Rewiring an old house can help increase its value and achieve a quicker sale.
Old houses that require rewiring are deemed unsafe for habitation by mortgage lenders. The property may be deemed unmortgageable, or the lender may pose restrictions on it – such as requiring the seller to have the house rewired or reducing their offer by a similar sum to cover the rewiring costs.
Before you start getting quotes for the cost of rewiring a house, you can sell your property for cash instead. In this article, we’ll discuss all this and more.
Table of Contents
Do I Need to Rewire My House Before I Sell It?
First off, how do you know if your house needs rewiring? Here are some telltale signs:
- Your home is over 25-30 years old and hasn’t been rewired
- You’ve got an old-fashioned fuse box instead of a modern consumer unit
- Fabric-covered cables or rubber-insulated wiring
- Frequent electrical issues like tripping breakers or flickering lights
- Two-pin sockets or a lack of earthing on sockets
If you’ve ticked any of these boxes, your home might be due for an electrical overhaul.
Can I Sell a House That Needs Rewiring?
Yes, you can sell a house that needs rewiring. However, it may affect the asking price as potential buyers will factor in the cost of rewiring. Some buyers might be deterred by the prospect of such a significant renovation, while others might see it as an opportunity to negotiate a lower price.
Mortgage lenders may also require the wiring to be upgraded or reduce their offer to cover the rewiring costs if the property has not been rewired in the last 25-30 years.
Property Saviour will buy your house. Give us a call or fill in the enquiry form.
The Impact on Selling
When it comes to flogging your property, old wiring can throw a spanner in the works. Here’s why:
- Buyer perception: Modern buyers often expect up-to-date electrics
- Safety concerns: Old wiring can be a fire hazard
- Mortgage issues: Some lenders might be reluctant to offer mortgages on properties with outdated electrics
- Insurance problems: Buyers might struggle to get home insurance with old wiring
- Negotiating power: Buyers might use old wiring as a bargaining chip to lower the price.
Should You Buy a House That Needs Rewiring?
Buying a house that needs rewiring can be a good investment if you are prepared for the additional costs and disruption. An Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) can help you assess the extent of the work needed.
If the wiring is outdated, it might not meet current safety standards, which could pose a risk. However, if you have the budget for renovations and plan to modernise the property, it could be worth considering.
Can a House Be Sold with Old Wiring?
Buying a house that needs rewiring can be a good investment if you are prepared for the additional costs and disruption. An Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) can help you assess the extent of the work needed.
If the wiring is outdated, it might not meet current safety standards, which could pose a risk. However, if you have the budget for renovations and plan to modernise the property, it could be worth considering.
To Rewire or Not to Rewire?
Now, here’s the million-pound question: should you rewire before selling? Let’s weigh up the pros and cons:
Pros:
- Increased property value
- Wider pool of potential buyers
- Smoother sale process
- Peace of mind for you and the buyer
Cons:
- Significant cost (typically £3,000-£5,000 for a 3-bed semi)
- Disruption to your home (it’s a messy job!)
- Time investment (usually takes 5-10 days)
Alternatives to Full Rewiring
If a full rewire seems like overkill, consider these alternatives:
- Partial updates: Focus on key areas like the consumer unit or visible sockets
- EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report): Get a professional assessment to show buyers the state of your electrics
- Price adjustment: Factor the cost of rewiring into your asking price
- Offer a rewiring allowance: Agree to cover part of the rewiring cost after sale
Tips for Selling a House with Old Wiring
If you decide not to rewire, here’s how to handle the sale:
- Be upfront: Disclose the state of your electrics to potential buyers
- Get an EICR: This will give you and buyers a clear picture of what needs doing
- Price accordingly: Factor in the cost of rewiring when setting your asking price
- Highlight other features: Focus on your home’s strong points to balance out concerns about wiring
- Be flexible: Be prepared to negotiate on price or offer alternatives like a rewiring allowance
Can I Sell My House Without an Electrical Installation Certificate?
