Old wiring = dangerous?

traceyed1

Hello

We are currently selling our house and our buyers had an electrics inspection done yesterday. The electrician noted that the wiring was from the 1970's. We knew the fusebox was dated and needed replacing but he has recommended that the house needs a total rewire which it probably does. Now because the wiring is old does that automatically mean its dangerous?

Thanks

maninthestreet

No, it doesn't mean it is dangerous, just not up to current standards.

thesaint

traceyed1 wrote: »

Hello

We are currently selling our house and our buyers had an electrics inspection done yesterday. The electrician noted that the wiring was from the 1970's. We knew the fusebox was dated and needed replacing but he has recommended that the house needs a total rewire which it probably does. Now because the wiring is old does that automatically mean its dangerous?

Thanks

Even if it needed rewiring, there is no requirement for you to do so.
I wouldn't say 70's wiring was particularly that old.

Davesnave

As above, not dangerous, but probably inadequate for modern requirements.

If the earth/earth bonding is OK, it's OK.

WestonDave

Its unlikely that 1970's wiring is imminently dangerous if its well installed and hasn't been messed around with. If you've started tacking extra bits on to the original set up then obviously it depends on the competence of the person doing that work. So I'd say on balance its not dangerous to live with as you are, but its going to be a matter for negotiation for someone who is looking at a house for a long term home whether they are happy to pay the costs of a rewire on top of what they've offered, or whether they felt that their offer should get them a house that didn't need that doing. Its not something that there is a right or wrong answer on and will depend entirely on their attitude.

DavidFx

It depends upon the Classification Code the electrician has used in the Electrical Installation Condition Report.
If it is a C3, then it is an improvement recommendation ; C1 and C2 are potentially dangerous and should/must be corrected.

http://www.select.org.uk/downloads/BestPracticeGuide4-Issue3.pdf

princeofpounds

Whilst I agree with the others that the wiring is not necessarily dangerous, after 40 years or so some components can start to experience material degradation.

There is no official line, but if you look across the web there is a general consensus that you might want to be thinking about the possibility of re-wire at around this point. But that might be after 30 years, or 50, it really depends on the conditions and quality of what is there in the first place.

So you should to look for a reason beyond just the age of the components, but the age probably makes it more likely a reason exists, if you follow.

dimbo61

So you are selling a 1970,s house !
Big garden? Garage? Large Rooms and 3/4 bedrooms but only one bathroom?
Single glazed windows and old kitchen/bathroom?
The buyers can see what they are getting for the money unless you have something else to hide ( Check the patio Brookside!)
The wiring is 40 years old and so is the roof/walls/windows/floors etc
If they want to rip the property to bits and put new kitchen/bathrooms/electrics/central heating etc that is up to them.
Sellers market in many areas!

makeyourdaddyproud

One tip I would give is that most electricians don't care too much about original features and would tend to do what it takes to get the job done, this includes destroying old floorboards, denying you the chance to expose them in the future, cementing in circuits, horrid surface conduits (unless you explicitly ask for chased walls), leaving tonnes of debris under the floorboards.


Have nice period cornicing? If they have to run cables don't expect that to be preserved.


You might get lucky with an older electrician, who may be more sympathetic to period features. Young ones definitely won't.


Expect to be charged thousands for a full rewire.


I would take an older wired house with features intact than a botched rewired one by a newbuild sparky any day of the week.

andybenw

PVC wiring from 70s does not necessitate a rewire. I assume an EICR hss been csrried out. Get a copy and have your estate agent get one of their normal electricians look at it.

traceyed1

My house is 100 years old. 4 bedrooms with some period features intact. Our buyers are FTB. Am hoping they arent scared off by the electricians report.