How often should you have a house re-wired?

Question

If a house has a ring main, should you still have it re-wired after a certain period of time.
Be grateful for feedback on this.

Does anyone know if wiring will be in the new hips regulation, ie proof of re-wiring will be required for sale of houses?

Answer 1

There is no fixed time period as to when a house should be rewired it is usually based on a combination of age and condition. You can upgrade an electrical installation without going for a full rewire as long as the cables pass muster from a visual inspection and an electrical test meter. eg upgrading a fuse box to an Miniature Circuit Breaker consumer unit with an RCD safety cut out, is just one of the most effective upgrades to all round safety. Modern PVC cables with a safety earth wire (yellow & green) are fairly long lasting compared to the old black rubber type which can break apart through time, if you have these I would seriously think about getting a rewire. The other answers which say 10- 15 years for a rewire are well of the mark!

Answer 2

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I'm not sure about NI laws/surveys etc but if it's the same as in Wales/England it may not affect the mortgage but could be used as a basis for re-negotiation btwn you and the vendor with regards to the price of the property. Often properties in Uk don't comply with latest IEE regulations and rewiring/upgrading in order to comply is often suggested in Home Buyers Reports as regulations change fairly frequently in comparison to how often the average person upgrades their eletrical circuitry. But it will be your responsibility unless you can get the vendor to agree to do it before completion in which case you will require your solicitor to write it into the conveyancing contract that completion will only occur subject to the production of a qualified electrician's certifcate on the work. The surveyors I work for always suggest that quotes are obtained prior to purchase for the work and to see whether complete rewiring is required or whether only upgrading is needed. Surveyors are not qualified electricians so can only do a visual inspection and say whether the installation is recent/modern or old. It may well say in your report that rewiring is needed but that could simply mean that the wiring is safe but is non-compliant, which as I've already stated, applies to a lot of houses on the market today (and therefore a lot of houses that people live safely in). Your best bet is to obtain reports from electricians and then depedning on the cost of the work renegotiating the price and if that doesn't work, then decide whether you can afford to pay for it to be done yourself or whether you would prefer to find another house.

Answer 3

You should get it tested periodically and rewired based on those tests. The suggested test frequency varies from country to country but test the wiring every 5 to 10 years and go from there.

It also depends how old the house is, some cabling ages better than others, and obviously the more modern stuff is better.

If you get any major works done to your house, for example new kitchen, bathroom etc, where you have an electrician in, ask him to take a look and offer advice

Answer 4

Come on people, you don't rewire your house based on a time period. It just depends on the type and condition of the wiring. If you have aluminum wiring..get it done Yesterday...that stuff is a disaster waiting to happen. But good copper wiring will last indefinitely.

Answer 5

As long as a house has ample current from the supply pole and there has not been any damage to interior wiring, ample outlets, it should not need rewiring.

Normally 100 amp supply is sufficient. Many very old homes only have 40-50 amps coming into the house.

Answer 6

More rewires are done on the basis on 'extra sockets needed' rather than deterioration of existing circuit.

I remember (Early 1970's) my auntie could only do her ironing in the daytime because the supply for it plugged into the centre light (unearthed too!)

Late 1970's Granny's house was rewired and they put TWO single sockets into the living room, and one in the dining room. Nowadays you'd probably have four doubles and three doubles in the same rooms.

Design life is around 25y, most installs ( barring DIY butchering) is still ok up to 30+y. Earthing and bonding would need an upgrade though...

Answer 7

Never heard of having to have a house rewired after a period of time; You only have it done it you are not up to code for electric. Or if you have trouble with the lights dimming etc, showing you don*t have enough power for the things using electric. Believe me rewiring a house is not cheap , not at what electricians charge. My son is one.!!!

Answer 8

you shouldnt have to re-wire the whole house some things might need changing after 25-30 years

Answer 9

In the UK houses are recommended to have a PIR (Periodic Inspection & Test) done every 10 years.
Based on the findings of the PIR will determine whether or not it needs rewiring.

Answer 10

15 to 20 years.