Rewire Cost London: 2026 Price Guide

London is consistently the most expensive region in the UK for electrical work, and rewires are no exception. Electrician day rates in the capital range from £350 to £500+, reflecting higher living costs, commercial rents, vehicle running costs (congestion charge, ULEZ, parking), and the general cost of doing business in London.

These prices include all materials, labour, a new consumer unit with RCBOs and SPD, initial verification testing, the Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC), and Part P notification. Making good (plastering and decoration) is typically quoted separately — budget an additional £1,000–£3,000 for a full house.

Prices vary between boroughs. Inner London (Camden, Islington, Hackney, Southwark, Lambeth) tends to be at the upper end of these ranges, while outer London boroughs (Bromley, Croydon, Havering, Hillingdon) are closer to the lower end.

London's housing stock is among the oldest in the UK. Many properties still have original or outdated wiring that presents a safety risk and needs replacing.

The definitive way to assess whether your property needs a rewire is to book an EICR with a qualified electrician. However, these warning signs suggest you should arrange an inspection promptly:

Rewire timescales in London tend to be longer than the national average because of the age and construction of the housing stock. Lath-and-plaster walls take longer to chase than modern plasterboard, and limited void access means more surface routing or deeper chasing.

Allow additional time if the property has solid concrete floors (no access to run cables underneath), if asbestos is present (common in London properties from the 1950s–1970s and requiring specialist removal before electrical work), or if the work needs coordinating with a freeholder or managing agent in a flat conversion.

A full rewire is notifiable work under Part P of the Building Regulations (England and Wales). This means the work must either be carried out by an electrician registered with a competent person scheme — such as NICEIC, NAPIT, or ELECSA — or the homeowner must notify their local authority building control department before the work starts.

Using a registered electrician is strongly recommended. They will self-certify the work, submit notification to your borough council, and you will receive a Building Regulations Compliance Certificate within 30 days of completion. If the electrician is not registered, you must pay for a building control inspection (£200–£400 in most London boroughs) and the process takes longer.

Under BS 7671:2018+A4:2026, Regulation 411.3.3 requires RCD protection with a rated residual operating current not exceeding 30 mA for socket outlets with a rated current not exceeding 32 A. This is a fundamental safety requirement for all new rewires. The electrician must issue an Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC) on completion, documenting the design, construction, inspection, and testing of the entire installation.

A comprehensive rewire quote should itemise every element of the work. Be wary of single-figure quotes with no breakdown — they make it impossible to compare like with like.

What is typically NOT included: making good (plastering chased walls, decoration), skip hire for waste, asbestos removal if encountered, supply upgrades arranged through the DNO (UK Power Networks in London), and any structural work required for cable routes.

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Each of the 32 London boroughs plus the City of London has its own building control department. If your electrician is registered with a competent person scheme, you do not need to contact building control directly — the notification is handled automatically.

If you are using a non-registered electrician or doing the work yourself, you must submit a building notice to your borough council before starting. Building control inspection fees for electrical work in London boroughs typically range from £200 to £400. The inspector will need to attend the property to inspect and test the installation before it is energised.

In London, building control is particularly important for properties in conservation areas or listed buildings. If your property is listed, any work that affects the fabric of the building (including chasing walls for cables) may require Listed Building Consent from the borough planning department, in addition to the Part P notification. This is a separate process and failure to obtain consent is a criminal offence. Always check with your borough council before starting a rewire in a listed building.

The main DNO for London is UK Power Networks (UKPN). If the rewire identifies that the supply fuse or meter tails need upgrading, UKPN must be contacted to carry out the supply side work. UKPN supply upgrades in London can take 4-8 weeks to schedule, so plan early if this is likely to be needed.

London has no shortage of electricians, but quality and pricing vary enormously. Here is how to find a reliable, qualified electrician for your rewire:

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