Guide
Electrical work — costs, quotes and good practice
What drives the price of a rewire or new installation, how to read an electrician's quote, and what is worth planning before the walls are chased so the installation serves you well for decades.
What affects the cost of electrical work?
Every quote starts with the number of points — sockets, switches and lighting points. On top of that come dedicated circuits (cooker, oven, washing machine, dishwasher, boiler), the consumer unit, the meter tails and the testing and certification at the end.
Extra work raises the price: chasing brick or concrete walls, stripping out the old wiring, or running cables in surface trunking. That is why the calculator lists these items separately — you can see exactly what you are paying for.
Price per electrical point — what is included?
In our calculator labour is £50 per point. It covers fitting the back box, running the supply cable concealed in the wall and connecting the accessory. Pricing per point makes quotes easy to compare — just check that another contractor isn't charging separately for cable runs, back boxes or fitting the accessories.
Materials (cable, boxes, consumer unit and devices) are a separate line: you can choose labour and materials, or labour only and supply the materials yourself.
When does a house need a full rewire?
Typical warning signs are an old fuse box with rewireable fuses, rubber- or fabric-insulated cable, no RCD protection, lighting circuits without an earth, scorch marks on sockets, or fuses that blow regularly. An EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report) will tell you objectively whether the installation is safe.
If a significant part of the wiring is outdated, a full rewire during a renovation usually makes more sense than patching individual circuits — the walls are open anyway, and the problems don't come back.
What should a modern consumer unit include?
- Main switch — isolates the whole property in one move.
- Surge protection device (SPD) — protects electronics from voltage surges; BS 7671 requires it in most domestic installations.
- 30 mA RCD protection — split across two RCDs, or individual RCBOs per circuit, so a single fault doesn't take out the whole house.
- Correctly rated circuit breakers — typically 6 A for lighting, 32 A for socket ring finals and dedicated radials for high-power appliances.
- Spare ways for future circuits: air conditioning, solar PV, an EV charger.
Kitchens and built-in appliances
Freestanding appliances simply plug into sockets, but built-in appliances are usually connected through fused spurs placed in an accessible cupboard or above the worktop, so they can be isolated without pulling the units out. An induction hob or range cooker needs its own dedicated radial circuit sized to its rating.
Plan worktop sockets generously — kitchens are where most people regret not having enough.
Good ideas to plan in advance
- More sockets than you think you need — by the desk, the bed, the TV and the worktop. Adding one after decorating costs far more.
- Neutral at every switch position — most smart switches need one, and current regulations require it.
- Deep back boxes — easier connections and room for smart home modules.
- Ready for solar PV, a heat pump and an EV charger — a spare cable or empty duct from the consumer unit to the driveway and loft costs little during the works.
- Structured cabling — Cat6 data cable to the TV, home office and Wi-Fi access points.
- USB and outdoor sockets — handy in bedrooms, kitchens and the garden.
Testing, certification and Part P
A new installation or rewire should finish with full testing — insulation resistance, earth fault loop impedance, continuity of protective conductors and RCD operation — and an Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC). In England and Wales, new circuits, consumer unit replacements and work in bathrooms are notifiable under Part P of the Building Regulations.
Landlords in England must have an EICR carried out at least every 5 years; for owner-occupied homes a periodic inspection every 10 years is recommended.
How to prepare for a quote
We can give the most accurate quote from a floor plan with the points marked — a photo of a hand-drawn sketch is fine. It also helps to know the wall construction, any high-power appliances you plan to add, and your preferred timescale. The calculator result is a good starting point, and we confirm the final price after a free site visit.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to rewire a house?
With Helcom, a full rewire of a 1-bed flat in London (about 34 points, new consumer unit, testing and certification) costs about £4,000 inc VAT with materials, a 2-bed flat about £4,800 and a 3-bed house about £6,900. Labour only is about £3,100, £3,800 and £5,400 respectively. The price depends on the number of points, the wall construction and the scope of work — enter your own details in the calculator on this page for an itemised estimate.
How much does an electrician charge per point in London?
Our labour rate is £50 ex VAT per point — a socket, lighting point, switch, kitchen appliance unit or fused spur — and £40 per data or TV point. It covers fitting the back box, running the supply cable concealed in the wall and connecting it. Chasing, stripping out old wiring and second fix (£10 per accessory) are listed separately.
Is the calculator free, and is the price binding?
The calculator is free, needs no sign-up or personal details, and shows an itemised estimate straight away. The result is an estimate for a typical installation — we confirm the final price in writing after a free site visit.
How long does a rewire take?
A typical flat or small house usually takes from several days to around two weeks, depending on its size, the wall construction and whether the property is occupied. We agree an exact schedule after the site visit.
Can I replace just the consumer unit?
Yes — replacing an old fuse box with a modern consumer unit with RCD and surge protection is a common and sensible first step — with us it costs about £1,000 inc VAT for a 16-way board with dual RCD and SPD, including testing and certification. It must be followed by testing of the existing circuits, and if the wiring itself is in poor condition a new board alone won't make the installation safe.
Do I need to move out during a rewire?
Not always. Many rewires are done room by room in occupied homes, with power restored at the end of each day where possible. It does take longer and involves more dust and disruption, so an empty property is faster and usually cheaper.
Where do you work?
We are based in Croydon and work across London and the surrounding area — flats, houses, commercial units and outbuildings.
What does an EV charger installation need in the UK?
Under BS 7671 Section 722 a home charger needs its own dedicated circuit — typically 7.4 kW single-phase on 6 mm² cable with a B32 breaker, often with an integrated data cable for load management. Each charging point needs its own 30 mA RCD: type A is enough when the charger has built-in 6 mA DC fault detection, otherwise a type B RCD is required. On PME supplies the charger must also be protected against a broken PEN conductor, either by the charger itself or with an earth rod. The installation is tested, certified and notified to your Distribution Network Operator.
