Rewiring Costs in South West England

Typical South West England rewiring budgets

Three planning tiers for rewiring in South West England, with scope and a representative figure for each. Run your own numbers in the calculator for a tailored range.

Typical regional cost ranges

1. 1

   EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report) before the quote

   A fair quote is preceded by an EICR — a formal inspection of the existing wiring that identifies what actually needs replacing. Without it, the electrician is guessing at scope (and will inevitably 'find issues' mid-job). Many older homes don't need a FULL rewire — they need a partial rewire plus consumer unit upgrade, which can cost half as much.

   Fair UK range: £150–£300 for an EICR on a 3-bed. Often deducted from the rewire cost if you proceed.

   Ask: Will you carry out an EICR before quoting, and provide the report so I can see exactly which circuits need full replacement?

2. 2

   Consumer unit (fuse board) upgrade to 18th Edition with RCDs/RCBOs

   Any rewire MUST include a modern consumer unit compliant with BS 7671:2018+A2:2022 (the 18th Edition Amendment 2). This means metal enclosure, AFDD on certain circuits, RCBO protection on every circuit (not just shared RCDs). A 'replacement consumer unit' line that's vague on the spec is a red flag.

   Fair UK range: £500–£900 supplied and fit for a quality 10-12 way RCBO board (Hager, MK, Schneider). Cheap plastic boards from £350 are no longer compliant.

   Ask: Which exact consumer unit model are you specifying, is it metal-clad, and is every circuit on its own RCBO?

3. 3

   Sockets, switches and circuit count — not just 'rewire'

   A fair quote lists: number of sockets per room (kitchens need at least 8, lounges 6+), number of lighting points and switches, dedicated circuits for cooker/oven/shower/EV charger, smoke and heat alarm circuits (now mandatory under Building Regs Part B). 'Rewire of property' as a single line is meaningless.

   Fair UK range: £50–£90 per socket point supply and fit. £40–£70 per lighting point. Dedicated cooker/shower circuit £150–£250 each.

   Ask: Can you give me a schedule of every socket, switch and circuit by room, with the count itemised?

4. 4

   Chasing walls, lifting floors, making good — and who does what

   Rewiring means cutting channels into walls (chasing), lifting floorboards, drilling joists. Some electricians include 'first fix' making good (filling chases, refitting boards) but NOT plastering or decorating. Many leave it as 'second fix by others'. The boundary needs to be in writing or you'll have £800+ of unplanned plastering bills.

   Fair UK range: Make-good chases: £200–£500 typical 3-bed. Floorboard lift/refit: £100–£300. Plastering/decorating is normally separate.

   Ask: What's included in 'making good' — is it just chase-filling, or does it include skimming and decorating? Where exactly does your scope end?

5. 5

   EIC (Electrical Installation Certificate) and Part P Building Control notification

   On completion, a fair electrician issues: (1) an EIC documenting every test result (insulation resistance, earth loop impedance, RCD trip times) for every circuit, (2) Building Control notification via NICEIC/NAPIT/STROMA scheme (you receive the certificate by post). Part P notification is LEGALLY REQUIRED for kitchens, bathrooms and full rewires. No certificate = no proof the install is safe, and the rewire is essentially worthless on resale.

   Fair UK range: Should be £0 — included in any reputable Part P scheme member's quote. £150–£300 only if you're taking the EIC alone (rare).

   Ask: Will you issue an EIC and notify Building Control via your Part P scheme, with the compliance certificate posted to me?

• Not NICEIC, NAPIT or STROMA registered (or refuses to share registration number)

  Why it matters: Part P of Building Regs requires notifiable electrical work (kitchens, bathrooms, rewires, consumer unit changes) to be done by a Part P registered scheme member OR notified separately to Building Control with a fee of £200–£500. Unregistered electricians are not committing a criminal offence by working — but their work CANNOT be self-certified. You'd then have to pay Building Control to inspect, and if they've cocked it up, you're stuck with non-compliant work that fails on house sale. Verify at niceic.com or napit.org.uk.

  Ask: What's your NICEIC/NAPIT/STROMA registration number, and which scheme do you use to notify Building Control?

• No EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report) offered before the quote

  Why it matters: Without an EICR, the electrician has no formal evidence of what needs replacing. Many quotes for 'full rewire' could legitimately be reduced to 'partial rewire + consumer unit + EICR sign-off' for half the price. Skipping the EICR is how you end up with £6,000 of unnecessary work in a house that needed £3,500.

  Ask: Have you done an EICR, and can I see the report so I can see which circuits are actually unsafe vs which are functional?

• No mention of Part P notification or Building Control compliance certificate

  Why it matters: Part P notification is a LEGAL requirement for full rewires, kitchens and bathrooms. Without it, the work is unlawful, you have no compliance certificate, and your house sale conveyancing will flag it. The buyer's solicitor will require either retroactive Building Control sign-off (£500+ and a possible fail) or indemnity insurance. Don't accept 'we'll sort the certificate' without specifics.

  Ask: Walk me through exactly how you notify Building Control via your Part P scheme, what timeline, and how I receive my Compliance Certificate.

• No EIC (Electrical Installation Certificate) provided on job completion

  Why it matters: The EIC is the formal document showing every circuit was tested (insulation resistance, earth loop, RCD operation) and meets BS 7671. It's separate from the Building Regs certificate. No EIC = no proof of safe install, and many home insurance policies require it for any electrical claim post-rewire.

