A house rewire cost is priced per property rather than off a list, because the size of the home, its age, its layout, and whether you are living in it during the work all change the job significantly. For a full house it runs into thousands rather than hundreds. The only figure you can rely on is a fixed, itemised quote after someone has actually seen the property.
That is the honest answer, and it is worth understanding why. Here is what sits behind a house rewire cost, and how to tell a good quote from a cheap one.
What actually drives a house rewire cost
Size, but not the way you think. It is the number of circuits, sockets and light points that matters more than square footage. A large open plan house can be simpler than a smaller Victorian one chopped into lots of rooms.
Age and construction. Solid walls, lath and plaster ceilings, and no accessible loft or floor voids all make cable runs harder. A 1970s house with plasterboard and a clear loft is a far easier job than an 1890s terrace.
Access. If the floors are up and the walls are back to brick during a renovation, a rewire is dramatically easier. If the house is finished, carpeted and lived in, everything takes longer and more making good is needed.
Whether you are living there. Working room by room around a family is slower than working in an empty house.
What you want at the end. A like for like replacement is one price. Adding circuits, rethinking the lighting, running data and putting in outside power is another.
Full or partial?
Not every house needs everything doing. Sometimes an inspection shows that the consumer unit and a couple of circuits are the real problem and the rest of the installation has life in it. That is a much smaller job.
The way to find out is an EICR, an inspection that reports on the actual condition of the wiring rather than its age. It is worth doing before you commit to a full rewire, because it either confirms the need or saves you a lot of money.
Why two quotes can look nothing alike
This is where people get caught. Two quotes for the same house can differ enormously, and the cheaper one is not always cheaper by the end.
Ask what each quote actually includes:
- Is making good included, or are you left with chased walls to fill and decorate?
- How many sockets and light points, and where? Vague quotes get expensive when you ask for more.
- Is the consumer unit included, and what type?
- Are certificates and Part P notification included?
- Is there a contingency for what turns up once the floors come up? On an old house, something always does.
- Who clears up, and who takes the waste away?
An itemised quote lets you compare like with like. A single figure on a scrap of paper does not, and it is usually the one that grows.
The things that add cost later
Two of them, and both are avoidable.
Changing your mind at second fix. Moving a socket once the cable is buried and the wall is skimmed means starting that bit again. Walking the house with your electrician before first fix, deciding where everything goes, and marking it up, is half an hour that saves a great deal.
Not planning for what comes next. If a kitchen, an extension, a garden office or solar is on the horizon, say so now. Putting capacity and cable routes in while the walls are open costs very little. Adding them afterwards is a second job.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a rewire take?
Most domestic rewires take from a few days to a couple of weeks, depending on the size of the property and access. You should get a timeline with your quote.
Can I stay in the house?
Usually yes, if the work is done room by room. It is dusty and disruptive, but you do not normally have to move out.
Is a house rewire cost worth it for resale?
It is less about adding value and more about removing a problem. A buyer who finds ageing wiring and an old fuse board will factor the cost of putting it right into what they offer, or walk away. A recent rewire with certificates removes that entirely.
Should I get three quotes?
Yes, and make sure all three have actually visited. A quote given over the phone without seeing the property is a guess, and guesses go up once work starts.
Want a proper house rewire cost for your property rather than a guess? We give fixed, itemised quotes after a proper look at the property, so you know what you are paying for before anything begins. Get in touch.
