House Rewire Cost Guide - Dorset 2026
How much does a rewire cost in Dorset in 2026? Here are real local ranges by property size. Plus what's included, what pushes the price up, how long it takes, and how to spot a dodgy quote. Written by Pete, an electrician working across Bournemouth, Poole and Dorset.
What does a house rewire cost?
These are real-world ranges for Dorset homes in 2026. Your price is fixed in writing after a free survey. No surprises later.
| Property | Typical range | Time on site |
|---|---|---|
| 1 bed | £2,800 - £4,000 | 3 - 4 days |
| 2 bed | £3,800 - £5,500 | 4 - 5 days |
| 3 bed | £4,500 - £7,000 | 5 - 7 days |
| 4 bed | £6,500 - £11,000 | 7 - 10 days |
| 5 bed+ | £10,000 - £16,000 | 10 - 15 days |
Want a real figure for your home? Build your own price in 60 seconds, or book a free survey for a fixed written price.
What you get in each room
A fair price should never mean one socket per room. This is our standard spec. Want more? We add it to your quote.
- Every bedroom: 3 double sockets and a ceiling light
- Living / dining room: 4 or more double sockets, a ceiling light or spotlights, plus TV and data points
- Kitchen: sockets above the worktop, appliance circuits, a cooker point and spotlights
- Bathroom: spotlights, an extractor fan and a shaver socket
- Hall, stairs and landing: ceiling lights and interlinked smoke and heat alarms
- Outside: an outdoor socket and a light, on request
We agree the final spec with you at the survey, then fix it in writing.
Will your price change?
Not by us. The price you build on our quote tool is the price. It does not go up because your walls are solid, your loft is a squeeze, or your house is 150 years old. How hard the job is to wire is our problem to plan for, not yours to pay for. That is the whole difference between a quote and an estimate.
The only thing that moves your number is you, if you choose to add more:
- A bigger spec. Extra sockets, downlights, outdoor power, an electric shower or smart kit. You ask, we add it to the quote up front - never as a surprise later.
One thing is genuinely separate: making-good, the plastering and decorating after the wiring is in. That is a different trade, and we flag it clearly before you commit (see below).
And if we get to the survey and something is clearly bigger than the tool assumed? We have an honest chat, or we turn the job down. What we never do is raise a price we have already agreed with you.
What's included (and what's not)
Every quote should be clear on this. Here is what a full rewire from us includes as standard.
- All new cabling throughout the property
- Materials at cost - we don't mark them up, our margin is in the labour
- A new consumer unit (modern RCBO fuseboard) with surge protection
- All new sockets, switches and light points fitted throughout
- A full test on every circuit
- An Electrical Installation Certificate on completion
- Building Control notification included
- A 10-year workmanship guarantee in writing
What is usually a separate cost:
- Plastering and decorating after the wiring is in
- Fancy light fittings you choose yourself (we fit standard as part of the job)
- Lifting and relaying tiled or solid floors
We list exactly what is in your job, in writing, before you commit a penny.
Want your number, not a range?Build your exact rewire price on the quote tool. It uses Pete's real rate card. Build my price →How long does it take?
Most rewires take 3 to 15 days of our time on site. A 1-bed flat is around 3 to 4 days. A big house is a week or more for the first fix, then a week or more for the second fix.
Here is the part people miss. A rewire is done in two stages. First fix is all the cabling, while the walls are open. Then the builders, plasterers and decorators do their bit. Second fix is when we come back to fit the sockets, switches, lights and the fuseboard, and test it. So on a big project the overall timescale depends on those other trades too, not just us. An empty property is always quicker, because there is nothing to work around.
Do you have to move out?
For a full house rewire we work on empty properties only. It is faster, cleaner and cheaper for you, and we can film the progress for you to see. The best time is before you move in, between tenants, or as part of a renovation or extension.
