How can i tell if i need to rewire before i buy a house?

nimbo

amersall wrote: »

all the responses you have had are right.when i purchased my house it had a new fuse box but not rewired! look under the sink on the metal pipes if it has a green and yellow cable this means it is earthed so possibly been rewired allso my bathroom radiator is the same with this wire, we only found out ours was not rewired when we came to fit a ceiling fan in the kitchen there was no earth wire.how old is the property? does the previous owner know if it has been rewired? hope this helps

the house has been empty for 7 years as the lady who owned it was in residential care... the son is the person selling it, and seems to have kept it in a good stste of repair, (eg had a new roof, as old one knakered...) the property is old (built of red brick in a predominately stone aera though so not too old...)

i have to admit i didn't look at things such as plug sockets when i went round in the past, but will have a look and ask if the son nows how old the wiring might be...

Wickedkitten

dmxdave wrote: »

Hope it doesn't look too much like the "BEFORE" one :rotfl:

Ha, here's the treasure that we found in the house we moved into back in 2006.


Click for full size - Uploaded with plasq's Skitch

matbe

There is no single thing you can look at and say it needs rewiring.

You need a periodic inspection by a decent electrician.

See nic or eca websites for details.

maninthestreet

ormus wrote: »

this photo is a simple guide to the typical old and new type fuse box.
if its the new type, you "should" be ok.
not guaranteed though!

The one on the left is identical to the fuse box on my house (but mine is better condition).

Pee

nimbo wrote: »

the house has been empty for 7 years as the lady who owned it was in residential care... the son is the person selling it, and seems to have kept it in a good stste of repair, (eg had a new roof, as old one knakered...) the property is old (built of red brick in a predominately stone aera though so not too old...)

i have to admit i didn't look at things such as plug sockets when i went round in the past, but will have a look and ask if the son nows how old the wiring might be...

I think you are right to be alerted to the fact it is very likely that it will need rewiring. Discuss it with the seller as suggested above, getting anything you rely on confirmed through the solicitors, and Prehaps get a professional electrician around to give a quote. That way you know what you are getting into and may be able to negotiate a discount.