Ask three people what a house rewire costs and you’ll get three very different answers — anywhere from £3,000 to £20,000 depending on who you ask and what they’re picturing. That’s because “house rewire” describes an outcome, not a fixed job. What it actually involves depends on the size of the property, the age and condition of the existing wiring, whether you’re doing everything at once or just the priority circuits, and the standard of fittings you end up with.
This guide gives real 2026 price ranges for home rewiring work in Horndean, what a proper quote should include, what tends to push the price up or down in Horndean’s particular mix of housing, and how long you should expect the job to take.
Ballpark 2026 rewire prices by property size
These figures assume a full rewire — all circuit cabling, a new consumer unit, sockets, switches, ceiling roses and cooker/shower isolators — carried out by a Part P-registered electrician with full certification and Building Regulations notification included. They’re typical for the Horndean, Waterlooville and wider Havant catchment in 2026, excluding VAT:
- 1–2 bed flat or small terrace (5–7 circuits): £3,500 – £5,500
- 3-bed semi (7–9 circuits): £4,500 – £7,000
- 3-bed detached or larger semi (9–11 circuits): £5,500 – £8,500
- 4-bed detached (10–13 circuits): £7,000 – £11,000
- 5+ bed detached or converted period property: £9,000 – £16,000+
Partial rewires — for example just the kitchen and upstairs, or a single problem circuit plus a consumer unit swap — typically run £1,500–£3,500 depending on scope.
What drives the price in Horndean specifically
Horndean’s housing splits fairly cleanly into two categories, and they cost quite differently to rewire:
- Older cottages and properties around the village centre and Blendworth — solid or single-brick walls, original cable routes that don’t follow modern conventions, and ceiling roses in period locations. These take longer to chase and cost more per circuit than the estates.
- 1960s–80s estate housing around Barton Cross, Five Heads Road and the newer developments towards Clanfield — predictable stud partitions, easier loft access, and installations that were often partially refreshed once already. A partial rewire is frequently the sensible option here rather than a full strip-out.
Watch out for aluminium wiring if your Horndean property dates from the 1960s or 70s — a small percentage of homes from that era used it, and it has to be fully replaced rather than overlaid, which adds to the cost. On the other end, newer builds around Clanfield and the more recent Horndean estates often only need a consumer unit upgrade plus targeted fault work rather than a full rewire.
Beyond the property itself, the other predictable cost drivers are additional circuits — EV charging, garden power, home offices, feature lighting — and second-fix fittings above the standard white plastic baseline, which are usually quoted as a separate line.
What a proper rewire quote should include
- Isolation of the existing supply and safe removal of accessible old cabling
- New twin-and-earth cables for every power and lighting circuit
- A new consumer unit — ideally a full-RCBO metal-clad unit with surge protection
- New sockets, switches, ceiling roses, cooker outlet and shower isolator as specified
- Full earth bonding and supplementary bonding to bathrooms where required
- A full set of dead and live tests, documented
- An Electrical Installation Certificate and Building Regulations notification via the electrician’s Competent Persons Scheme
- Plaster patching to chased cable routes — usually included, but worth confirming
What quotes usually don’t include
- Redecoration — chases are filled to a decorator-ready finish, but painting and wallpapering is on you
- Carpet lifting and refitting
- Furniture moving
- Non-standard second-fix fittings such as feature pendants or designer switch plates
- Structural work needed to access cable routes, such as lifting fitted kitchen units
Partial vs full rewire — which makes sense?
A full rewire is usually right if the property is over 30–40 years old and has never been substantially updated, is failing insulation resistance testing, or has come back unsatisfactory on an EICR with widespread C1 or C2 issues. It’s also the most efficient time to add circuits for an EV charger, garden power or a home office.
A partial rewire makes more sense if only certain areas have problems — a kitchen renovation, a loft conversion, or preparation for a specific new install. If you’re not sure which category your Horndean property falls into, an EICR will tell you exactly where the installation stands before you commit to either.
What to expect while it’s happening
A typical full rewire in a 3-bed semi takes 3–5 working days; a 4-bed detached usually 5–8 days. Power will be intermittent throughout, though a good electrician restores essentials like the fridge freezer between sessions. Most people move out for at least two or three nights of a full rewire; kitchens and bathrooms are the hardest hit, so plan meals and showering elsewhere accordingly.
Frequently asked questions
Can I stay in the house during a rewire? Yes, but expect real disruption. Families with young children or anyone working from home often prefer to move out for the middle two or three days.
Do I need a rewire before selling the property? Not legally, but a poor EICR result at survey stage almost always knocks money off the offer, and mortgage lenders sometimes require remedial work before completion.
Can I get a cheaper quote from a non-certified electrician? You can, but without Part P sign-off you’ll face Building Control fees to retro-notify the work when you sell, plus potential buildings insurance issues. The saving rarely survives that friction.
How long is the electrical certificate valid? The Electrical Installation Certificate itself doesn’t expire. Your next EICR is due within 10 years for an owner-occupied home, or 5 years for a rental.
Get a fixed-price rewire quote
We carry out full and partial rewires across Horndean, Waterlooville, Havant and Portsmouth city. Every quote is fixed-price, in writing, and includes certification and Building Regulations notification. If you’re not sure whether your Horndean home needs a full or partial rewire, our home wiring page covers both in more detail, or you can start with an EICR to establish exactly where the installation stands. For related pricing across the wider area, see our 2026 house rewire cost guide covering Waterlooville, Havant and Portsmouth. Get in touch for a free, no-obligation survey — most quotes are delivered within 48 hours of the visit.