There are many conflicting opinions about whether or not a property needs rewiring. The best way to find out is to contact LWS Electrical to carry out an electrical safety inspection (EICR). Having said that, there are telltale signs that a property definitely needs a rewire, and there are clues about the age of the electrics.


When an electrical installation DEFINITELY needs rewiring...

1. Lead sheathed rubber cables. The presence of lead sheathed rubber cables indicates a rewire is needed. These were phased out by the 60's so the electrics are at least 60 years old. The rubber often disintegrates leaving the conductors vulnerable to short circuits and earth faults

When an electrical installation MAY need rewiring...

If you have any of these accessories, you may consider a rewire as the electrics may be 40, 50, 60 or more years old

Original bakelite switches (Pre 1960s)

Wooden pattresses (Circa 50's & 60's)

Rewireable fuses (Replaced with MCB's in the late 80's

No earth conductor for the lighting circuits (A requirement since 1966)

Voltage-operated earth leakage circuit breakers (VOELCB, Most variants with a yellow button, discontinued around 1981)

Solid green sleeve on the earth conductor (replaced with green & yellow since before 1977

Rodent-damaged cables will need replacing and will probably need to be placed in containment, regardless of the age of the electrics

Other electrical dating clues

Experienced electricians will often find non-electrical clues about the age of an electrical installation. Here's an example LWS Electrical discovered in a loft

How much will it cost to rewire my house?

We have created a handy calculator for you. Simply enter the number of rooms for your price.

Huge savings can be made if:

  • The property is vacant during the rewire (A good time for a holiday),
  • The property is unfurnished (It could work out cheaper to put large furniture into storage for a couple of weeks)
  • Upstairs Floorboards are exposed (middle and top floors if a townhouse), the loft is unboarded (applies to bungalows as well as houses)
  • Surface-mounted cabling and sockets and switches, rather than cables chased into the walls and flush sockets and switches
  • Filling in the chases or making good is carried out by another trademan, such as a plasterer or a decorator (A good time to consider redecorating)

CLICK HERE FOR THE REWIRE CALCULATOR (Opens a new tab)

The price includes:

  • New metal-clad Type-A RCBO populated consumer unit,
  • SPD (Surge protective device),
  • Bonding upgrade,
  • Mains-powered interlinked heat & smoke alarms & CO alarm (for fossil-fueled heating systems),
  • white plastic sockets and switches,
  • white plastic pendant lights (contact us if you wish to upgrade to decorative sockets, USB sockets or downlights)
  • Certification,
  • Part P building control notification.