Able to tell if property needs a rewire? (pics of unit etc)

chezybezy

hi guys hoping someone might be able to help,
Looking at buying a house, survey has brought up many many things (scary, but i suspect they are supposed to be like this). There was mention that the consumer unit (fuse box) should be replaced and unable to tell if a rewire is required. While I could potentially cover a new box a property re-wire would be out of my budget.

I've had a quick look around today and grabbed some pictures of a light fitting upstairs which shows some wires, the main unit, the secondary unit for an extension and a box in the shed.
Would anyone be able to advise me from these? I realise this would only be an opinion and I will try get my seller to pay for an electrician to check - but I think they will say no as I need to get a gas survey on the back boiler before I replace it with a combi.
The property is in wales and in a town, in a row of three. As far as I can tell the mains is fed from an overhead wire, like the old phone lines used to be, to a white box on the side of a building 3 away (white bricked building). This wire attaches to the roof area and changes to a thick what looks to be a black t&e cable (it’s a thick cable no idea if it is t&e – this is the pebbledash building) which goes in above the door into the consumer unit.

sorry went a bit photo mad.
also does anyone know what all the bumf is to the left and around of the main unit? I've only ever seen the newer style units like the second one in the pic.

does this work:
https://imgur.com/a/Pb8AD

Doozergirl

Good old photobucket. Can't see anything.

Might need to use a different site if you don't want to pay to upgrade.

chezybezy

Doozergirl wrote: »

Good old photobucket. Can't see anything.

Might need to use a different site if you don't want to pay to upgrade.

That just sums up my day! does it work now? if not ill find somewhere else to host. im so sorry!

bris

Get an EICR done. This will tell you every thing you need to know by an expert. Putting photos on a forum is useless as all you will get is a hundred different opinions.


Not meeting current standards is nothing as there are 40 million homes in the UK in this bracket.

Gloomendoom

chezybezy wrote: »

The property is in wales and in a town, in a row of three. As far as I can tell the mains is fed from an overhead wire, like the old phone lines used to be

Used to be?

Around here they still are. Phone and electricity.

tacpot12

Rewiring a property is only required when the existing wiring is losing its insulating properties. This can't be checked for via a visual inspection. You need an electrician to perform a fixed wiring test with a suitable meter. An EICR will include this and other tests. Should cost around no more than £100-120 in Wales.

chezybezy

images updated with another host, oddly they show on my laptop.

@bris - thank you, i didn't realise that other homes would be in the same situation - as now i think about it it makes sense.
i realise a report would be the best way to go but i thought that maybe looking at some of that wiring etc people might have a feeling as it is an old property.
so i would instruct my solicitor to ask for an EICR (with report) to be done?

@Gloomendoom - ive only ever seen phone lines delivered this way, thank you, again if other properties in other areas have this i feel better.

@tacpot12 - ah that makes sense, and thank you for the guide price it makes things easier to judge. I'll try get the seller to get one done if not i wonder if i can have one before completion.

I've read so much on people charging different prices and not testing etc it worries me. is there a way to know for sure a EICR has been done and not just 'told' one has? I just want things to be safe as like others i have a lot of home electronics and also terrible luck.
I think that main unit is old and will need to be replaced immediately...

thank you for your replies so far and sorry for the image problem.

FreeBear

You have an installation dating from the 1970s - The Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker is a dead give away, as is the vintage fuse board.

One thing that is of concern - There appears to be a length of fairly thick cable (6mm² possibly) that is wired in to the henley blocks below the meter and disappears off somewhere above the old fuse box. If this is feeding in to the modern consumer unit photo #8 or the shed, it needs to be replaced asap.

I would also be concerned about the earthing arrangements - If the earth wire from the fuse box goes to an earthing rod, it may be compromising the function of the ELCB.

Budget for a rewire, and get the price of the house knocked down to reflect the age & condition of the wiring.