  Ask: Will you provide a full EIC with all test results documented per circuit on completion, before final payment?

• Day rate billing instead of fixed price for a defined scope

  Why it matters: Rewires have a defined scope (X sockets, Y lights, Z circuits) — they should be fixed-price. Day rate quotes shift all the cost risk to you, and rewires that 'should take 2 weeks' regularly become 3 weeks under T&M. You want a fixed price with a stated extras rate for genuinely unforeseen issues (e.g., asbestos in old socket boxes).

  Ask: Can you give me a fixed price for the agreed scope, with a written extras rate for unforeseen issues like asbestos or hidden damage?

• Vague 'rewire of property' as a single line item with no schedule

  Why it matters: Without a room-by-room schedule (X sockets in kitchen, Y in lounge, dedicated circuits for shower/cooker/EV), you can't compare quotes and you'll be charged 'extras' for every extra socket you ask for during first fix. A reputable electrician walks you through the property and produces a schedule.

  Ask: Can you produce a schedule of all sockets, switches, lights and dedicated circuits by room, before I sign?

• No mention of smoke and heat alarm circuits (mandatory since 2022)

  Why it matters: Building Regs Part B requires interconnected mains-powered smoke alarms in every storey hallway and a heat alarm in the kitchen for any rewire — and Scottish Tolerable Standard requires them in EVERY bedroom and lounge as of Feb 2022. A quote that doesn't itemise these is missing a legal requirement and will fail Building Control inspection.

  Ask: Are mains-powered interconnected smoke and heat alarms included to current Building Regs Part B / Scottish Tolerable Standard?

1. 1. What's your NICEIC, NAPIT or STROMA registration number, and are you an Approved Contractor or Domestic Installer?

   Why it matters: Verify on the scheme's public register at niceic.com or napit.org.uk in 30 seconds. 'Approved Contractor' is the higher tier (commercial-grade competence + insurance). 'Domestic Installer' is the lower tier (sufficient for most home rewires). Either is acceptable for residential rewires; absence of any registration is a hard no.

2. 2. Will you carry out an EICR before quoting, with a written report?

   Why it matters: An EICR identifies what actually needs replacing. Reputable electricians offer this as the starting point, often deducting the £150-£300 cost from the rewire if you proceed. Reluctance to do an EICR usually means they want to over-spec the job.

3. 3. Will you issue a full EIC with all test results on completion, before final payment?

   Why it matters: The EIC documents every test (insulation resistance, earth loop impedance, RCD trip times) per circuit. It's a separate document from the Building Regs Compliance Certificate. No EIC = no proof of safe install. Insist on it before final payment, not 'we'll post it later'.

4. 4. Which Part P scheme do you notify Building Control through, and what's the typical turnaround for the certificate?

   Why it matters: Part P notification through NICEIC/NAPIT/STROMA is automatic and free for the consumer (typically posted within 4-8 weeks). If they're going to LABC notification (separate registration with the local authority), it costs more and takes longer — fine, but ask why.

5. 5. Which consumer unit are you specifying — make, model and number of ways?

   Why it matters: Quality matters: Hager Design 30, MK Sentry, Schneider Easy9 are reliable. Avoid no-name brands. Metal-clad enclosure is now mandatory under Amendment 3. RCBO per circuit (not shared RCDs) is best practice and what insurers and modern installations prefer.

6. 6. Are AFDDs (Arc Fault Detection Devices) included on bedroom and lounge circuits per BS 7671 18th Edition Amendment 2?

   Why it matters: AFDDs are now strongly recommended (and in some cases mandated) for sockets in bedrooms and lounges to prevent electrical fires. A high-quality 18th Edition installer will discuss AFDDs without prompting. Vague answers ('we don't usually fit them') is a sign they're not up to speed on the current regs.

7. 7. What's your installation warranty on workmanship, in writing?

   Why it matters: UK norm is 12-24 months on the workmanship itself (separate from any product warranties on the consumer unit, sockets etc). Less than 12 months is below standard. NICEIC Approved Contractor work also includes a 6-year platinum warranty backed by the scheme — a strong signal.

8. 8. How do you handle unexpected issues mid-job — fixed extras rate or T&M?

   Why it matters: Asbestos in old socket boxes, lath & plaster behind dot-and-dab, hidden joist runs — these are real surprises in pre-1970 properties. You want a stated extras rate (£X/hour, prior approval over £200) — not open T&M that ratchets the bill.

9. 9. Are you VAT registered, and will you provide a VAT invoice with your scheme registration number on it?

   Why it matters: VAT registration suggests genuine business turnover (£85k+ threshold). Cash-only or 'mate's rates' deals forfeit your warranty enforcement rights and Consumer Rights Act protection. Get a proper invoice with their registered address and scheme number.

10. 10. Do you carry public liability insurance at £2M minimum and professional indemnity?

    Why it matters: £2M public liability is the UK industry baseline. Professional indemnity (£250k+) covers errors in design or specification. NICEIC Approved Contractors must carry both as a condition of registration. Ask to see certificates — anyone who 'has it back at the office' doesn't have it.

Compare other regions

• Flooring Renovation costs in South West England
• Painting and Decorating costs in South West England
• Plastering costs in South West England
• Underfloor Heating costs in South West England
• Loft Insulation costs in South West England

Frequently asked questions