How long does a house rewire take?

A full rewire of a typical three-bedroom UK house takes 5 to 10 working days. A two-bedroom flat is usually 3–5 days, a large four or five-bedroom property 10–15 days. Occupied properties, period houses with solid walls and homes where floors cannot easily be lifted sit at the longer end of each range.

Typical rewire timescales by property size

Property	Empty property	Occupied / phased
1–2 bed flat	3–5 days	5–7 days
2–3 bed terrace	5–7 days	7–10 days
3–4 bed semi	7–10 days	10–12 days
4–5 bed detached / period	10–15 days	15–20 days

These are working days on site, not elapsed calendar time. Plastering and decorating afterwards are separate and are not included above.

What each stage involves

1. Survey and fixed quote (1–2 hours)

We inspect the existing installation, test what is there, and agree every socket, switch and light position with you before pricing. Getting this right is what stops the "while we're here" charges that make rewires overrun.

2. First fix (roughly 60% of the job)

Floorboards up, walls chased, all new cabling run back to the board. This is the disruptive stage. In period properties — the Victorian and Edwardian houses common across Dulwich, Croydon and Streatham — routing around original features adds time but avoids permanent damage.

3. Consumer unit change (1 day)

The new RCBO consumer unit goes in and main protective bonding to gas and water is upgraded. Your supply is off for part of this day.

4. Second fix (1–2 days)

Accessories fitted and terminated: sockets, switches, light fittings, extractors, outdoor points.

5. Testing and certification (half a day)

Every circuit is tested to BS 7671 and you receive an Electrical Installation Certificate plus the Building Regulations compliance notification. This paperwork is what a solicitor asks for at sale — see our guide on whether you need an EICR to sell your house.

What makes a rewire take longer

• Solid walls and concrete floors — no void to run cable through, so more chasing.
• Occupied properties — we work room by room and reinstate each evening.
• Listed or conservation-area properties — routes must avoid original fabric.
• Extra circuits — EV charger, garden office, hot tub, home office data runs.
• Asbestos or unexpected finds — rare, but it stops work until it is handled properly.

Do you definitely need a full rewire?

Often not. If the cabling tests sound and the problem is protection rather than deterioration, a consumer unit upgrade may be all you need. Our comparison of EICR, rewire and consumer unit upgrade sets out which one applies, and the 10 signs your house needs rewiring covers the symptoms that genuinely point to replacement.

Frequently asked

Can I live in the house during a rewire?

Usually yes, if the work is phased room by room. You will lose power in the room being worked on and for part of the consumer unit change, and there will be dust. Families with young children or anyone working from home often prefer to move out for the first-fix stage only.

Does a rewire have to be done all at once?

No. A partial rewire — for example, upstairs only, or just the lighting circuits — is perfectly legitimate and common where only part of the installation has deteriorated. It must still be tested and certified, and the certificate will record which parts of the installation are new.

Do I need building control approval for a rewire?

A rewire is notifiable work under Part P of the Building Regulations in England and Wales. A NICEIC-approved contractor self-certifies it and issues the building control notification for you, so you do not need to apply to the council separately.

How long after a rewire can I decorate?

Once chases are filled and the plaster has dried — usually a few days depending on depth and ventilation. We recommend waiting until testing and certification are complete so nothing has to be reopened.

Need a straight answer about your own property?

Call 0203 576 6961 — answered by a real person, available 24/7 — or request a free written quote.