Does My House Need Rewiring? What Actually Decides It
Older house, old-looking sockets, or been told the wiring is dated, and now wondering whether that means a full rewire? This guide explains why age alone does not decide it, which signs are worth having checked, and how an electrician works out what is actually needed.
Send a photo of your fuse box and anything that worries you.
Does an old house automatically need rewiring?
No. Electrical Safety First says there are no set guidelines as to when a property should be rewired, and that old wiring is not necessarily unsafe. Many things affect wear and tear, including the materials used and how the property has been used.
Asked whether a 1980s house needs rewiring, Electrical Safety First says it depends on condition rather than age. If the installation has been tested, is in good condition and everything is working as it should, there is no requirement to rewire, although adding RCD protection may be worth considering.
What actually makes an electrician concerned
The condition of the installation, not the date on the house. Electrical Safety First names a modern consumer unit, circuit breakers, RCDs and PVC wiring as things that keep a home safe. An older installation may be missing some of them, may have wear or damage, or may have been altered over the years. Each of those is something to check, not an automatic verdict.
Signs worth having checked
Electrical Safety First's guidance lists these among the signs to look for:
Sockets with round pins.
Braided flex hanging from ceiling light fittings.
Sockets mounted in the skirting boards.
Damage to plugs or sockets, or visible burn marks.
Crackling sounds, or a socket or fitting giving off a lot of heat.
Fuses blowing or circuit breakers tripping.
Electrical Safety First advises that if you notice anything unusual like this, a registered electrician should check your electrics as soon as possible. A burning smell from a socket or an RCD that keeps tripping each has its own guide.
None of these signs on its own means the whole house needs rewiring. It means the installation needs looking at.
A full rewire, one circuit, or a smaller repair
A check can end in very different places. Sometimes a single fault is found and repaired. Sometimes one old circuit is replaced, as in the job below where the lighting in the old part of a house kept tripping and that one circuit turned out to need rewiring. Sometimes the whole house is rewired. If the fuse box is the weak point, that is covered under consumer unit upgrades.
How an electrician decides what is needed
By inspecting and testing the installation. Electrical Safety First explains that a periodic inspection will show whether the electrics are safe and tell you if anything needs upgrading. The written result is an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR), and EICR codes explained covers what its codes mean.
If a fault is already showing, electrical fault finding and repairs explains how the cause is traced first. Electrical Safety First adds that a qualified electrician will say whether a home needs rewiring and what can be achieved within a specific budget. Any new work is then certified, as electrical certificates explained sets out.
Rewiring and wiring jobs AJS has done
Checkatrade reviews for AJS include a whole house rewired while it was lived in, an old lighting circuit rewired after fault finding, a rewire with materials supplied, a property tested after a rewire, and a house wiring update.
Every review here is copied word for word from Checkatrade. You can read the full list on Checkatrade and Google.
A whole house rewired while it was lived in
“We had the whole house rewired - whilst the house was occupied which adds a whole other dimension to the task. Alex (and Sam) were extremely professional, proficient, friendly and always happy to explain what was happening and when. Super helpful as I was working from home throughout the entire process. They were very sympathetic with the property and did everything possible to reduce the (inevitable) channeling up/down walls, pulling up carpets and floorboards. At the end of each day they cleaned up and left the house clean and tidy. Excellent service, cost and follow up. Thank you!”
Checkatrade review, whole house rewire, CR2
One old circuit, found through fault finding
“Alex did a great job. Initially I contacted him for fault finding as lights in the old part of the house kept tripping. We found out that the old lighting circuit was using ancient VIR wires which had to be replaced and there was no earth in the circuit. The whole circuit had to be rewired which Alex did with minimal damage to the walls and ceiling. Overall a great job. Would definitely use again and recommend.”
Checkatrade review, rewiring of old lighting circuit, CR8
A rewire with materials supplied
“Delighted with the work carried out by this very professional company. I found them helpful, polite and efficient and have no hesitation recommending them to other customers.”
Checkatrade review, re-wiring and supply of materials, KT20
Testing after a rewire
“Had to have the property tested after a Rewire.Alex March carried out a very professional approach to the job,I’m very satisfied with his work and results . I will definitely use him again.”
Checkatrade review, tested and certified complete rewire, KT19
A house wiring update
“All good. Arrived ready to go and cracked on. Happy to discuss things as required and comes across as entirely competent in the trade. Will happily use for any future work.”
Checkatrade review, house wiring update, RH1
Common questions
Does my house need rewiring because it is old?
Not because of its age alone. Electrical Safety First says it depends on condition rather than age, and that a tested installation in good condition with everything working as it should does not have to be rewired.
How do i know if the wiring is unsafe?
Some signs are visible, such as burn marks, round-pin sockets or crackling sounds, but much of the wiring is hidden in walls and floors. Inspecting and testing the installation is how it is properly checked.
Do i need a full rewire?
Not necessarily. Depending on what the checks find, the answer can be a repair, one circuit replaced, an upgraded fuse box or a full rewire. An electrician should explain which, and why.
Can i get the wiring checked first?
Yes. A periodic inspection and test produces an EICR, which says whether the installation is safe and what needs attention. Electrical Safety First advises one at least every 10 years in an owner-occupied home and every five years in rented accommodation.
What should i send?
A photo of the fuse box, photos of any sockets or fittings that look old, marked or damaged, and a note of what is happening and roughly how old the house is, if you know.
Not sure about your wiring?
Send a photo of the fuse box and anything that worries you on WhatsApp, call, or send a message. It is the same process whichever of the electrical services available you need.