Rewiring Costs UK — Full House Rewire, Partial Rewire and Consumer Unit Upgrade Pricing Guide (2026)

Full house rewire costs 2026

Full rewire prices depend on property size, whether the property is occupied during the work, and the age and construction type of the building. The figures below assume an occupied property with a standard brick-and-plaster construction and include labour, materials, consumer unit, accessories and an Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC). Empty properties run 15–20% cheaper because access is far easier. Victorian or Edwardian solid-wall properties add 15–30% due to harder chasing and more complex routing.

London and the South East sit 20–30% above these figures due to higher labour rates and van running costs. The North of England, Wales and Scotland typically land at the lower end of each range. Always compare at least three quotes, and make sure each covers an identical scope — materials specified, accessories grade, certification included.

Partial rewire costs

A partial rewire covers one area or a set of circuits rather than the whole installation. Common triggers include a kitchen or bathroom renovation, an extension requiring new circuits, or remedial work following specific codes on an EICR. Typical costs:

Partial rewires that involve connecting new circuits to an existing consumer unit still require an Electrical Installation Certificate for the new work, and the existing installation should be inspected for compatibility. A Minor Works Certificate is appropriate only for genuinely minor additions to an existing circuit — adding a socket outlet to an existing ring, for example. Adding new circuits always requires a full EIC.

Consumer unit (fuse box) upgrade

If the property wiring is in good condition but the consumer unit is an old rewireable fuse board, a split-load board with only partial RCD coverage, or a non-compliant plastic enclosure, a consumer unit upgrade alone is often the right recommendation.

• Standard domestic CU upgrade to a full RCBO board: £500–£1,500 including the unit, labour, Part P notification and Electrical Installation Certificate. The wide range reflects the number of circuits: a two-bedroom flat with eight circuits is at the low end; a five-bedroom house with 16+ circuits plus EV charger and solar integration is at the top.
• Typically a one-day job for one electrician on a straightforward modern property.
• All consumer unit replacement is notifiable under Part P of the Building Regulations. An NICEIC or NAPIT registered electrician self-certifies — this should be included in the quoted price.
• Not appropriate where the existing wiring has rubber or cloth insulation, no earth continuity or multiple C2 codes on EICR — the wiring needs fixing before or alongside the CU.

Cost per point

Per-point pricing is sometimes used for additions to an existing installation rather than a full rewire. Use these figures as a reference, not as the basis for a full rewire quote (which should always be a fixed total):

These per-point costs assume the consumer unit already has capacity and the additional work is a minor addition. They do not include the consumer unit upgrade, testing or EIC where required for notifiable work.

What's included in a full rewire

A properly scoped full rewire includes the following as standard. If a quote omits any of these, ask why before accepting it:

• New cable throughout — all new 2.5mm and 1.5mm twin-and-earth to current colour-coding standards (brown/blue/green-yellow), replacing any rubber, cloth or aluminium wiring.
• New socket outlets and switches — double socket outlets on all ring mains, single-gang switches for lighting. Specify the finish grade (standard white, brushed steel or chrome) upfront — premium accessories add cost.
• New consumer unit — 18th Edition-compliant metal-enclosure consumer unit with individual RCBOs per circuit. Brands include Schneider, Hager, Legrand and Wylex. The unit itself typically costs £150–£350 depending on the number of ways.
• New earthing and main bonding — connection to the DNO earth or a new electrode, plus main bonding to gas pipework, incoming water and any structural steelwork.
• Interlinked smoke detection — smoke alarms to BS 5839-6 Grade D, LD2 minimum; CO detection where gas appliances are present.
• Electrical Installation Certificate — issued on completion; legally required and kept with the property records.
• Part P notification — self-certification via the electrician's Competent Person Scheme membership. Should be included in the quoted price.

