When homeowners in London think about rewiring, they often imagine a full-scale renovation with floors ripped up, dust everywhere, and massive bills. But what if your home only needs a partial rewire?
Good news: partial rewiring is often a smart, cost-effective alternative — but it comes with some caveats.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through:
Partial rewiring involves replacing or upgrading only certain parts of your home’s electrical wiring — rather than ripping out and replacing the entire system.
Examples include:
Partial rewiring can be done safely and legally — as long as it meets current regulations (BS 7671:18th Edition) and is tested and certified properly.
✅ You’re renovating just part of your home
If you're updating the kitchen or bathroom, regulations require the new work to comply with modern safety standards. That often means rewiring those rooms, even if the rest of the house is untouched.
✅ You’ve had an EICR with only a few flagged circuits
If your Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) shows just one or two circuits as unsafe, we can upgrade only those circuits.
✅ You’re doing a phased renovation
Some clients choose to rewire their home in stages over a year or two to spread the cost and disruption.
❌ Your existing wiring is decades old (pre-1970s)
Old wiring types like rubber, lead, or cloth are often dangerous. In this case, a full rewire is almost always the best option.
❌ You don’t have an updated consumer unit
Mixing new wiring with outdated fuse boards is a safety risk. If you haven’t upgraded your fuse board to a modern consumer unit, it may need doing alongside the partial rewire.
❌ You’re selling or renting the property soon
Partial rewiring may raise red flags in surveys or fail to meet landlord certification requirements.
Advantage
Why It Matters
💰 Lower cost
Typically 30–60% cheaper than full rewiring
🛠️ Less disruptive
No need to vacate the property
⏱️ Faster
Most jobs complete in 1–3 days
🔌 Targeted safety
Fixes urgent hazards without redoing everything
Limitation
Risk/Issue
⚡ Mixed wiring systems
New and old cables side by side can cause issues
📜 Certification complexity
Only the upgraded parts will be covered by a certificate unless full testing is done
🧱 Aesthetic mismatch
New switches/sockets may not match older ones
🏗️ Future disruption
If you plan to rewire more later, you’ll face disruption again
At Lumiel, we use a clear and standardised pricing system. Costs depend on the number of points (sockets, lights, switches) being rewired or replaced, plus whether a fuse board upgrade is required.
If your partial rewire also requires a consumer unit upgrade, HMO fuseboards range from £1,320–£1,740 (inc VAT).
All jobs include:
🏠 Clapham Renovation (2024)
Kitchen rewired with 15 new points at £120 each, plus dedicated EV charger circuit.
Total: £1,920 including certification.
🏡 Wimbledon Loft Conversion
12 points rewired at £96 each, plus sockets and smoke detectors.
Total: £1,152 including NICEIC certificate.
🏘️ Fulham Rental Property
7 faulty points replaced at £60 each. Passed re-test the same day.
Total: £420 including certification.
We’re NICEIC Approved and fully insured, and every job we complete:
We also support phased rewiring projects — ideal if you want to spread the investment over time.
✔️ If you’re upgrading a specific room
✔️ If you have safety concerns on one circuit
✔️ If you’re planning a phased renovation
…then yes, partial rewiring can be the right solution.
But if your entire system is outdated or you’re preparing for sale, it may be worth investing in a full rewire.
Need advice? Want a transparent quote?
Book a free assessment with Lumiel — we’ll explain your options clearly and help you choose the safest, most cost-effective path forward.
📞 Call us or request a callback today.
