House rewire ??

[Smallfry]

Here's a question for all you pros ........

I remember back in the day when house hunting, that more often than not, a house would be advertised as "needs rewiring" and also that this would be one of the conditions of getting a mortgage. So my question is, under what circumstances would a house "need rewiring" these days ?

In the future I am going to have to sell my mums house. She has been gone now for twenty years, but I use it as a store, which is madness. It was built in 1979, so not THAT old, but still has a proper fusible link fusebox with six (I think) ways. The fuses though, have been replaced with GEC circuit breakers though. There are no electrical faults that I am aware of though.

I am just wondering if I am likely to hit with this chestnut when the time comes, or if it is worth me replacing the consumer unit at least.

 

[skotl]

My opinion (non pro) is that you have little to worry about. The wiring itself will be fine and there might be a case for replacing the box, but that's probably going to be an advised remedial work at best rather than a demand before anyone can sell or buy the house.

A house would need rewired if it had very low-rated cabling, or cabling with no earths, which isn't going to be a problem for a 1970s house. I guess another reason might just be for practicality, if there wasn't enough wiring or sockets for today's practical living but, again, that's not going to be a major issue with a house of this age.

 

[gaz1]

my mothers house hits that term as its now splitting up from a 3 bed house back into 2 propertys again

ive come across houses that are not a ring main system whilst they are a new wire

the property will want 1 brand new service and also 2 new consumer units ( fuseboxes )

depending on your fusebox you will need a cert if you intend to sell the property
you might need a cert for insurance purposes though so check that score

I also have the same to do with gas and water pipes as well so its not just an electrical thing whilst the electric side of it, is easy the plumbing side is not

flat propertys its easier to convert into or back into one property again

 

[Hotstuff]

For installations wire with PVC/PVC twin & earth cable, the most common reason I would suggest that a complete rewire is required would be due to extensive poor DIY work or fire damage.

Get an inspection & test carried out before you do anything like replacing the fuse board.

 

[Robotstar5]

Your best bet is to pay for an EICR which will check the condition of the whole installation, it will probably state it complied with the regs in force at the time of installation and barring any problems is still safe to use.

Getting the right sparky is needed as you just want a report, not one who is touting for business and condemns the installation just to get the job of a re-wire.

The old re-wireable fuses are to BS 3036, still mentioned in the current regs and in the right conditions can pass an EICR.

 

[Morrisman]

We sold my parents house with old cloth covered wire in it. Nobody said a word, it wasn’t mentioned in any inspections

 

[sparkysy]

I agree with @Robotstar5
You want a decent EICR to assess the installation from the right person, they can be difficult to find these days!
Or you can take out an indemnity policy when you sell that covers the electrical installation.
Or just sell as is.
Trouble is these days that older property won't have sockets where the buyer wants them, they will try and beat you up over it.
My personal take on it is if you just want to sell it let them sort the electrics as then they can place sockets switches where they want them!

 

[Keith 66]

My son & his girlfriend have just bought a house together, Survey reported that it was in need of electrical work likely a rewire. It did not stop them getting a mortgage on it.
Built in 1973 the place has only two single sockets in each room & only a primitive fuse box. Worst fault was in the loft where the loose fill polystrene bead insulation had attacked the pvc wire insulation, gone all sticky like coated in treacle. Apparently the binder in the polystyrene attacks the pvc causing it to melt. It isnt too bad yet but in severe cases the insulation can literally liquefy & fall off leaving bare wires.....
Last week they spent 4 days with my industrial vacumn cleaner sucking the stuff up out of the entire loft, About 30 large hepa bags full. Definately the way to do it, when full pop a cable tie round the entrance hole seal in the bag & in a black sack. No polystyrene balls to sweep up!
Full rewire & upgrade happening soon.

 

[Robotstar5]

How many sockets do you need?, when my parents bought an old (built 1908) house in about 1963 it only had 2 of the old 15A round pin sockets, one upstairs and one down

 

[Onoff]

Selling my M&Ds place sold as seen. Ancient, brown Bakelite box.

Years ago I offered to rewire the place. My old man wouldn't hear of it. As tight as he just said "Your mother wouldn't like the disruption!" The fear of it costing him was the main thing which tbh would have basically been just parts.

I got the DNO to fit an REC2 foc as a prelude to a new cu. Then replaced the cloth tails and changed the 3 rewireables to the retrofit MCBs. The incoming TN-S earth had never been connected to the board since it was put in in 1960.

Selling with no EICR nothing. Buyer can like it or lump it. We've noted it on the declaration you have to fill out.

 

[DAPPH]

For installations wire with PVC/PVC twin & earth cable, the most common reason I would suggest that a complete rewire is required would be due to extensive poor DIY work or fire damage.

Get an inspection & test carried out before you do anything like replacing the fuse board.

If it is an old rewireable Wylex board with black & red conductors and green sleeved earths totally rewire it .
Draw all runs 7 back box positions in marker pen and use a height stick/s to get everything at the same heights .. all our socket away from the kitchen are 650 mm from the floor with three more at 820 for the vacuum point s You can cut all the channels with a small disc cutter and using a home made device with a wet & dry vacuum that pulls the muck through a tub of water there wont be too much mess .
I believer you can still run all cables and boxes in a and pay someone qualified & registered to do the connections or do it yourself and get the local council to inspect it , so long as you have metered and tested and recorded it on an appropriate form having everything according to the regs ( you have to pay for this too )
Due to the long lead time for the council doing the checks , I paid a guy privately to commission our fully rewired bungalow didn't send off the registration forms ( two year later I managed to get them.). So take it as a warning , don't pay full cash amount till you have all the paper work in your hands and have checked it is valid with the council .

