Updated Sep 21 2022 by Alan
If you have just a bought a project house that needs rewiring, this guide should give you some insights in what is entailed. If you are in the buying house chain and the survey reveals that the house need rewired, you may wish to check your home buyer's insurance policy to check if you have the option of exiting the sale without being caught for legal and survey fees,
Maintaining your house is a lifetime of work and financial outlay. We buy a house so that we don’t have to continually spend more money every month renting. But we don’t consider annual maintenance costs until we are forced to. Some examples of upkeep include replacing a conservatory roof with a polycarbonate option. Do you know the cost of how much to rewire a house?
Getting your house rewired is one of those things you hear about, but hope it never happens to you. It’s like Leptospirosis. Well, now it’s here on your doorstep, literally, so you’ll have to face it head-on. But don’t worry because we have done all the research for you. Check out our guide to house rewiring costs.
How Much Does House Rewiring Cost?
If you suddenly get a bout of vertigo or feel a tightness in your chest when the subject of house rewiring is discussed, you probably need counselling… or just some expert advice. House rewiring prices can be massively affected by several factors.
However, a solid guesstimate for a standard size 3-bedroom can be anywhere between £2,500 and £4,000. That price estimate also largely depends on which part of the country you live in. Prices in areas in and around London or the South East are more expensive than Nottingham or Newcastle, for example. Here are some of the factors we need to take into consideration when estimating how much to rewire a house in the UK.
House Size
It’s common sense that house size plays a major role in rewiring prices. The larger the house, the more wiring is needed. It’s not rocket science, not quite. Is your house a single-story bungalow or does it have floors? The overall floor area is the number we really need to use to estimate how much wiring is needed. If there are more wires to change, labour costs will also be higher.
Light Fitting and Socket Numbers
The number of sockets and light fittings will also make a difference to the price. If you have loads of lights throughout your property, that is also loads of rewiring that needs to be done. There are numerous issues when linking sockets with light fittings, so you have been warned.
Wall Materials
The materials used to construct your walls will also have a knock-on effect on the amount of work needed. If your walls are made from hollow and cheaper materials, the wiring will be easier and cost less. Hollow walls are the dream of electricians because they simplify the wiring work. If you have heavy-duty dense walls, it will cost more.
Fittings Quality
The quality of the light switches and other light fittings you use will heavily impact the price. If you choose the best quality fittings, it can dramatically increase the house wiring cost. The only issue is that cheaper fittings don’t look so great, so you might be conflicted with this one.
Bathrooms and Kitchens
You need special wiring and fittings when it comes to bathrooms and kitchens. It all depends on the type of appliances you have in these two areas of your house. Special light switches are essential in bathrooms so that wet hands never come into contact with the electricity. And rewiring kitchens is one of the most labor-intensive jobs of all. Kitchens routinely have more sockets than any other room to serve all those appliances. You also need to remember that ovens and hobs need to be wired directly from the distributor box.
When Do I Need My House Rewiring?
Hopefully never, but there’s a good chance you will need to pay for rewiring at some point in your life. You don’t get your house rewired just because you feel like it. There are only a few situations that might arise that call for house rewiring. Let’s take a look at those below.
House Extensions
If you are building an extension to your house, you’ll need to electrically connect directly to your distributor box. This is the perfect point to bring in an expert electrician to check all your house rewiring to see if everything is okay.
Remodelling Your House
When you remodel your house, breaking down walls and restructuring lots of things is commonplace. Knocking down buildings and remodelling always needs new wiring to connect with the house's older electrical system.
Fixing Old Wiring
At some point in time, your old wiring will need replacing. It’s possible that your old wiring system is not compatible with new systems and newer health and safety regulations. Electricians always follow the newest guidelines, so this might be the perfect time to replace your old wiring system.
Breaking Down House Rewiring Costs
There are so many factors to consider when trying to find out how much to rewire a house. Please see a list of estimations below based on your house layout and the possible duration of the job. Please note, these are merely estimations based on some set criteria, so it might not be a fair representation of your own rewiring needs or house layout.
| Property Type | Min Cost Estimation | job Duration Estimate |
|---|---|---|
| 2-Bedroom House | £2,000 to £3,000 | 5 to 8 days |
| 3-Bedroom House | £3,000 to £4,000 | 6 to 10 days |
| 4-Bedroom House | £4,000 to £5,000 | 10 to 14 days |
| 1-Bedroom Flat | £2,000 | 5 days |
| 2-Bedroom Flat | £3,000 | 5 to 8 days |
| 3-Bedroom Flat | £3,500 | 8 to 10 days |
Please remember that these prices are just guesstimates and are not inclusive of 20% VAT.
Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR)
Everyone who owns a house already needs reassurance in the guise of an Electrical Installation Conditions Report (EICR). This is a report carried out by a qualified electrician to state that everything electrical in your house is as it should be. The electrician will inform you of the condition of your electrical installations and wiring to ensure it complies with the current IET Wiring Regulations. For further information, have a look at our detailed guide on electrical safety certificate costs for more details.
Does My House Need a Rewire?
One of the questions that homeowners routinely ask themselves is does my house need rewiring? And if so, what are the signs? There are some telltale signs that you can closely monitor. If you do have any of the below issues, please call an electrician immediately for expert advice.
If you have any electrical fittings that happen to be damaged or out of date, you might want to call an electrician to come and take a look.
How Much to Rewire a House Q&A
Before you delve headlong into calling an electrician and spending a small fortune on house rewiring, please see our how much to rewire a house Q&A section below for any questions or queries.
Q: How often should we rewire a house?
A: Most experts recommend that you rewire your house every ten years or so. Or when a qualified electrician advises you to. Get your house rewired when you think something might be wrong, or if you recently bought the house and want to start on the right foot. But everything should be okay if your wiring is still covered in PVC and you have a circuit breaker unit.
Q: Do I need to rewire my house before I sell it?
A: No, you don’t have to. But if you think it will help in the sale of your property or you want that peace of mind before selling, it really is up to you. But as stated above, you only need to rewire every ten years.
Q: Are there any rewiring regulations I should know about?
A: Not really. Everything you need to know can be found in the standard Building Regulations Part P document. Your qualified electrician will need to know the IET Wiring Regulations.
Q: Can I Rewire My Own House?
A: Are you a qualified electrician by trade? If not, you can’t rewire your own house for health and safety reasons. However, there are certain jobs you can perform, such as replacing electric sockets and light switches and other minor repairs. Please check your Building Regulations Part P document to find out more.
Q: What should I ask electricians before hiring them?
A: A good place to start is asking them if they’re ‘Part P Registered’. He/she should also be qualified for both domestic building regulations and domestic wiring regulations. You can request a registration number from the electrician that can be used to verify their credentials online.
Q: What is the standard day rate for electricians?
A: Electricians are one of the best-paid trades in the UK. Standard hourly rates for electricians in the UK are approximately £40 to £60 per hour. But you’ll find they charge a minimum fee just to get them in the door. The rates can vastly differ depending on the area in the UK where you reside. Prices in the south far outweigh those in the north.