You can sell your house without an electrical installation certificate, which may make the process more challenging. The Property Information Form asks about any rewiring details, so you must disclose this truthfully.
Not having a certificate might lead to lower offers or make it harder to sell, as buyers and lenders prefer properties with up-to-date electrical safety documentation.
Remember, we will still buy your house!
Substantial disruption caused by rewiring
Rewiring a house in the UK can be an absolute nightmare – a messy, disruptive ordeal that will have you longing for the sweet release of selling to Property Saviour instead. Brace yourself for a whirlwind of chaos and dust storms that would make Lawrence of Arabia jealous.
The process starts with your friendly local electricians essentially demolishing your home from the inside out. They’ll be hacking away at your walls, ceilings, and floors like a pack of rabid beavers, creating channels and trenches for the new wiring. Say goodbye to your pristine decor and hello to a war zone of plaster debris and exposed brickwork.
But wait, there’s more! Your furniture will need to be relocated to a safe zone, preferably another dimension, to avoid being buried under a thick layer of dust. And let’s not forget the delightful experience of having your power supply cut off intermittently, leaving you huddled in the dark, questioning your life choices.
If you’re lucky enough to be living through this ordeal, you’ll get to enjoy the added bonus of dodgy a maze of cables, tools, and grumpy electricians while trying to go about your daily routine. It’s like an extreme sport, but instead of adrenaline, you’ll be fueled by pure frustration and the lingering dust of plasterboard everywhere.
Now, here’s the kicker – this whole debacle can take anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks, depending on the size of your home and the electricians’ caffeine intake. That’s right, you’ll be living in a construction site for an extended period, constantly dodging falling debris and trying to remember where you stashed your toothbrush.
So, instead of subjecting yourself to this ordeal, why not sell to Property Saviour? We’ll take that problematic property off your hands in a jiffy; no rewiring is required. Just hand over the keys and let us deal with the headaches while you sit back and enjoy a well-deserved break from the chaos.
Why do I need to rewire my house before I sell?
If the house was last rewired 30 years ago or more, then it is likely that it will need rewiring because electric safety legislation changes over time. One of the main benefits of rewiring is that it improves the safety and appeal of a property. Any potential buyers won’t have the trouble of having the house rewired.
Rewiring is quite disruptive and requires stripping out old wires, taking up plaster and re-plastering once it has all been tested. An electrical safety test provides further assurance.
Look for the following signs:
- If your property has an old fuse box
- The wiring cables are made of dated rubber or lead-insulated
- The main breakers or branch breakers trip up regularly; for example, if you turn on the kettle
- Switching on appliances results in flickering or dimming lights
- There is damaged or exposed wiring.
Selling a house that needs rewiring
For ultimate peace of mind, it is best to install a modern consumer unit and new electric cables that meet current legislation. A qualified electrician can inspect your house and give you a quotation.
The wear and tear of rewiring, installation and plastering afterwards can cost you thousands of pounds, so it is best to ensure that the work carried out is of the highest quality and comes with a guarantee.
Ultimately, rewiring an old home is a great investment as it increases the odds of selling your home on the open market. Potential buyers see this as a positive sign as they will enjoy the fruits of your labour.
What's the cost of Rewiring a House?
These are estimated costs for rewiring a house, depending on the area as prices vary. The cost of materials still remain all-time high:
Cost to rewire 2 bedroom house
£1,500 – £3,000
3 – 4 days
Cost to rewire 3 bedroom house
£3,000 – £5,000
5 – 7 days
Cost to rewire 4 bedroom house
£5,000 – £7,000
7 – 10 days
Cost to rewire 5 bedroom house
£7,000 – £9,000
10 – 14 days
Cost to rewire 6 bedroom house
£9,000 – £15,000
14 – 20 days
Once the property has been rewired, you may need to replace the floorboards and the skirting and re-plaster where necessary. In older properties, plaster, when disturbed, can easily come off the wall, and you’ll end up re-plastering a property like you have taken it back to the brick. In this case, you can insulate the walls to reduce bills and do a quality refurbishment to flip a property.
