EICR vs Full Rewire: When Do You Need Each

Summary

An Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) is a professional safety inspection, like an MOT for your electrics. The EICR identifies defects and risks in your property's wiring. An EICR may indicate that your home requires a full rewire to replace outdated or unsafe wiring and components to meet modern standards (BS 7671). In practice, you usually book an EICR first. If the report shows isolated issues, targeted remedials or a consumer unit upgrade may be sufficient. However, if the EICR reveals widespread or dangerous faults, a full rewire is the safer option.

What is an EICR?

An EICR is a detailed visual and electrical test of your installation. A qualified electrician checks the condition of wiring, earthing/bonding, circuit protection, and accessories, comparing them against the current edition of BS 7671.

The report uses observation codes:

• C1 – Danger present, risk of injury (requires immediate action)
• C2 – Potentially dangerous (urgent remedial work advised)
• C3 – Improvement recommended
• FI – Further investigation required

When to get one: Homeowners should request an EICR every 10 years or on change of occupancy. Landlords in England need an EICR at least every 5 years (or on change of tenancy), with a valid report supplied to tenants.

Click here to Learn more about EICRs

What is a full rewire?

A full rewire replaces all fixed wiring (circuits), the consumer unit, and associated accessories (sockets, switches, lights). The rewire process may involve the replacement of existing accessories and the installation of new accessories. There are three main stages to a full house rewire:

• First fix: Chopping out chases (channels in the wall) to install new wiring or new socket and switch locations.
• Second fix: Installation of new sockets, switches, light fittings, and consumer unit.
• Testing & Certification: The new installation will be fully tested and you will be given an Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC).

Old consumer unit (left) replaced by new consumer unit (right) with brown and blue wiring

New wiring installed in your home will be brown (live) and blue (neutral), which replaced the old red and black wiring. The replacement of red and black wiring began on the 31st of March 2004, and after a transition period, was fully replaced by March 2006. If you do have red and black wiring in your home, it does not necessarily mean that you need a full rewire. If you are worried, contact a local electrician to carry out an EICR.

Triggers for a rewire often include fabric or rubber-insulated cables, missing RCD protection, frequently tripping circuits, heat damage, or significant layout changes during renovations.

What is the Average Cost to Rewire a Home?

Signs you may need each

Signs an EICR is the right first step

• Buying or selling a property and want objective evidence of electrical safety
• It's been 10+ years since the last inspection
• Intermittent tripping, flickering, or buzzing that needs diagnosis

Signs a full rewire is likely

• Multiple serious findings on your EICR (e.g., several C2 or any C1 observations)
• Very old, degraded, or mixed wiring types across the home
• Major refurbishment where chasing walls and lifting floors will already occur
• Lack of RCD/RCBO protection and pervasive earthing/bonding issues

EICR → Assessment → Action

1. Book an EICR. Your electrician will carry out a full inspection and provide a written report.
2. Assessment of observations. The electrician should explain the findings, grouping them by severity (C1/C2/C3/FI) and by room/circuit.
3. Recommend remedies.
   • Minor or isolated issues → targeted repairs or a consumer unit upgrade
   • Widespread safety issues or very old wiring → partial or full rewire
4. Plan for future needs. The electrician can advise on adding capacity for EV charging, heat pumps, induction hobs, home offices, or extensions while access is available.

Typical UK costs & timescales

Costs vary by region, access, property size, and specification. As a broad guide:

• EICR: Often a few hundred pounds for an average house (varies by size)
• Full rewire (3‑bed house): Commonly £4,000 to £6,000 with a duration of around 2 to 10 days

Ask for a written, itemised quote covering room count, number of points, new circuits, making good, and certification.

How to decide: EICR or full rewire?

If your wiring is fundamentally sound and issues are limited, repairs plus a modern consumer unit can achieve compliance and safety. If your EICR reveals systemic risks, or you are renovating, then investing in a full rewire can improve safety, capacity, and resale confidence.

Rule of thumb: Let the EICR be your evidence. Fix what’s isolated; rewire what’s fundamentally outdated.

FAQs

An EICR is a safety inspection and report on your existing installation. A full rewire replaces wiring, consumer unit, and accessories to meet current standards.

No. C3 recommendations and some C2 issues can be resolved with targeted repairs or a consumer unit upgrade. A full rewire is typically advised for multiple serious faults (especially C1) or very old, degraded wiring.

For a typical three‑bed home, many projects fall in the £4,000–£6,000 range and take about 1–2 weeks, depending on access and specification.

Homeowners commonly test every 10 years or at change of occupancy. Landlords in England require an inspection at least every 5 years (or at change of tenancy).