Smaller jobs are different. A consumer unit upgrade, an EICR safety check, an EV charger or a few extra sockets can all be done while you live in the home.
Signs your home needs a rewire
- An old fuseboard - rewireable fuse wire or a wooden back is rewire-era, and any all-plastic board is worth a check (metal has been required since 2016)
- Black rubber or fabric cable instead of modern grey or white
- Not enough sockets, so extension leads everywhere
- No RCD protection (the safety device that cuts power fast)
- Scorch marks, buzzing or a burning smell at sockets or the board
- Trips that keep going for no clear reason
- It is 25 to 30 years since the last rewire (a rough guide, not a hard rule), or you do not know
There is no legal expiry on wiring. It is about condition, not age. But a fuse-wire board, old rubber cable, or no RCD protection are strong signs. An EICR settles it.
The cheaper alternative: a consumer unit upgrade
Not every old installation needs a full rewire. If the cables are sound but the fuseboard is out of date, a new consumer unit from £625 may be all you need. A survey or an EICR safety check tells you which. See our consumer unit upgrade page for what that includes.
Two quick ways to tell if your board is out of date
- No test buttons. Modern boards have little "T" test buttons. That is your RCD, the device that cuts power fast to stop a shock. No test buttons means no RCD, and that is the biggest red flag.
- Plastic, not metal. Boards fitted since January 2016 must be metal. A plastic board is usually older. It is not dangerous on its own, but it is worth getting checked.
An old fuse-wire board, or one with a wooden back, is a clear sign it is rewire-era.
Both of these are modern, safe boards. Either way, the test button is the giveaway - if your board has them, it has shock protection. No test buttons usually means an old board that is due an upgrade.
One thing to know: the test button colour is not standard. Our two examples are yellow and orange, but yours might be blue, black, red or white - it is just the maker's branding. What matters is that a little "T" test button is there at all, not what colour it is.
Value, permissions and regs
A rewire makes your home safer and easier to sell. Buyers and surveyors look for modern wiring and a recent certificate.
You do not need planning permission for a standard rewire. The work falls under Building Regulations Part P, and we notify Building Control for you. You get the certificate to prove it.
How to spot a dodgy quote
A fair quote is clear and in writing. Walk away if you see any of these.
- An "estimate", not a "quote". An estimate is a guess. The final bill is almost always higher. A quote is a fixed price.
- Not itemised. If it does not list the work room by room, expect surprise "extras" later.
- No written quote, just a number over the phone
- No Part P registration
- A day rate instead of a fixed price for the job
- A big cash deposit up front (we take 5%, then stage payments)
- No certificate promised at the end
Quick answers
How much does it cost to rewire a 3-bed house in Dorset?
A 3-bed rewire typically runs from £4,500 to £7,000 in 2026. Your price is fixed in writing after a free survey, and it only changes if you change the job. Bigger homes and a higher spec cost more, because that is more rooms, sockets and lights - not because your walls or access are tricky. That side is our problem to plan for.
Do I have to move out during a rewire?
For a full house rewire we work on empty properties only. That keeps it faster, cleaner and cheaper. Smaller jobs like a consumer unit upgrade, an EICR or an EV charger can be done while you live in the home.
How long does a house rewire take?
Most Dorset rewires take 3 to 15 days. A 1-bed flat is around 3 to 4 days. A large 5-bed period home can be 10 to 15 days. An empty property is quicker.
Do I need a full rewire or just a new consumer unit?
If the cables are sound but the fuseboard is old, you may only need a new consumer unit from £625. If the cabling itself is past its safe life, you need a full rewire. A survey or an EICR safety check tells you which - see our EICR prices.
How much deposit do you take?
A 5% booking deposit secures your dates. The rest is paid in stages as the work progresses. Be wary of any electrician asking for a large cash deposit up front.
Quotes, not estimates - want one for your home?
Free survey, same-day quote on site, 5% booking deposit then staged payments, 10-year workmanship guarantee.