How Long Does It Take to Rewire a House?

How Long Does It Take to Rewire a House in the UK?

If your home needs a full rewire, it's natural to ask: how long will it take? The honest answer is: it depends. Size of the property, whether you're living in it, existing wiring condition and your specification all influence the timescale. Below you'll find typical durations and a clear breakdown of each stage.

Note: Home Rewires Ltd typically completes a home rewire in 2-3 days for average-sized houses.

Typical UK Rewiring Timescales

Rewiring an occupied house takes longer to complete. Here we break down the timescales of occupied vs unoccupied homes by price.

Note: these are average UK estimates. Very old properties, those with solid walls or restricted access, and houses with numerous extensions may take longer.

What Affects How Long a Rewire Takes?

1. Occupied vs unoccupied

Unoccupied homes are quicker: electricians can work continuously without moving furniture or protecting living spaces. In an occupied property work is staged, rooms are protected, and access is limited — all of which add time.

2. Property size and layout

Bigger homes equal more circuits, more sockets and more wiring routes. Complicated layouts, loft conversions and multiple extensions increase installation time.

3. Specification level

More sockets, additional lighting circuits, smart-home devices and data cabling all add hours or days, depending on complexity.

4. Access to wiring routes

Limited loft space, narrow crawl spaces or solid walls that need chasing will slow progress.

Stages of a House Rewire

1. Preparation

• Move/cover furniture and belongings.
• Isolate power and mark work areas.
• Lift floorboards where necessary.

2. First fix (main wiring installation)

• Run new cables and install back boxes for sockets and switches.
• Wall chasing, drilling and routing cables — the messiest part.

3. Second fix (fittings and connections)

• Fit sockets, switches, lights and the consumer unit.
• Terminate circuits and carry out initial checks.

4. Testing & certification

• Full electrical testing (insulation resistance, earth continuity, RCD tests).
• Issue the Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC).

How to Minimise Disruption

Costs & Time — What to Expect

Time and cost are linked — higher-spec work (extra circuits, smart home, new lighting) increases labour and material time. Always get a written quote that lists timescales, payment milestones and who is responsible for redecoration of made-good areas.

Read: What is The Average Cost to Rewire a Home?

FAQ

Can I live in my house during a rewire?

Yes, but expect disruption. Occupied rewires take longer because trades must protect rooms and stage work to keep areas usable. Many homeowners arrange temporary accommodation during the noisiest/messiest stages.

Does rewiring always take over a week?

No. Small unoccupied homes can be rewired in 2 to 3 days.

Will rewiring damage my walls?

A standard home rewire usually involves chasing (cutting) into walls to create channels for the new cables. Many professional companies, including Home Rewires Ltd, offer plaster patching as part of this service. An alternative approach is a surface rewire, where surface-mounted trunking is used to house the cables instead of cutting into the walls. While the trunking remains visible and is less visually appealing, it's a cleaner, faster, and more cost-effective option that eliminates the need for plastering.

How often should a property be checked or rewired?

Electrical installations should be inspected regularly — typically every 10 years for homeowners and every 5 years for rental properties. A full rewire is often needed after 25–30 years or if the inspection finds unsafe wiring. Source: NICEIC

Key Takeaway

For most UK homes, a full rewire will take approximately 2–10 days. Smaller flats and unoccupied properties are at the shorter end; large, occupied properties or those with awkward access and higher specifications sit at the longer end. Always ask your electrician for a detailed timeline and include a small contingency for older properties.