rewiring - how can you tell how recent it was done?

angeleyes

Hi
We have put our house up for sale somone came to view and asked about rewiring - I think it was done 10 yrs ago when i moved in although have no documents - just know the plugs were moved - is there any way to tell and how much it would cost - how often it is supposed to be done - and why would it put people off (the person viewing was looking for a buy to let )
Thanks in advance

Doozergirl

It doesn't need to be done often but current Building Regs are quite stringent. If you have grey, flat wires running from your fusebox (near the meter) then you shouldn't need a rewire. If your fuse box is a modern one it will have lots of 'flicky switches'.

It is possible that you won't need a rewire but could do with a new fusebox, but the only person that seems to be overly concerned about fuseboxes is my husband, so as long as you're not selling to him, you'd be okay with that, I think.

jimmmyc

As rewiring is a major upheaval, with floor boards coming up and new channels needing to be cut(possibly). some people are concerened about it. It will also cost a few grand to do a 3 to 4 bed house, so they may want to knock your asking price down.

We had our electrics checked by London Electric-for free- and found it was not properly earthed. So a full rewiring was needed, although what was there was pre 1970.

So, you could get it checked for free or a small fee from an electrician, the estate agent should know someone that can do that. If you have an old fuse box with the wires that burn out, it could be updated to a new 'flicky switch' one for a few hundred pounds and would look good to a potential buyer.

silvercar

You can also replace the old fuse boxes with individual flicky switches. You can even buy them online at screwfix and fit them yourself!

Ian_W

After ploughing through the numerous pages of building regs on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister website url]http://www.odpm.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1130474[/url which would require an HND in applied sparkyism to get your head around, at last a simple explanation of whether you need a rewire or not, viz:
If you have grey, flat wires running from your fusebox (near the meter) then you shouldn't need a rewire. If your fuse box is a modern one it will have lots of 'flicky switches'.

Well done doozer, you should get an award from the Plain English Society.

BTW our flicky switches always do a flicky when a bulb blows, is this Part P compliant?? :rotfl: :j

Doozergirl

"flicky switch" is the watchword of the day. Yes, Ian, the flicky switch should flick when you blow a bulb. Annoying isn't it? Especially when it's dark. Which it would be when you need to turn a light on :wall:

Some idiot :rolleyes: had this house rewired and there's something wrong with the kitchen lights which mean every time I forget they're broken (several times an evening) I plunge the house into darkness. Think I can the idiot to call his sparky in to fix it? Can I heck. It's not what you know OR who you know!