How Long Does a Full Rewire Take?

Most rewires take between three and seven days. That range covers the majority of domestic jobs, from a two-bedroom flat to a five-bedroom house. The two factors that move the timeline most are property size and whether the property is occupied during the work.

Rewires in empty properties

An empty property is the most straightforward scenario. There is no need to stage the work around occupants, and we can move through the building systematically without having to section it off. A standard three-bedroom house in an empty property typically takes three to four days from first fix through to testing and completion.

Rewires in occupied properties

Rewiring a lived-in home takes longer because we work one room at a time to keep the rest of the house habitable. Power is maintained to the areas not being worked on. A three-bedroom house in an occupied property usually takes five to seven days. We agree the room schedule before work starts so you know what to expect each day.

What happens on each day

First fix is when the cables are run. Floorboards are lifted, wall chases are cut, and all the new wiring is pulled through to position. This is the most disruptive phase. Depending on property size, first fix takes one to four days.

Second fix is when the accessories are fitted: sockets, switches, light fittings, and the consumer unit. This is cleaner work and is completed in one day for most standard properties.

Testing follows second fix. Every circuit is tested to BS 7671 requirements before the installation is signed off. Testing takes between half a day and a full day.

Certification is issued at the end: an Electrical Installation Certificate and, where applicable, a Part P Building Regulations Compliance Certificate.

What can extend the timeline

Some jobs take longer than the typical range. Common reasons include:

• Solid masonry walls that require more time for chasing and making good
• Concrete intermediate floors that restrict cable routing options
• Complicated loft layouts that make pulling cables difficult
• Properties with an unusually large number of circuits
• Additional work identified during the job, such as correcting earlier DIY wiring

If any of these apply, the surveyor will flag it at the quoting stage and the timeline will reflect that from the outset.

What you can do before work starts

Clearing furniture away from walls and making sure floorboards are accessible speeds the job up. We will talk through what preparation is useful at the site visit.