Thinking about rewiring your home but worried about the mess, disruption, or safety? You’re not alone. One of the most frequent questions we get is:
“Can I live in my house while it’s being rewired?”
Short answer: Yes—you can.
Long answer: It takes careful planning, communication, and a good electrician.
At Lumiel, we’ve helped dozens of families in South West London stay comfortable during rewiring projects. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to make it work—safely and smoothly.
🔌 Why Would You Need a Full Rewire?
If your property is:
- Over 30 years old
- Failing an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR)
- Showing signs like flickering lights, burning smells, tripping breakers, or old-style fuse boards
Then a full or partial rewire may be needed to bring your home up to modern standards.
✅ Can You Live There While It Happens?
Yes, but with conditions.
Rewiring is invasive. It involves:
- Lifting floorboards
- Chasing walls
- Disconnecting power intermittently
- Dust, drilling, and movement
But with good planning, you can live in your home while it’s rewired one section at a time.
🧭 Step-by-Step Guide: How to Rewire While Living In Your Home
Step 1: Choose the Right Electrician
Make sure your electrician:
- Is NICEIC-registered
- Offers a phased rewiring plan
- Communicates clearly before and during the job
- Provides dust protection, site clean-up, and testing throughout
At Lumiel, we specialise in rewires for occupied homes and work closely with families to reduce the hassle.
Step 2: Plan Your Living Zones
Your home will be rewired in stages. That means:
- We’ll isolate one area (like a bedroom or living room)
- Complete the work in that section
- Restore power before moving on
🛏 Tip: Move into one part of the house and set up a “liveable zone” with essential furniture, bedding, and kitchen gear.
Step 3: Prepare for Power Cuts
You’ll likely be without electricity in parts of the home during working hours, especially in the room being rewired.
- Charge devices in advance
- Use backup lighting or battery packs
- Plan meals that don’t rely on kitchen appliances during disruption
We aim to restore power every evening so you’re never without electricity overnight.
Step 4: Protect Your Belongings
Rewiring involves dust, debris, and drilling. Protect your home by:
- Moving furniture away from work zones
- Covering carpets and electronics
- Using dust sheets (we provide them too)
- Sealing unused rooms to minimise mess
🧼 We also do a clean-up at the end of each day to keep things livable.
Step 5: Stay Informed – Daily Updates Matter
The best way to stay sane during a rewire? Know what’s happening.
We provide:
- Daily progress updates
- Clear timelines for which rooms are next
- A final check with full testing and certification
🚫 When Living In Isn’t Ideal
In some cases, we may recommend moving out, such as:
- If you're rewiring the entire property in one go
- If you have young children, pets, or elderly residents who may be sensitive to noise and disruption
- If the property has no safe zone to live in
We’ll always be upfront with our advice—and help you find the most practical, cost-effective solution.
💡 Bonus: Can You Rewire Room by Room?
Yes. We often do partial rewires, especially during:
- Loft conversions
- Kitchen renovations
- Garden room installations
This lets you upgrade specific areas without touching the rest of the house—perfect for phased projects.
🏡 The Lumiel Difference: Rewiring, Without the Chaos
At Lumiel, we understand how stressful rewiring can sound. That’s why we:
- Offer free consultations and walkthroughs
- Use clean, efficient methods
- Work around your family’s schedule
- Offer same-day power restoration
- Provide certified, guaranteed work with NICEIC approval
📞 Need to rewire but don’t want to move out?
Get in touch with Lumiel for a rewiring plan designed for real life—and real families.
