Offer accepted, now worried about poss. rewire

SaveSomeMore_2

I've had an offer accepted on an old terrace.

I think as it was all quite modernly decorated inside, had a newish kitchen and was currently being used as a family home, it completely slipped my mind that it could be due a rewire.

If it did need a rewire it wouldn't be the end of the world although I'd need a bigger mortgage or the already discounted price to be lowered further. Its more the mess and having to replaster and redecorate everywhere that is off-putting.

Obviously I need to find out if this needs doing but I'm not sure when is best. It seems a bit embarrassing to be raising this with the estate agent after having made an offer (I'm worried this might jeopardise my status as a buyer/appear like I'm messing them round?).

Obviously I was planning on getting a full building survey, would this show electrical checks, and if so is it easy enough getting a electrical check done prior to exchanging contracts?

LHW99

You may have to specify you want the electrical wiring checked / get a separate survey, as they are not automatically included, even on a full survey.

http://rjqelectrical.co.uk/2013/09/home-buyers-electrical-report/
may be interesting, or google "electrical survey"

dirty_magic

You can get an electrical survey to look and negotiate from there. Don't worry about it being after the offer, that's what surveys are for. The building survey will just show stock phrases like 'the wiring may not be to current standards' if it's anything like ours.

Did you look at the fuse board when you viewed the house?

Freecall

Is there a particular reason that you think a rewrite might be necessary or is it just the age of the house?

Full rewires are seldom required unless the wiring is very old or the wiring has been extensively and badly altered in some way.

A standard survey won't tell you what you need to know but a proper electrical survey by an independent qualified electrical surveyor will set out exactly what (if anything) is required.

If work is needed then you can get some rough quotes and negotiate accordingly.

This is not messing anybody around, just undertaking due diligence in advance of your purchase.

System

Please don't assume a rewire is needed if you see the phrase 'does not meet current wiring regulations'. It doesn't need to. It only needs to meet the regulation extant at the time

MobileSaver

SaveSomeMore wrote: »

currently being used as a family home,

If the house is currently being used as a family home (presumably the current owners are quite happy with everything electrical working safely with their kids in the house) why would it suddenly need a rewire?

SaveSomeMore_2

Freecall wrote: »

Is there a particular reason that you think a rewrite might be necessary or is it just the age of the house?

Full rewires are seldom required unless the wiring is very old or the wiring has been extensively and badly altered in some way.

Just the age really (close to 115 years old), that said it is "feels" modern, has a new kitchen (so an electrician surely would have spotted anything major wrong in that part of the house then?) and aside from a few unchased lightswitches there is no glaringly obvious patchwork.

I'll get an electrical survey done, I'm just wondering (I'm very new to this), do they just arrange a time convenient to the vendors (who are still in situ) via the estate agents? I've read these take up to 4 hours? :eek:

I'm a bit worried about an electrician seeing how utterly clueless I am and chancing his arm with a rewire quote.

!!!!!! wrote: »

Please don't assume a rewire is needed if you see the phrase 'does not meet current wiring regulations'. It doesn't need to. It only needs to meet the regulation extant at the time

If it does have a new fuse box (I forgot to check in this house), is that a good indicator it would be safe? Presumably the electrician that installed it would have had to check it thoroughly to cover his back (presuming he wasn't a cowboy)?

MobileSaver wrote: »

If the house is currently being used as a family home (presumably the current owners are quite happy with everything electrical working safely with their kids in the house) why would it suddenly need a rewire?

That was my thoughts.

To be fair I'm probably excessively paranoid with electricity, I've been shocked before and don't want a repeat of that experience! Mind you I'm currently living in a 1930s house that I know has a new fusebox but I've no idea when the wiring was last done; and I don't lose sleep over that.

G_M

So the house is 115 years old.

so either it has original wiring from 115 years ago (doubt they had electricity at all), or it was wired and/or rewired subsequent to that. so the age of the house is immaterial. If it was wired/rewired in the last 30 years, it should be fine.

Won't meet 'current standards' (which is what the survey will say), but few houses do unless they were built in the last 5 years.

A surveyor is not an electrician. If you want the electrics checked, pay an NICEIC electrician for a report.