Rewiring a House in Kent: Costs, Timescales and What to Expect

A house rewire replaces all the fixed wiring in a property — the cables running behind walls and under floors that connect your consumer unit to every socket, switch, light fitting, and fixed appliance. Most homes built before 1970 have wiring that is now at or beyond the end of its safe service life, and even properties from the 1980s and 1990s may have wiring that no longer meets current standards. A rewire is not a job to put off: deteriorating wiring is one of the leading causes of domestic fires in the UK.

This guide explains how to tell whether your home needs a rewire, what the work involves, how long it takes, and what it realistically costs across Kent in 2026. Whether you are buying an older property, planning a renovation, or have been told by an electrician that your wiring needs attention, this is everything you need to make an informed decision.

Signs Your Home May Need Rewiring

The most reliable way to assess the condition of your wiring is an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR), carried out by a qualified electrician. However, there are several visible signs that suggest a rewire may be necessary, even before a formal inspection is carried out.

• Rubber or fabric-insulated cables — if you can see old wiring with rubber or cloth insulation (rather than modern PVC), the installation is almost certainly due for replacement
• Round-pin sockets or light switches with a round profile — these indicate pre-1960s wiring
• A fuse box with rewirable fuses rather than modern MCBs (miniature circuit breakers)
• Persistent tripping of circuits, or fuses that blow repeatedly
• Scorch marks or discolouration around sockets or switches
• Flickering lights that are not caused by a faulty bulb
• An EICR that has returned a C1 (danger present) or C2 (potentially dangerous) code on the wiring
• A property that has not had any electrical work done in over 25 years

Full Rewire vs Partial Rewire

A full rewire replaces all the fixed wiring throughout the property, including the consumer unit, all circuits, all back boxes, and all accessories (sockets, switches, light fittings). A partial rewire replaces only the circuits that have failed or are most at risk — for example, replacing the upstairs ring main while leaving the downstairs circuits in place. Partial rewires are sometimes appropriate where only part of the installation has deteriorated, but they are not a long-term solution if the rest of the wiring is also ageing.

In practice, most electricians will recommend a full rewire rather than a partial one for properties where the wiring is more than 30 years old, because the cost saving of a partial rewire is relatively small compared to the total job cost, and it avoids having to return to the property in a few years to complete the work. A full rewire also gives you a clean, fully certified installation with a new consumer unit, which is valuable both for insurance purposes and when selling the property.

What Does a House Rewire Involve?

A full rewire is a significant undertaking that requires access to the wall and floor cavities throughout the property. The sequence of work is broadly as follows: first, the existing wiring is isolated and removed; new cables are then run through the walls, floors, and ceilings; back boxes are fitted for all sockets, switches, and light fittings; the new consumer unit is installed; and finally all accessories are fitted and the installation is tested and commissioned. The electrician will issue an Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC) on completion, which certifies that the work meets BS 7671 (the IET Wiring Regulations).

The most disruptive element of a rewire is the chasing — cutting channels in plasterwork to run cables — and the subsequent making good. In most properties, the rewire itself will leave the walls in need of replastering and redecorating. Some electricians offer a first-fix and second-fix service where they return after the plastering has been done to fit the accessories, which keeps the decoration disruption to a minimum. It is important to factor in the cost of making good when budgeting for a rewire.

How Long Does a House Rewire Take?

The duration of a rewire depends primarily on the size of the property and whether it is occupied during the work. As a general guide, a NICEIC-registered team of two electricians will typically complete the first fix (running cables) in the following timescales:

These timescales cover the first fix only. The second fix (fitting accessories after plastering) typically takes one to two days. The total elapsed time from start to completion — including the plastering and decoration — is usually four to eight weeks for a typical three-bedroom property.

House Rewire Costs in Kent: 2026 Guide

Rewiring costs vary depending on the size of the property, the complexity of the installation, the condition of the existing wiring, and whether the property is occupied during the work. The figures below are based on typical installations in Kent in 2026, including the consumer unit, all wiring, back boxes, and accessories, but excluding plastering, decoration, and any structural alterations. All domestic rewires qualify for 0% VAT.

These figures include the labour and materials for the electrical work only. Making good (plastering, painting) is typically quoted separately and adds £500–£3,000 depending on the extent of the chasing. If you are having the property redecorated anyway — for example, as part of a renovation — the additional cost of making good after a rewire is relatively modest.

Rewiring an Occupied Property

Most rewires in Kent are carried out in occupied properties, which requires careful planning to minimise disruption. The electricians will typically work room by room, restoring power to each area before moving on to the next. You will need to be without power to parts of the property for periods during the day, but it is usually possible to maintain power to the kitchen and essential circuits throughout. Discuss the programme with your electrician before work starts so you can plan around it.

If the property is empty during the rewire — for example, a rental property between tenancies, or a property being renovated before occupation — the work can proceed more quickly and with less disruption, as there is no need to work around furniture or maintain power to occupied rooms. This is often the most cost-effective approach if the timing can be arranged.

What Happens After the Rewire?

On completion of the electrical work, your electrician will carry out a full test of the installation and issue an Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC). This document confirms that the work has been carried out in accordance with BS 7671 and is safe to use. Keep this document safely — you will need it if you sell the property, and your insurer may ask for it. If the work was carried out by a NICEIC-registered electrician, the certificate will also be registered with the local authority automatically, satisfying the Building Regulations notification requirement.

Areas Covered

Kent Trade Solutions carries out full and partial house rewires across Sittingbourne, Faversham, Maidstone, Canterbury, Ashford, Folkestone, Thanet, Medway (Chatham, Rochester, Gillingham), the Isle of Sheppey, and the wider Kent area. All work is carried out by NICEIC-registered electricians and fully certified on completion.