Or if you have run out of funds or don’t have to finish it, sell it as an unfinished project.
What may have been a straightforward rewiring job can turn into a full-blown refurbishment project. Would it be easier to sell instead?
What's the cost to Rewire a Bungalow?
The biggest benefit of bungalows is that you are on one floor, which is a shorter wire run.
In our experience, the bungalow rewiring costs have always been cheaper than a house:
Size of Bungalow
Average Cost (plus VAT)
Job Duration
Cost to rewire 2 bedroom bungalow
£1,300 – £2,800
3 – 4 days
Cost to rewire 3 bedroom bungalow
£2,800 – £4,800
5 – 7 days
Cost to rewire 4 bedroom bungalow
£4,800 – £6,800
7 – 10 days
Cost to rewire 5 bedroom bungalow
£6,800 – £8,800
10 – 14 days
Cost to rewire 6 bedroom bungalow
£8,800 – £14,000
14 – 20 days
Can I sell my house with an old fuse box in UK?
You can sell a house with an old fuse box to a cash buyer. Here at Property Saviour, we buy inherited homes all the time.
If you sell your home on the open market, the buyer’s lender will insist that you upgrade your electrics, or they might reduce or withdraw their mortgage offer.
Will rewiring and plumbing help sell house for more?
Absolutely! Upgrading your home’s wiring and plumbing can give you a real leg up when it comes to selling. These improvements aren’t just about making your house look pretty – they’re about offering potential buyers peace of mind and functionality.
When it comes to rewiring, buyers are often wary of old electrical systems. They’re thinking about safety, the hassle of future upgrades, and whether their modern gadgets will play nicely with the existing setup. A newly rewired house tells them, “Don’t worry, mate – everything’s up to scratch here.” It’s the same story with plumbing. No one wants to move into a new home only to be greeted by dodgy pipes or a temperamental boiler. Fresh plumbing says, “Go ahead, have that long, hot shower without a care in the world.”
While it’s tricky to put an exact figure on how much these upgrades will boost your sale price, they certainly make your property more attractive. You might not recoup every penny you spend, but you’re likely to see a faster sale and potentially higher offers. Plus, you’re sidestepping those awkward negotiations where buyers try to knock down the price because of outdated systems. In the end, it’s about making your house stand out in a crowded market – and good wiring and plumbing do just that.
Should I rewire my house before I sell?
Absolutely. If you are selling a house with original wiring, the mortgage lender may request an electric safety report and then insist that electrics are upgraded as part of mortgage conditions or put a retainer on the amount of money that they will lend. What if you don’t have the funds for the rewiring or refurbishment?
There’s an alternative option of selling to a cash house buyer, such as Property Saviour who will buy any house in any condition.
Property Saviour will make you a cash offer and once accepted we will complete the purchase within a couple of weeks. There are no estate agency fees or solicitors fees to pay because we pay £1,500 towards your legal fees.
Property Saviour Price Promise
- The price we’ll offer is the price that you will receive with no hidden deductions.
- Be careful with ‘cash buyers’ who require a valuation needed for a mortgage or bridging loan.
- These valuations or surveys result in delays and price reductions later on.
- We are cash buyers. There are no surveys.
- We always provide proof of funds with every formal offer issued.
We'll Pay £1,500 Towards Your Legal Fees
- No long exclusivity agreement to sign because we are the buyers.
- You are welcome to use your own solicitor.
- If you don’t have one, we can ask our solicitors for recommendations.
- We share our solicitor’s details and issue a Memorandum of Sale.
Sell With Certainty & Speed
- Our approach is transparent and ethical, which is why sellers trust us.
- 100% Discretion guaranteed.
- If you have another buyer, you can put us in a contracts race to see who completes first.
- Complete in 10 days or at a timescale that works for you. You are in control.