 

[DAPPH]

Your best bet is to pay for an EICR which will check the condition of the whole installation, it will probably state it complied with the regs in force at the time of installation and barring any problems is still safe to use.

Getting the right sparky is needed as you just want a report, not one who is touting for business and condemns the installation just to get the job of a re-wire.

The old re-wireable fuses are to BS 3036, still mentioned in the current regs and in the right conditions can pass an EICR.

I'm surprised to old rewireable are still allowed !7 year ago the insurers said I had to have a completer rewire including a 12 way board with breakers etc though there was a problem when it was found that half the kitchen was on the house ring that only had three single un-switched sockets on it

 

[Mark 5]

Here's a question for all you pros ........

I remember back in the day when house hunting, that more often than not, a house would be advertised as "needs rewiring" and also that this would be one of the conditions of getting a mortgage. So my question is, under what circumstances would a house "need rewiring" these days ?

In the future I am going to have to sell my mums house. She has been gone now for twenty years, but I use it as a store, which is madness. It was built in 1979, so not THAT old, but still has a proper fusible link fusebox with six (I think) ways. The fuses though, have been replaced with GEC circuit breakers though. There are no electrical faults that I am aware of though.

I am just wondering if I am likely to hit with this chestnut when the time comes, or if it is worth me replacing the consumer unit at least.

Hi, I think maybe you are over thinking this but it is also good to be prepared.

When it comes to selling the house a lot depends what market you want to sell to as to its condition.

For mortgage purposes any lender would want to insure the house is fit to sell, not fall down, structural, electrical, plumbing, gas/boiler and so on but it is a wide brush.

Assuming the house was wired from new in 79 with minor upgrades, the property is way past at least a wiring inspection if not a full upgrade/rewire.

As you have used this property for storage, in other words unoccupied, imo put the property into Auction it will resolve a lot of pitfalls, questions, expectations and you are dealing with cash buyers.

 

[Onoff]

Go all RCBO now if fitting a new cu.

 

[wyn]

Sold a 1930's place last year. Replaceable wire fuses, green goo coming out of light switches, no certs. The buyers didn't bother with a survey. All turned out fine.

 

[Hotstuff]

If it is an old rewireable Wylex board with black & red conductors and green sleeved earths totally rewire it .
Draw all runs 7 back box positions in marker pen and use a height stick/s to get everything at the same heights .. all our socket away from the kitchen are 650 mm from the floor with three more at 820 for the vacuum point s You can cut all the channels with a small disc cutter and using a home made device with a wet & dry vacuum that pulls the muck through a tub of water there wont be too much mess .
I believer you can still run all cables and boxes in a and pay someone qualified & registered to do the connections or do it yourself and get the local council to inspect it , so long as you have metered and tested and recorded it on an appropriate form having everything according to the regs ( you have to pay for this too )
Due to the long lead time for the council doing the checks , I paid a guy privately to commission our fully rewired bungalow didn't send off the registration forms ( two year later I managed to get them.). So take it as a warning , don't pay full cash amount till you have all the paper work in your hands and have checked it is valid with the council .

Hi DAPPH
I responded as an electrician with a lifetime’s experience in the trade so it’s not my first rodeo.

Some of what you posted is a little misleading but you raised some interesting issues regarding the electrical installation and Part P certification.

Electricians hate third party certification and the NICEIC will not be associated with it.

Who signs for design and installation of the installation?

If wiring is carried out with PVC/PVC T&E and not deteriorated, it’s still likely to still be serviceable.
Even PVC/PVC twin cables used on lighting circuits back in the 60’s is still considered permissible with the right prerequisite measures.

 

[brightspark]

Sold a 1930's place last year. Replaceable wire fuses, green goo coming out of light switches, no certs. The buyers didn't bother with a survey. All turned out fine.

daughter bought her house 4 years back and it did need rewiring solicitors said nothing and she got the mortgage. another she bought a re posession they didnt bother. most houses provided they havent been altered by idiots and all lighting circuits are earthed and in pvc just require a new rcd db and earth bonding to pass a test with a cert or the odd minor replacements and the punter can get a mortgage easier without all the holdups

 

[brightspark]

if i bought a house myself and altered it id rewire it anyhow as most stuff wouldnt be in the right places and suficient points and lights and want an up to date metal cu unit with surge protection unit fitted

 

[Smallfry]

Thanks for the input guys. I don't want to get into doing a rewire at all, I just wondered if a question would be raised.

As I said, there are only six circuits, which wouldn't do nowadays. I can't remember offhand how it is configured, but has never been a problem.

 

[Erie Fred]

Thanks for the input guys. I don't want to get into doing a rewire at all, I just wondered if a question would be raised.

As I said, there are only six circuits, which wouldn't do nowadays. I can't remember offhand how it is configured, but has never been a problem.

The Mcmansion's around here have been getting by with a measly 400 amp service.
That's qty (2) 200 amp main panels next to each other.....
Reduced carbon footprint my ****.....