How much does it cost to rewire a house in the UK?
Full house rewiring costs in the UK:
| Property size | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| 1-bedroom flat | £1,500–£3,000 |
| 2-bedroom house | £2,500–£4,000 |
| 3-bedroom house | £3,500–£5,500 |
| 4-bedroom house | £5,000–£7,000 |
| 5-bedroom house | £7,000–£10,000+ |
These figures are for labour and materials (new cable, consumer unit, sockets, switches, light fittings) but exclude plastering and redecoration after the work is done, which typically adds £1,000–£3,000.
What does rewiring a house involve?
A full rewire means replacing all the electrical cabling in your home, the consumer unit (fuse box), and all wiring accessories (sockets, switches, light fittings). This includes:
- New twin-and-earth (T&E) cables run through walls, floors, and ceilings
- New consumer unit (typically a 17th or 18th Edition compliant unit with RCBOs)
- New sockets, switches, and USB outlets
- New lighting circuit and ceiling roses
- Dedicated circuits for cooker, shower, EV charger (if requested)
The work is notifiable under Part P of the Building Regulations. Only a Part P registered electrician (or a building control-approved tradesperson) can legally certify the work. Always ask for an Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC) on completion.
How long does a rewire take?
- 1–2 bedroom flat: 2–4 days
- 3-bedroom house: 4–7 days
- 4–5 bedroom house: 7–10 days
The most disruptive phase is "first fixing" — chasing channels into walls and running cables through floor joists. During this phase, the property is not safely habitable without careful planning around live circuits.
After first fix, a plasterer repairs the chased channels (add 1–2 days and £500–£1,500), then the electrician returns for second fix to fit faceplates, test all circuits, and issue the EIC.
When do you need to rewire a house?
Signs your home needs rewiring:
- Age: Wiring over 25–30 years old should be tested; anything over 40 years old (rubber-insulated or aluminium wiring) is almost certainly due for replacement
- Persistent tripping: If your fuses or breakers regularly trip, it indicates overloaded or faulty circuits
- Scorch marks or burning smells from sockets or switches
- Old-style round-pin sockets or round-shaped fuses in the consumer unit
- Single-core wiring (no earth wire) — this is a serious safety hazard
- Buying an older property: Mortgage lenders and insurers often require an EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report) before lending
An EICR costs £150–£300 for a typical house and will tell you whether a rewire is recommended. It's a sensible first step before committing to a full rewire.
Minimising disruption during a rewire
A rewire is unavoidably disruptive — walls are chased, floorboards lifted, and the house is without power in sections. To minimise the impact:
- Plan ahead: Move furniture away from walls before the electrician arrives. It saves time (and money) on site.
- Combine with other work: If you're also renovating, plan the rewire first so plastering can cover the channels in one visit.
- Stay elsewhere if possible: For families with young children, staying with relatives during the first-fix phase makes life significantly easier.
- Keep a working circuit: Good electricians will maintain power to essential circuits (kitchen, one bathroom socket) throughout the project.
- Get quotes for redecoration: Most electricians don't plaster or decorate. Budget for this separately.
How to find a certified electrician for rewiring
Always use a Part P registered electrician for rewiring work. Registration schemes include:
- NICEIC (National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting)
- NAPIT (National Association of Professional Inspectors and Testers)
- ELECSA
- SELECT (Scotland only)
You can verify an electrician's registration on the relevant scheme's website. Registration means they can self-certify notifiable electrical work without needing a separate building control inspection, saving time and cost.
Get at least 3 quotes before committing. Ask each electrician to quote for identical scope (number of circuits, consumer unit spec, accessories spec) so comparisons are meaningful.