Rewiring a house

Rewiring your home is messy work. Walls come down, carpets come up and there is dust everywhere. It is one of the most disruptive home improvement projects you can undergo. So before you decide to go ahead with it, it’s best to do your homework.

Does my house need rewiring?

The best way to determine if your house needs rewiring is to get an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR). An EICR assesses the state of your current electrical system, checking for any damage, defects or dangerous conditions – i.e. signs that your installation needs updating. Our Electrical Installation Condition Report guide tells you everything you need to know.

Signs that your house needs rewiring

The next best way to figure out if your house needs rewiring is to look out for the telltale signs.

• The cabling is covered in rubber, fabric or lead
• Your consumer unit trips out regularly
• You can hear a crackling/buzzing noise
• Your fuses and/or bulbs keep blowing out
• Your lights are flickering a lot
• Your consumer unit is deteriorating on or around the components and is discoloured
• Your consumer unit is out of date (the date of a consumer unit is on the inside of the unit’s door, printed on the information label)

At the very least, these signs suggest that your electrics need checking.

Calling out an electrician will allow you to figure out what, if anything, is wrong and if it needs rewiring.

 

Frequently asked questions

Below we cover some of  the frequently asked questions about having your house rewired.

What are the benefits of rewiring?

The most obvious benefit of rewiring your home is increased safety. A full, or even partial, rewire greatly reduces the risk of electrical issues or failure, meaning you and your family can rest easy knowing you aren’t in harm’s way. If you need more convincing, however, there are other perks to rewiring your home.

1. It increases the value of your home: A full rewire can increase the overall value of your house. Buyers are increasingly asking for evidence of electrical safety and maintenance, making a recently rewired house a very enticing purchase.
2. It’s a hit with insurance companies: An insurance company is likely to charge more or even refuse to insure your home if it has an old installation.
3. Improve the overall capacity of your home: A new electrical installation is better equipped to handle the electrical demands of modern-day society.
4. Redesign fixtures and fittings: You can redesign the location, number and appearance of your fixtures and fittings to better suit your taste and needs.

How often should you rewire your house?

The consensus is every 20 – 25 years. That’s normally how long an installation lasts before wear and tear gets the better of it. In reality, it comes down to how well the installation is monitored and maintained.

Conducting regular visual checks, as well as organising an Electrician Installation Condition Report every five years (or when something seems amiss) is a good habit to get into.

When should you rewire your house?

It is advised that you rewire your house if;

• It has not been rewired in the last 25 – 30 years
• If you are planning any major remodelling work that is deemed a ‘material alteration’ under the Building Regulations
• If you are planning an extension or converting your loft/garage. This is defined as ‘new work’ under Building Regulations, which must meet specified standards. Namely, all new wiring must be Part-P compliant and all existing wiring must be earthed to current requirements, have satisfactory cross bonding and be able to efficiently carry the additional load

How can I tell if my house has been rewired?

The best way to tell if your house has been rewired is by checking the consumer unit and wiring. An old-fashioned fuse box or consumer unit without circuit breakers or RCDs (residual circuit devices) is an indicator the system is outdated.

Similarly, rubber, lead or fabric wiring shows the system hasn’t been touched for many years.

That said, the most reliable method would be to call in an electrician to conduct an Electrical Installation Condition Report. This will tell you the overall condition and age of your installation and whether you need to consider a rewire.

Can I rewire my house myself?

Yes, you can rewire your house yourself; but it is widely (and strongly) recommended that you don’t. Rewiring a house is a highly technical and dangerous job and is best left to a qualified, experienced electrician.

If you’re set on doing it yourself, consider having an electrician inspect your existing installation to make sure there are no faults that would be too hazardous for DIY.

Following this, you’ll need to notify your local council of the work, as well as arrange for a registered electrician or the council to inspect your installation once the work is complete.

Rewiring a house is subject to Part P of the Building Regulations which means it must comply with certain standards and requirements.

Overall – rewiring a property is not a DIY job, you should hire an electrician.

Are there any regulations I need to be aware of?

Since 2005, all homeowners and landlords undertaking electrical work are subject to Part-P Building Regulations.

In other words, all work on fixed electrical installations in a house or flat is legally required to comply with the relevant standards. The relevant standard is IET 18th Edition: BS 7671, which covers requirements for the design, installation, inspection, testing, verification and certification of electrical installations.

In addition to this, a rewire is classed as ‘notifiable work’ – that is, work that is subject to Building Regulations notification and approval.

Finally, you’ll need to obtain an Electrical Installation Certificate and Building Regulations Compliance Certificate once the work is complete as evidence that it complies with the law and industry standards.

Hiring a Part-P registered electrician is the best and easiest way to meet the regulations.

Are there any alternatives to rewiring my house?

If you are unable to commit to a full rewire, you may be able to opt for a partial rewire instead.

This involves replacing only the specific areas that are causing you issues. Not only is this more cost-effective, but it is less time-consuming and disruptive. It is fairly common for homeowners and landlords to have different parts of their wiring replaced at different times.

A partial rewire is also handy if you’re simply looking to add new circuits to an already functioning system.

Do I need planning permission to rewire my house?

No, rewiring can be carried out without planning permission. However, if you live in a listed property and/or a conservation area, you will need to apply for planning consent with your local planning department before you have the work done.

How do I find a good electrician?

Read our hiring advice for information on how to find and hire an electrician.

For information on how much it costs to rewire a house, read our house rewire cost guide.

To get quotes from electricians near you – post a job now.