Cost of extra sockets

Aretnap

Hello MSE hivemind; wonder if you could help me.

Just moved into a new (to us) house and are working our way through the to do list. 3 bedroom end of terrace, 1960s construction, and I don't think very much has been done to the electrics since it was built - most of the rooms only have a single socket. So obviously we want some more sockets and I've had a quote from an electrician who was recommended by a local acquaintance.

To add a new circuit connecting a total of six new double sockets in four rooms, and also convert five existing single sockets to doubles. The rather old fusebox doesn't have RCD protection so the quote includes a mini-consumer unit for the new circuit - he said this was a better option than a whole new consumer unit. The new upstairs sockets will be going close to the floor and the downstairs one will be on a hollow wall so the amount of gouging of plasterwork and making good should be fairly minimal - though floorboards and carpets will have to come up.

The quote is £550+VAT for materials and labour. I haven't had work like this done before so didn't really know what to expect - but I confess I did have a little bit of an "ouch" moment. OTOH the guy was likeable, comes recommended, and turned down the chance to upsell me on the consumer unit which seems like a good sign. And I'm in the SouthEast so I should be used to things being more expensive than I expect. So if the quote is reasonable I'm inclined to accept it rather than pick a name at random from the phone book in the hope of shaving £50 off it.

So does the quote sound like it's in the right ballpark, or should I be looking for someone else?

sjw64

Hi

The true cost with VAT is about £660.

I live in the Midlands and have had some similar(ish) work done.

The first job was an extra double socket in a bedroom - cable under floorboard and fitted at the other end of the room. Took about 2hrs and charged a whopping £190

Second job was fitting x3 extra double sockets in dining room (originally only had one), removal of an old spur, full electrical test of entire house socket ring that found an earth fault that needed to be found. Fault found in another room deep into the plaster where someone whacked a nail in the wall severing the earth. All in was about £250

Your quote giving the amount of work seems about right to me

Risteard

Sounds cheap to me.

jrrowleyws

I'd get the consumer unit changed too. Seems silly to have separate rcds fitted to meet compliance when the rest sounds rather dated.

phill99

Too Cheap!!