Purchase House That May Require Electric Rewiring

mi-key

The OPs main question was if they should reduce their offer on the house. Unless a report shows something as being actually dangerous, then the answer is no. If it says it is not up to modern specs, then the answer is also no as most houses over 20 years old won't be.

If the report suggests things that can be done to bring it up to current spec, then that is a very different thing, and isnt the sellers cost to bear.

Even with future proofing and adding extra sockets etc... it is not normal the whole house would need a rewire. Replacing perfectly good wires with new ones just for the sake of it is a waste of money ( a bit like changing your car tyre when it is 50% worn just because it will need changing in a couple of years ) 

GDB2222

PVC wiring does deteriorate  over time, but how quickly depends on how warm it gets. That depends on how it's been installed, and how it's been used.  This wiring is at least 40 years old, and it may be okay, or it may be shot. There's no rule of thumb to say which.

I would definitely get an EICR, and then be guided by the electrician. If it does need extensive rewiring, budget for the house being uninhabitable for several weeks, a load of replastering, and all the decorations needing to be redone. The floors will need to come up, so you may need new floor coverings.  The cost of the electrician is just part of the total cost.  It's best to get all this done before you move in. 

silvercar

We moved 16 years ago into a 1930s house that had probably been rewired in the 80s. On advice we replaced the main consumer board for one with flippy switches instead of fuse wire. The electrician said that if any circuit kept flipping we should have it looked at, as the flippy switches were more sensitive than the old wires. 

The garden one kept flipping after downpours, but ironically that turned out to be on an offshoot mini MCB that had only been installed in the previous year. 

Recently we had to have the whole lot inspected for key items before having an electric vehicle charger installed and it passed. Over the years we have only noticed 2 very strange things - light switches in built in cupboards are the old bakelight type and the downstairs lights in the 3 rooms with a central light aren’t earthed.

[Deleted User]

One other thing to look for it lots of filament and CCFL bulbs. Sometimes the newer LED ones have issues with poor wiring, so people install the older types.