A full house rewire is one of the most expensive and disruptive home improvements. But if your wiring is 30+ years old, uses old-style rubber or fabric insulation, or your fuse board still has rewirable fuses — it's not optional. It's a safety issue.
This guide breaks down the real costs in 2026, what affects the price, how long it takes, and what to look for in an electrician.
Quick price summary
| Property type | Typical cost (labour + materials) |
|---|---|
| 1-bed flat | £2,500-4,000 |
| 2-bed terraced house | £3,500-5,500 |
| 3-bed semi-detached | £4,500-7,000 |
| 3-bed detached | £5,500-8,000 |
| 4-bed detached | £7,000-10,000 |
| 5-bed detached | £9,000-14,000 |
These include the consumer unit (fuse board), all cables, sockets, switches, and light fittings. They don't include making good (replastering, decorating) — that's an additional cost.
What's included in a full rewire
A full rewire means replacing everything from the meter to the sockets:
| Component | What's replaced |
|---|---|
| Consumer unit (fuse board) | Old fuse board replaced with modern RCBO board |
| Main cables | Meter tails and distribution cables |
| Ring circuits | All socket circuits rewired |
| Lighting circuits | All lighting circuits rewired |
| Sockets | New double sockets (usually more than the original) |
| Switches | New light switches and dimmers |
| Light fittings | Existing fittings reconnected or new ones fitted |
| Smoke/heat detectors | Mains-wired with battery backup (Building Regs) |
| Earth bonding | Main earth, supplementary bonding to pipes |
| External meter tails | If required by the DNO |
What's usually extra
| Item | Typical additional cost |
|---|---|
| Underfloor heating circuits | £300-600 per room |
| EV charger circuit | £200-400 (cable and isolator only) |
| Smart home wiring (Cat6, HDMI) | £500-1,500 depending on extent |
| Outdoor lighting and sockets | £200-500 |
| Making good (plaster, decoration) | £1,000-3,000+ |
What affects the price
1. Property size
The biggest factor. More rooms = more circuits = more cable = more labour. A 5-bed detached costs roughly 3× a 1-bed flat.
2. Number of floors
A 3-storey townhouse costs more than a single-storey bungalow of the same floor area. Running cables vertically between floors is more labour-intensive than horizontal runs.
3. Construction type
| Construction | Impact on cost |
|---|---|
| Timber frame | Easier to run cables — lower cost |
| Standard brick/block | Average cost — cables run through plaster |
| Solid wall (stone/brick) | Harder to chase — higher cost (+15-25%) |
| Concrete floors | Very hard to route cables — highest cost |
4. Access
| Factor | Impact |
|---|---|
| Loft access | Good access = cheaper (cables run through loft) |
| Suspended floors | Good access = cheaper (cables run under floors) |
| Solid concrete ground floor | No under-floor access = surface-mounted or chased into walls |
| Occupied vs empty property | Empty is cheaper — no furniture to work around |
5. Number of sockets and circuits
Modern Building Regulations recommend more sockets than older properties had. A 3-bed house might go from 20 sockets to 35+ during a rewire. More sockets = more cable and labour.
6. Region
| Region | Typical premium |
|---|---|
| London | +25-35% |
| South East | +15-25% |
| South West, Midlands | Average |
| North, Scotland, Wales | -5-15% |
How long does a full rewire take?
| Property | Duration |
|---|---|
| 1-bed flat | 3-5 days |
| 2-bed terraced | 5-7 days |
| 3-bed semi | 7-10 days |
| 4-bed detached | 10-14 days |
| 5-bed detached | 12-18 days |
This is the electrical work only. Add 1-2 weeks for plastering and decorating after. During the rewire, you may have no power for periods — most electricians provide temporary supply to key circuits.
Signs you need a rewire
| Sign | What it means |
|---|---|
| Rubber or fabric-insulated cables | Pre-1960s wiring — beyond its safe lifespan |
| Old round-pin sockets | Wiring predates modern standards |
| Rewirable fuse board (wire fuses) | No RCD protection — electrocution risk |
| Burning smell from sockets | Overheating connections — fire risk |
| Lights dimming when appliances turn on | Overloaded circuits |
| Frequent tripping | Circuits overloaded or insulation deteriorating |
| No earth bonding to pipes | Required by current regulations |
| No smoke detectors | Required by Building Regulations on any rewire |
The definitive test: An EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report) by a qualified electrician. This inspects and tests your entire installation and grades each circuit. If you receive C1 (danger present) or C2 (potentially dangerous) codes, a rewire is likely needed.
The rewire process
Week 1: First fix
- Strip out old cables, sockets, and switches
- Chase walls for new cable routes
- Run new cables through loft, under floors, and in wall chases
- Install new back boxes for sockets and switches
- Fit new consumer unit
- Run circuits for smoke detectors, outdoor lighting, any extras
The house will look messy. Walls will have channels cut into them. Floorboards may be lifted. This is normal.
Week 2: Second fix and testing
- Fit sockets, switches, and light fittings
- Connect everything at the consumer unit
- Test every circuit (insulation resistance, earth fault loop, RCD)
- Commission and label the consumer unit
- Issue Electrical Installation Certificate
- Notify Building Control (via Part P scheme)
After: Making good
- Plasterer fills chases and patches walls
- Decorator repaints affected areas
Choosing an electrician
Non-negotiable
- Part P registered (NICEIC, NAPIT, ELECSA, or similar) — required to self-certify domestic work
- 18th Edition qualified — current Wiring Regulations
- 2391 qualified — Inspection and Testing (needed to issue the EIC)
- Public liability insurance — minimum £2M
- Written quote with itemised breakdown
Red flags
- No Part P registration
- Won't provide a written quote
- Significantly cheaper than other quotes (cutting corners on cable quality)
- Can't show examples of previous rewires
- Wants full payment upfront
What to ask
- "Are you Part P registered? Which scheme?"
- "Will you issue an Electrical Installation Certificate?"
- "Does the quote include the consumer unit, all sockets, switches, and smoke detectors?"
- "How will you handle the making good — or do I need to arrange a plasterer?"
- "Can I see photos of a recent full rewire you've done?"
- "What's included and what's extra?"
Can I rewire in stages?
Yes, but it's more expensive overall. You can rewire one floor or one circuit at a time, but each visit involves setup and testing time. A full rewire done in one go is typically 15-25% cheaper than staged work.
The main reason to stage a rewire is if you're living in the property and can't manage the disruption all at once. Discuss staging options with your electrician.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need Building Regulations approval for a rewire?
Yes. A full rewire is notifiable work under Part P. Your electrician handles this through their competent person scheme — they certify the work and notify Building Control on your behalf. You should receive a Building Regulations Compliance Certificate.
Can I do any of it myself?
You can do non-notifiable work like replacing sockets and switches (like-for-like). But the actual rewiring — new circuits, consumer unit, cable installation — must be done by a qualified electrician or inspected by Building Control.
How often does a house need rewiring?
A modern installation should last 25-40 years. The Electrical Safety Standards recommend an EICR every 10 years for homeowners and every 5 years for rental properties.
Will I need to move out during the rewire?
Not necessarily, but life will be uncomfortable. Dust, noise, no power to some rooms. Many people stay in the property and adapt. If you have young children or work from home, consider temporary accommodation for the first-fix week.
For electricians: quote, schedule, and invoice rewire projects from one platform
Muster handles multi-day project scheduling, progress invoicing with Muster Pay, EICR certificates, and Xero sync — flat-rate pricing that doesn't grow with your team.
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