10 min read
The complete guide to house rewires
Rewiring is mostly labour and mostly disruption. Knowing whether you need a full rewire, a partial rewire or simply a consumer unit upgrade can save several thousand pounds.
Do you actually need a rewire?
Age alone does not condemn an installation. What matters is the condition of the cabling, the earthing arrangement and the consumer unit. Rubber or fabric-sheathed cable, a fuse-wire board, no RCD protection and no earth to lighting circuits are the genuine warning signs.
Start with an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR), typically £150–£300. It tells you what needs doing and gives you a document to price against — which makes competing quotes comparable.
What it costs
A full rewire of a three-bedroom house is typically £5,500–£9,500 ex VAT in 2026, plus plastering and redecoration. A partial rewire or consumer unit upgrade is far less: £700–£1,400 for a modern board with RCBOs.
| Work | Typical cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Consumer unit replacement | £700 – £1,400 | Includes bonding checks and certification |
| Partial rewire | £2,000 – £4,500 | Kitchen and bathroom circuits, or one floor |
| Full rewire, 3 bed | £5,500 – £9,500 | Excludes plastering and decoration |
| EICR inspection | £150 – £300 | Do this before commissioning any work |
| EV charger install | £800 – £1,600 | May require a supply or board upgrade |
The cost nobody quotes
Chasing cables into solid walls damages plaster in every room. Making good — plastering, filling, and redecoration — commonly costs £1,500–£4,000 on a whole house and is excluded from most electrical quotations. Ask explicitly who is doing it and whether it is priced.
Certification and Part P
Domestic electrical work is notifiable under Part P of the building regulations. A registered electrician (NICEIC, NAPIT or ELECSA) can self-certify and will issue an Electrical Installation Certificate plus a building control compliance certificate. An unregistered electrician means you must notify building control yourself and pay their fee.
Keep both certificates. Your buyer's solicitor will ask for them.
Planning the work
- Agree every socket, switch and light position in writing before first fix begins.
- Rewire while the property is empty or alongside other major work — the saving is significant.
- Think about the next ten years: EV charging, home working, external sockets and networking.
- Book the plasterer in advance; electricians rarely include making good and plasterers get booked out.
Questions to ask builders
- Are you registered with NICEIC, NAPIT or ELECSA, and will you self-certify under Part P?
- Does the price include the Electrical Installation Certificate and building control notification?
- Is making good, plastering or decoration included?
- How many circuits and accessories has the price been based on?
- Will you replace the consumer unit and check main bonding to gas and water?
- How many days on site, and will the power be off overnight?
- What happens if the incoming supply or earthing arrangement is unsuitable?
Warning signs in a quotation
- No certificate mentioned anywhere in the quotation.
- A price given without seeing the property or an EICR.
- No registration number offered when asked.
- Materials-only pricing with labour described as 'day rate as required'.
- Pressure to rewire when an EICR has not identified faults.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to rewire a house?
£5,500–£9,500 ex VAT for a typical three-bed house in 2026, excluding plastering and decorating.
How often does a house need rewiring?
There is no fixed interval. Installations should be inspected every 10 years for owner-occupied homes and rewired only when the EICR justifies it.
Can I live in the house during a rewire?
It is possible but disruptive — power is off in sections, floors are lifted and dust is everywhere. Most people move out if they can.
Does a rewire include new sockets and light fittings?
Sockets and switches usually yes; decorative light fittings usually no. Confirm in writing.
Independent
We do not sell leads, take commission or work with contractors.
Evidence-linked
Every finding points back to the exact page and wording in your quote.
Private
Your quotation is used to produce your report and nothing else.
Price it with a calculator
Already have a quote?
Upload it to KnowMyQuote and receive a detailed independent comparison showing whether you’re paying too much, too little, or receiving poor value.
- Your documents stay private
- Every finding linked to the wording
- No affiliation with any contractor