If you’ve just discovered your home’s wiring is more “vintage chic” than “safe and sound”, you’re not alone.
Rewiring a house is one of those big-ticket jobs that nobody wants to think about — until you have to.
In this article we’ll look at realistic cost ranges for rewiring, what affects the price, and how to make sure you’re getting good value rather than just a scary quote.
What you might pay in 2025
According to UK-wide guides, the cost to fully rewire a property varies considerably. For example:
- A 1-bed flat: around £3,000–£4,800.
- A 2-bed house or flat: roughly £4,500–£7,800.
- A 3-bed house: typically £5,000–£8,000+, depending on size, age and layout.
- Larger houses (4-5 bedrooms) or homes with complex layouts: you could expect £8,000–£12,000+ or even more.
Since Basingstoke is in the South East of England — where labour rates are a little higher than national average — you might lean toward the upper end of those ranges.
What pushes the cost up (and down)
Here are some of the major factors that will affect how much your rewiring job costs:
- Property size & the number of rooms: More rooms, more circuits, more sockets = more cost.
- Age & condition of the existing wiring: Older homes (say 30+ years) often need more extensive work to bring to modern standards.
- Whether you’re living in the house during the work: Rewiring in an occupied home typically takes longer (labour disruption, access issues) which adds cost.
- Access & structure: Hard-to-reach cable runs, solid floors, thick walls, lofts or crawl spaces make the job harder and more expensive.
- Specification of fittings: Standard sockets and switches cost less than designer finishes, USB ports, feature lighting or smart wiring.
- Additional work and certification: If your rewire includes a new consumer unit (fuse box), extensive testing (EIC), or compliance certificates, your cost will reflect that.
- Local labour rates & VAT: The South East often has higher labour rates than the UK average.
- Decoration, plastering and finishing: Often overlooked, but after the wiring’s done you may have patching, plaster repairs or decorating to budget for.
So what should you budget for around Basingstoke?
If your house in Basingstoke is a standard 3-bed semi, you’d be wise to budget somewhere in the ballpark of £5,000–£10,000 for a full rewire (including consumer unit, sockets, testing & certification).
If it’s a larger detached 4- or 5-bed home with multiple floors, expect £8,000–£12,000+ depending on complexity and finishes.
If you’re only doing a partial rewire (some circuits, one wing of the house, or a rewire in conjunction with extension work) you might spend considerably less — but you’ll want to be very clear exactly what is included.
Tips to get good value (not just the cheapest quote)
- Ask for detailed quotes: what’s in the price, what’s excluded, how much disruption, how many days, what rewiring standard.
- Make sure the contractor can handle the testing & certification: you should get an Electrical Installation Certificate and Part-P Certificate, plus the installation testing under BS 7671.
- Consider timing: doing rewiring while you’re renovating may save you on decoration/re-plastering costs.
- Don’t skip quality: a low quote that cuts corners on safety or certification may cost you more in the long run (insurance problems, selling issues, safety risks).
- Talk about making good after wiring: If you’ll need plastering, decoration, flooring, include or at least factor an allowance for those.
- Use local and approved contractors: They’ll know the area, know the conditions in houses locally, and be more accountable.
Why choose us at GU Solutions
For more than 20 years we’ve been carrying out rewiring and electrical upgrades in homes across Basingstoke and North Hampshire. We’re a NICEIC Approved Contractor, fully insured, and we take the time to explain what’s involved, what the disruption will be, and what your true cost is — no surprises.
We’ll give you a solid quote, explain what could change it, handle the certification, and leave your home safe and compliant.
Final word
Yes — rewiring is a major job. Yes — it costs thousands of pounds.
But when it’s done properly, it’s not a “cost” so much as a safety upgrade, an investment in your home’s value, and peace of mind for you and your family.
If you live in Basingstoke or the surrounding area and your wiring is looking tired, dated, or giving you trouble — don’t wait. Get a free survey, understand the true cost for your home, and let you and your electrician plan it right.
📞 Call GU Solutions on 01256 473326 for a free home survey.
Let’s make sure your home’s electrics are safe, solid and built for the next 25 years.
