Full House Rewire Cost in London 2026: What London Homeowners Need to Know
A full electrical rewire is a major investment for a London homeowner, but in many older properties it is the only way to bring the installation to a safe and compliant standard. This guide explains when a rewire is necessary and what the work costs across different property types in London.
When a Full Rewire Is Necessary
A full electrical rewire involves replacing all of the fixed wiring in a property from the consumer unit outward — every cable, every socket, every light fitting, every switch, and every junction box. It is the most comprehensive electrical work that can be carried out in a home and is generally warranted when the existing installation is so old or deteriorated that partial repairs would not produce a reliably safe result, or when the installation has been significantly compromised by previous incorrect work, damp damage, or rodent attack on cables.
In London, a substantial number of properties were built in the Victorian and Edwardian eras and have electrical installations that date from the mid-twentieth century. Rubber-insulated wiring from the 1950s and 1960s deteriorates over time as the rubber insulation becomes brittle, cracks, and loses its insulating properties. Lead-sheathed wiring from even earlier periods is still found in unmodernised London properties. An EICR inspection of a property with this type of wiring will typically produce multiple C1 and C2 observations, and an electrician may assess that a piecemeal approach to remediation would be neither safe nor cost-effective compared with a full rewire.
What a Full Rewire Covers
A full rewire begins with stripping out all existing wiring back to the consumer unit position. New cables are run to every outlet, switch, and light fitting in the property. In most London houses, cables are run through walls, under floorboards, and through ceiling voids. The walls must be chased (a groove cut into the plaster) to conceal cables that run vertically, and floors must be lifted to allow horizontal cable runs beneath them. This means a full rewire inevitably involves some making good of plasterwork and flooring after the electrical work is completed, and this is a cost that should be included in the overall project budget even if it is carried out separately by a plasterer and decorator rather than the electrician.
A full rewire also includes a new consumer unit, all new sockets, switches, and light fittings if specified, and full testing and certification of the completed installation. The work must be registered with a competent person scheme such as NICEIC or NAPIT, and the homeowner receives a full electrical installation certificate on completion.
Full Rewire Costs in London by Property Size
For a one or two-bedroom flat in London, a full rewire typically costs between 2,500 and 4,500 pounds including materials, labour, and certification. For a three-bedroom semi-detached or terraced house, the cost ranges from 4,000 to 7,000 pounds. For a four-bedroom detached house, costs typically fall between 6,000 and 10,000 pounds depending on the size of the property, the number of floors, and the complexity of the existing layout. Five-bedroom or larger properties can cost 10,000 pounds or more for a full rewire.
These figures are for the electrical work and certification only. Making good of plasterwork and decoration after chasing and cable runs can add 1,500 to 4,000 pounds or more depending on the scale of the work and the finish required. Homeowners who are rewiring as part of a wider renovation project can reduce the additional cost of making good by scheduling the rewire before any new plaster or decoration work rather than after it.
How Long a Full Rewire Takes
A full rewire of a two-bedroom flat typically takes two to four working days. A three-bedroom house takes approximately four to seven days. A four to five-bedroom house takes seven to twelve days or longer depending on complexity. The property will be without electricity for periods during the rewire, though experienced electricians usually maintain supply to at least part of the property by working in phases where possible. For occupied properties, the programme should be discussed with the electrician in advance so that disruption to occupants can be minimised.
Choosing an Electrician for a London Rewire
A full rewire is notifiable work under Part P of the Building Regulations. It must be carried out by a registered competent person or notified to the local authority building control department. Using an electrician registered with a competent person scheme such as NICEIC, NAPIT, or ELECSA ensures that the work will be self-certified and registered automatically. Always obtain at least two itemised quotes for rewire work and ask each electrician to specify what is included — particularly whether sockets, switches, and light fittings are included in the price or quoted separately. Prestige Engineers carry out full house rewires across all London boroughs with all work NICEIC registered and full certification provided on completion.