There's no fixed age at which a house needs rewiring, but a lot of North East homes, especially older terraces and houses that haven't been touched in decades, have wiring that's well past its best. These are the signs to look for.
Colliery terraces, Sunderland cottages and Tyneside flats were built long before modern electrical loads. Many were rewired once, decades ago, and added to since. Rubber-insulated cable, common before the 1960s, becomes brittle and can crumble, exposing live conductors.
An Electrical Installation Condition Report is a full inspection and test of your wiring by a qualified electrician. It grades any problems by urgency and tells you whether you need a full rewire, a partial rewire or a few repairs. UK price guides put an EICR at roughly £120 to £250 for most homes.
It's commonly recommended every 10 years for homeowners, is required at least every 5 years for rented homes, and whenever you buy an older property.
If the EICR shows a rewire is needed, see our rewire cost guide for typical prices. We plan rewires room by room, include plastering and making good, and certify the work at the end.
This is general guidance, not formal advice on your property. Rules change, so we check the current position at the free site visit and handle any applications as part of the job.
There's no fixed interval. Well-installed modern PVC wiring can last many decades. The condition matters more than the age, which is what an EICR tells you.
You can spot warning signs, like old fuse boxes, rubber cable and scorch marks, but only an EICR tells you for certain.
UK price guides put most homes at roughly £120 to £250, depending on size.
It can be. Brittle insulation and a lack of RCD protection increase the risk of electric shock and fire.
Whatever the brief, the route in is the same: ring us, we'll visit, we'll come back with a fixed price in plain English. Free site visits across Durham, Sunderland and Newcastle.
Or email enquiries@atkinsonsgroup.co.uk
No call-out charge for quotes. Fixed prices, in writing.