Decorating after a rewire

Redecoration is the single biggest thing homeowners underestimate about a rewire. Chasing cable routes into plasterwork, lifting floorboards and drilling through joists leaves every room affected. Standard practice is to make good to a “builder's finish” — chases filled flush and ready to receive paint — but full redecoration is not included in an electrical quote unless explicitly agreed and priced separately.

Budget £500–£2,000 for decorator's costs after a rewire, depending on the number of rooms affected and the quality of finish required. A full redecoration of a 3-bed property following a rewire — including skimming over chases, repainting ceilings and walls, and replacing any damaged skirting — can reach £2,000–£4,000. Be explicit about redecoration responsibility in writing before the job starts; it is the most common source of disputes after a rewire is completed.

When does a house need rewiring?

The key triggers for recommending a full rewire rather than ongoing patch remediation:

• Age — pre-1970 installations almost always used rubber or cloth-insulated wiring that degrades over time and becomes a fire risk. Any property built before 1966 and not rewired since should be treated as a candidate for a full rewire.
• EICR with C2 codes — an Unsatisfactory EICR with several C2 (potentially dangerous) or C1 (danger present) codes often makes a full rewire more cost-effective than piecemeal remediation.
• Insurance requirement — some insurers now refuse to cover properties with pre-1966 wiring, no RCD protection or an Unsatisfactory EICR. Providing evidence of a rewire resolves the underwriting issue.
• Property purchase — pre-purchase EICRs and homebuyer surveys frequently flag rewires as required on older properties. Buyers can use the cost as a negotiating point or factor it into their budget.

EICR costs and when one is needed

An Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) is a formal inspection and test of the existing electrical installation. It codes any defects found and gives an overall Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory verdict. It is the starting point for any conversation about whether a rewire is required.

• Cost: £150–£400 for a domestic property. Price varies by property size and the number of circuits to test; larger properties with more circuits take longer.
• Landlord requirement: mandatory every five years (or on change of tenancy) for all privately rented properties in England and Wales since 2020. The report must be provided to tenants and, on request, to the local authority.
• Property purchase: strongly advisable as part of any pre-purchase due diligence, especially on properties built before 1970.
• Insurance: some insurers now request a current EICR as a condition of cover on older properties.

An EICR is not the same as an Electrical Installation Certificate. An EIC is issued for new work; an EICR assesses existing work. Following a rewire, an EIC is issued — a new EICR would then not be required for up to 10 years (or the period recommended on the certificate, whichever is sooner).

Part P building regulations and self-certification

A full house rewire, consumer unit replacement and most new circuit installation is notifiable work under Part P of the Building Regulations (England and Wales). This means it must be either carried out by a registered Competent Person or notified to local authority Building Control before work begins.

• NICEIC or NAPIT registered electricians self-certify the work — they notify Building Control on your behalf, issue the EIC, and the homeowner receives a completion certificate. No additional Building Control fee is charged to the customer. This is the standard route and should be included in the quoted price.
• Non-registered electricians must notify the local authority Building Control before starting work, pay an application fee (typically £200–£400) and arrange an inspection. This adds time and cost and is a significant compliance risk if skipped.

Always verify your electrician's registration before work starts. Check NICEIC at niceic.com or NAPIT at napit.org.uk using the contractor's name or registration number. Registration can be checked in under two minutes and removes all doubt about competence and certification legitimacy.

Rewire timeline and living in the property

Duration depends on property size, crew size and whether the property is occupied. As a guide:

Living in the property during a rewire is possible but requires planning. Electricians typically work floor by floor, keeping a temporary supply live to the areas not currently being worked on. Ring mains are left connected per floor in sections so residents can access power for essentials. On the final test day, the whole installation will be de-energised while testing and commissioning is carried out.

Kitchens are particularly disruptive — appliances need to be moved away from the walls and worktops cleared. Discuss a programme with the customer before work starts and agree which rooms will have no power on each day.

