A rewire is one of the largest jobs you will ever have carried out on your home, so it is fair enough that price is the first thing people ask about. There is no single house rewire cost in Wigan, because no two properties are wired the same way. A 1930s terrace that has been extended twice will not price the same as a 1990s semi with clear loft access. What follows explains what a rewire actually involves, which factors move the price, what a proper quote should contain, and how to compare the numbers you are given.
What a full rewire actually involves
A full rewire means replacing the wiring throughout the property, not only the parts you can see. On a typical domestic job that covers:
- Every lighting and power circuit taken back to the board and replaced
- A new consumer unit with RCD or RCBO protection on each circuit
- New back boxes, sockets, switches and, where needed, light fittings
- Earthing and main protective bonding brought up to current standards, including bonds to the gas and water services
- Full testing, an Electrical Installation Certificate and Building Regulations notification
The work runs in two stages. First fix is the disruptive part: floorboards lifted, walls chased out, cables run and back boxes set in. Once the plastering has been made good, second fix follows. Sockets, switches, fittings and the new board go on, the installation is tested, and the certificate is issued.
We handle rewires of every size as part of our electrical installation work in Wigan, from a one bedroom flat to a full commercial unit.
What affects house rewire cost in Wigan
Six things account for most of the difference between one quote and the next.
1. Property size and circuit count
Price follows the number of circuits and the points on them, not floor area. A three bedroom house with a garage supply, an outside socket and twelve downlights in the kitchen is a bigger job than the bedroom count suggests.
2. Age and construction
Solid brick walls, lath and plaster ceilings, concrete floors and no loft hatch all add hours. Properties with suspended timber floors and a boarded loft are usually the quickest to run cables through.
3. Access
A fitted kitchen, tiled bathroom, laminate flooring or a boarded loft all have to be worked around, or lifted and refitted. On an occupied house this is often the biggest swing factor of the lot.
4. Occupied or empty
An empty property can be rewired in one continuous run. An occupied one has to be done room by room with the power reinstated each evening, which takes longer and therefore costs more.
5. Specification
Extra sockets, USB outlets, downlights, an outside supply, a feed to a garden office or a spare way left on the board for a future EV charger all add material and labour.
6. Making good
Chases are filled and floors put back, but skimming, painting and floor coverings are usually a separate trade. Check which of these is included before you compare two prices.
Typical house rewire cost in Wigan in 2026
The figures below are broad UK ranges for 2026, given so that you have somewhere to start. They are not a quote. The North West generally sits at or below the national average, while London and the South East carry a premium of twenty to thirty per cent.
| Property type | Typical full rewire range | Usual duration |
|---|---|---|
| Two bedroom terrace or flat | £3,500 to £5,500 | 4 to 6 days |
| Three bedroom semi | £5,000 to £8,000 | 6 to 10 days |
| Four bedroom detached | £7,500 to £12,000 | 10 to 15 days |
| Partial rewire | £2,000 to £4,500 | 2 to 4 days |
Add roughly £600 to £1,800 for plastering, decoration and floor coverings if you want the property handed back finished rather than made good. A board on its own, where the rest of the installation is sound, is a far smaller job, and a consumer unit replacement may be all you need. You can see photographs of recent rewires in our project gallery.
The only way to get a firm figure is a site visit. We look at the board, lift a board or two, check the earthing, and give you an itemised price with nothing left to be added later.
Full rewire or partial rewire?
A partial rewire replaces specific circuits and leaves the rest in place. It is the right call when testing shows that most of the installation is sound but one or two circuits are old, undersized or unsafe. Kitchens and bathrooms are common candidates, because they are the rooms that get altered most often.
It is the wrong call when the original cable is rubber or lead sheathed, when there is no earth at the lighting points, or when extensions have been spurred into the old wiring in several places. Rewiring half a failing system usually means paying twice.
An EICR settles the question. The report tells you which circuits are at fault and which are fine, and it costs far less than opening the house up to find out.
How long a rewire takes, and whether you can stay
Most rewires take between four days and three weeks, with the durations in the table above as a guide. You can stay put and plenty of customers do, but it is not comfortable. Furniture moves room by room, floors come up, and there will be dust.
Moving out, even for the first fix week alone, makes the job quicker and cheaper because nobody is being worked around. If you are buying a property that needs rewiring, having it done before you move in is almost always the better decision.
What a written quote should include
A quote worth comparing sets out:
- The number of circuits, and the number of sockets, switches and light points included
- The make and rating of the consumer unit
- Whether the existing earthing and bonding are being upgraded
- Which rooms are covered, if the job is partial
- What making good includes, and whether decoration is in or out
- Testing, certification and Building Regulations notification
- The start date, the timescale and the payment terms
The items most often missing are lifting and relaying laminate or tiles, a new earth electrode where the supply needs one, and plastering. If they are not written down, ask.
Signs your property needs rewiring rather than repair
- Rubber, fabric or lead sheathed cable anywhere in the installation
- A fuse box with rewireable fuses and no RCD protection
- Round pin sockets, or sockets mounted in the skirting boards
- No earth conductor at the lighting switches
- Circuits that trip repeatedly with no single appliance to blame
- Scorch marks, warm faceplates or a smell of hot plastic
- An EICR returned as unsatisfactory with several C1 or C2 codes
One of these on its own may only need a repair. Three or four together usually points to a rewire. If you are not sure which you are looking at, our fault finding and testing service will tell you before you commit to anything.
How to compare quotes fairly
Put the quotes side by side and check they describe the same job. A lower price with fewer sockets, a budget board and no making good is not cheaper, it is different work.
Then check the contractor. Registration with a competent person scheme is what allows the work to be self certified under Part P rather than notified to building control at your expense. Harwood Electrical has been an NICEIC approved contractor since 2017, and we are listed on Checkatrade and the Wigan Council Good Trader scheme.
Finally, ask who carries the cost if the job overruns. A firm that gives you an accurate timescale up front is usually the one that holds to it.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a full house rewire take?
A two bedroom terrace is usually four to six days, a three bedroom semi six to ten, and a four bedroom detached ten to fifteen. Poor access and an occupied property both add time.
Do I need to move out while the work is done?
No. We work room by room and restore power each evening. Moving out does make the job faster and cheaper, so it is worth doing if you have the option.
Does a rewire need Building Regulations notification?
Yes. A rewire creates new circuits, which is notifiable under Part P. A contractor registered with a competent person scheme self certifies the work and arranges the building control certificate, so you do not need to contact the council yourself.
What certificate do I get at the end?
An Electrical Installation Certificate, with a schedule of inspections and a schedule of test results. Keep all three. You will need them when you sell, and any future inspection refers back to them. An EIC is valid for up to ten years.
Can a house be rewired one room at a time?
It can, and that is sometimes the practical answer where the budget is tight. It costs more overall, because we return several times and the board is worked on more than once. Do it in one visit where you can.
Planning a rewire?
Call Harwood Electrical on 01695 371030 for a free, itemised quote, or get in touch through the website and we will come back to you the same day where we can.