Guide: Electrical
How much does a house rewire cost in the UK?
A full UK house rewire price varies far more on access and listing status than on the electrician day-rate, so there is no single figure. The honest step is to get itemised all-in quotes that include the consumer unit, certification and making good. The job must legally end with an Electrical Installation Certificate.
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Get matchedWhy the day-rate quote is misleading
A two-person crew quoting "5 days at a day-rate each" sounds like a tidy number. It is not the real cost. A full rewire is materials, certification, second-fix, the consumer unit, fault-finding once the wall opens, and at least one day of plasterer follow-on.
The fair comparison between quotes is the all-in figure with making-good included, not the day-rate. Ask each electrician to itemise so you are comparing like for like.
When a partial rewire makes sense
A property with a sound first-floor circuit and failing ground-floor cabling can sometimes be partially rewired for a fraction of the full cost. The test is whether the existing circuit will pass an EICR with no C1 or C2 codes. If it will, leave it.
If a C1 (danger present) turns up halfway through, the electrician is required to disconnect that circuit on safety grounds, and a partial rewire becomes a full one anyway. Budget for that possibility before you commit.
What pushes the price up
- Solid-wall chases (concrete, brick-and-block) versus stud walls.
- Listed building consent or conservation-area rules.
- Three-phase supply, rare in domestic but common in larger detached and rural homes.
- Re-routing cabling through finished kitchens or bathrooms.
- Asbestos in the existing ceiling or floor void, which needs a survey first.
What the legal output is
A compliant rewire ends with an Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC), the consumer unit labelled and certified to the current edition of the wiring regulations, and the work notified under Part P (either by the installer through their competent-person scheme such as NICEIC, NAPIT or ELECSA, or via Building Control as a separate notification). If your electrician cannot produce the EIC, the work is legally unfinished.
What it costs
- Full rewire
- Get a quote (all-in) Ask for one all-in figure including the consumer unit, certification and making good, not a day-rate.
- Partial rewire
- Get a quote Only viable if the circuit you keep passes an EICR with no C1 or C2 codes.
- What must be included
- EIC + Part P notification The Electrical Installation Certificate and Part P notification are non-negotiable parts of the job.
We do not publish a single fixed price because real costs vary widely by property access, wall construction and listing status. The only reliable number is an itemised written quote from a registered electrician.
How to choose a vetted trade
- Use an electrician registered with a competent-person scheme (NICEIC, NAPIT, ELECSA or Stroma) so the work can be self-certified under Part P.
- Ask for the all-in quote to name the consumer unit make and model and to list making-good as a line, not an afterthought.
- Confirm the EIC will be issued at handover, and get at least three itemised quotes to compare like for like.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a full house rewire take?
For a typical home it is usually a few days of first and second fix, plus plasterer follow-on to make good the chases. Solid walls, listed-building constraints and awkward access all add time. A written, itemised quote should set out the expected days for your specific property.
Do I have to move out for a rewire?
Not always, but it is disruptive: power is off circuit by circuit, walls are chased and floors lifted. Many people stay for a single-room-at-a-time partial rewire and move out for a whole-house job. Agree the working pattern with the electrician before starting.
What certificate proves the rewire is done properly?
The Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC), plus Part P notification through the electrician competent-person scheme or Building Control. If your electrician cannot produce the EIC, the work is legally unfinished, so never pay the final balance without it.
Sources
Editor, Sorted Property
Oliver leads Sorted Property's editorial coverage of UK home services. He researches and writes the plain-English guides that help homeowners choose between installers and trades, drawing on the standards set by bodies such as MCS, TrustMark, the Energy Saving Trust and the Property Care Association, and is clear about what to check before any work starts.
Last reviewed: 11 June 2026