Signs a rewire is urgent

These visible indicators suggest the installation has deteriorated to a point where it poses an immediate risk and should be prioritised:

• Brown or cream Bakelite switches and round-pin sockets — visible indicator of a pre-1960s installation. If the accessories are original, the wiring almost certainly is too.
• Rubber-insulated cables — visible at the consumer unit as black rubber-sheathed twin cable. Once the outer sheath starts cracking, the installation is a fire risk.
• No RCD protection — if there is no RCD on the consumer unit (or no consumer unit at all, just a rewireable fuse board), the installation has no protection against electric shock from earth faults.
• Burning smell from sockets or switches — scorching around socket outlets or a persistent burning smell is a sign of an overloaded or failing connection that requires immediate investigation.
• Repeated tripping or blown fuses — signs of an installation that can't cope with modern electrical demand or has a persistent fault.

Any of these signs warrant an urgent EICR. If C1 (danger present) codes are found, the installation should be de-energised until remedial work is completed — this is not a negotiable point.

Regional pricing variation

Rewire costs vary significantly across the UK, driven primarily by labour rates, property type and local competition:

• London and South East: expect to pay 20–30% above the national figures quoted in this guide. Labour rates for experienced domestic electricians in London run £300–£400 per day; materials are often bought through local merchants at similar prices to elsewhere, so the premium is almost entirely labour.
• Home Counties and South West: broadly in line with the mid-range of national figures.
• Midlands, North of England, Wales, Scotland: typically at the lower end of each range. Some rural areas have limited competition from registered electricians, which can push prices slightly higher despite lower general costs.

Quoting guide for electricians: how to price a rewire

Rewires are high-margin jobs when priced correctly and low-margin — or loss-making — when rushed or underpriced. A systematic approach to the takeoff prevents both.

Site survey and takeoff

• Walk every room and count every socket position, switch position, light point, and dedicated circuit outlet. Include outside lights, garage, outbuildings and any EV charger provision the customer wants.
• Identify cable routing: which runs are through ceiling voids, which require chasing into plaster, and which go under floors. Solid-wall construction (no cavity) significantly increases chasing time — factor this in.
• Assess consumer unit location: can it stay where it is, or does it need relocating? Relocation adds £150–£400 depending on distance and service cable length.
• Check the DNO supply — note whether it's TN-C-S (PME), TN-S or TT earthing arrangement, as this affects main earthing and bonding requirements.

Material schedule

• Cable: calculate linear metreage of 2.5mm T&E (ring mains), 1.5mm T&E (lighting), 6mm T&E (cooker, shower) and 10mm T&E (large shower or EV charger) required. Add 15–20% for wastage and offcuts.
• Accessories: count sockets, switches, ceiling roses, downlight transformers, shaver sockets and any specialist outlets. Price at trade and apply your standard mark-up.
• Consumer unit: specify the unit brand, number of ways and RCBO rating per circuit. A 12-way Schneider or Hager RCBO board runs £150–£250 trade; 20-way boards £200–£350.
• Consumables: cable clips, back boxes, conduit, glands, earth sleeving, junction boxes, adhesive and fixing materials. Budget 5–8% of cable and accessories cost.

Access assessment

Occupied properties, multiple floors, awkward loft access and solid walls all add time. Build access difficulty into your day-rate estimate — do not absorb it as a margin hit. Specify in the quote what is and is not included in making good (filling, not decorating) so there are no post-completion disputes.

Selecting an electrician: what to check

• Get three quotes — for a job of this size, three quotes give you enough data points to understand the market rate and spot outliers in either direction.
• Check NICEIC or NAPIT registration — verifiable on each scheme's website in under two minutes. An unregistered electrician cannot self-certify under Part P.
• Confirm what certification is being issued — a full house rewire requires an Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC), not a Minor Works Certificate. If an electrician proposes issuing a Minor Works Certificate for a full rewire, that is a red flag.
• Ask to see a recent EIC — a legitimate electrician will have examples they can show you. Check the certification body matches their stated registration.
• Check public liability insurance — minimum £1m, ideally £2m. Ask for the certificate of insurance, not just a verbal confirmation.