walls are opening up anyway.
A partial rewire replaces part of the installation: a kitchen, an extension, a loft conversion or a single circuit. It works when the rest of the wiring tests well. If you are planning an extension, see why it pays to hire your own electrician.
Sometimes the cables are fine and only the fuse box is out of date. Then a new consumer unit is all you need.
How much does a rewire cost?
All our prices include VAT and are subject to survey. You get a fixed written quote after the survey, so the price you agree is the price you pay unless you change the specification.
| Job | From (inc VAT) | Typical range (inc VAT) |
|---|---|---|
| Partial rewire (one room or a few circuits) | £695 | £695 to £2,495 |
| Full rewire, 2-bedroom house or flat | £2,995 | £2,995 to £7,495 |
| Full rewire, 3-bedroom house | £3,495 | £3,495 to £7,495 |
| Full rewire, 4-bedroom house or larger | Quoted after a survey | Depends on size and specification |
The “from” price is a basic rewire: one pendant light in each room, standard white sockets and switches, a new consumer unit, removal of the old accessible cables, and your Electrical Installation Certificate with Building Regulations notification.
What adds to the price:
- Downlights in place of pendants
- Extra sockets, USB sockets and dedicated circuits (cooker, shower, home office)
- Outside sockets and lighting
- Mains-wired smoke, heat and carbon monoxide alarms
- A circuit ready for an EV charger
- Chrome, brushed steel or other decorative fittings
- Larger or period homes with difficult access
Plastering and decorating after the work are not included. We’ll tell you exactly what will need making good before we start.
What happens during a rewire
- Survey and quote. We look at the house, agree where you want sockets, lights and switches, and send a fixed written quote.
- First fix. Floorboards are lifted and walls chased so new cables can run to every point. This is the messy part.
- Plastering. Walls are made good, usually by your plasterer or builder.
- Second fix. Sockets, switches, lights and the new consumer unit go in, and everything is connected.
- Testing and certificates. Every circuit is tested. You receive an Electrical Installation Certificate, and we notify Building Control for you.
Questions we’re asked
How do I know if my house needs rewiring?
Warning signs include an old fuse box with wire fuses, no RCD protection, rubber, fabric or lead-covered cables, round-pin or skirting-mounted sockets, scorch marks, buzzing, warm sockets and lights that flicker. The only reliable answer is an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR), which tests the wiring and tells you what needs doing.
How long does house wiring last?
There is no fixed lifespan. Modern PVC-insulated cable in good condition can last for decades, while rubber-insulated cable from before the 1970s is usually well past its best. Condition matters more than age, so if your wiring is over 25 years old and has not been tested, book an EICR.
How much does it cost to rewire a house?
With SEGplc, a basic full rewire of a 3-bedroom house starts from £3,495 including VAT, and most fall between £3,495 and £7,495. A 2-bedroom house or flat starts from £2,995, and a partial rewire from £695. Downlights, extra sockets, outside lighting and smoke alarms add to the price. We give a fixed written quote after a survey.
Can I live in my house while it is rewired?
Often, yes, but it is harder work for everyone and usually takes longer. Floorboards come up and walls are chased, so rooms are done in turn and power is off for parts of each day. If you can move out for the first-fix stage, the job is quicker and cleaner.
How long does a rewire take?
A typical 3-bedroom house takes around one to two weeks, depending on the size, the specification and whether the house is empty. We confirm the timescale in your quote.
Do I need a full rewire or just a new consumer unit?
If the cables themselves are in good condition, a new consumer unit with RCD protection may be all you need. If the cables are old or damaged, a new consumer unit on its own will not fix the problem. An EICR tells you which applies.
Does a rewire need building regulations approval?
Yes. A rewire is notifiable work under Part P of the Building Regulations in England. As a registered competent person scheme member, we notify it for you, and you receive an Electrical Installation Certificate and a Building Regulations compliance certificate.
Is red and black wiring dangerous?
Not by itself. Red and black cable colours were used until the mid-2000s and plenty of that wiring is still safe. It does tell you the installation is at least 20 years old, so it is worth having tested.
Written by SEGplc, October 2026. Prices reviewed regularly; the price in your written quote is the one that applies.
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