Can I use old cloth-covered electrical cable if the socket still has power to it?
Quick answer
Just because a socket has power does not mean old cloth-covered wiring is safe to use. Rubber insulation beneath the cloth braiding deteriorates with age, becoming brittle and cracking, which creates a serious risk of electric shock and fire. This type of wiring is typically from pre-1960s installations and is well beyond its safe working life. Do not assume power equals safety. Have a registered electrician carry out an Electrical Installation Condition Report to assess the wiring before continuing to use those circuits.
🏠Homeowner view
Finding cloth-covered wiring in your home can be alarming, but understanding what it means will help you make the right decisions. Here is what you need to know.
What cloth-covered cable actually is. This type of wiring was common in UK homes built or wired before the 1960s. It typically consists of rubber-insulated conductors wrapped in a woven cotton or jute braid. Some older installations used a lead sheath instead of the outer braid. It was the standard of its time, but that time has long passed.
Why having power to the socket changes nothing about safety. A socket can deliver electricity perfectly well while the wiring feeding it is in a dangerously degraded state. The rubber insulation beneath the cloth braid dries out and becomes brittle over decades. It can crack and crumble, sometimes simply by being touched. When insulation fails, live conductors can come into contact with earthed metalwork or other conductors, causing short circuits, overheating, and fires. The socket working tells you nothing about the condition of the cable hidden behind your walls.
What you might notice if the wiring is deteriorating. You may see brown or black discolouration around sockets and switches. Plugs or sockets may feel warm to the touch. You might notice a faint burning smell with no obvious cause. Fuses may blow repeatedly without explanation. Circuit breakers or fuses may trip with only a light load connected.
What you should do right now.
1. Do not assume the wiring is safe because it works.
2. Avoid overloading sockets connected to old wiring.
3. Do not attempt to investigate behind walls, sockets or switch plates yourself.
4. Do not use extension leads daisy-chained from old circuits.
5. Contact a Part P registered electrician and ask for an EICR, which is an Electrical Installation Condition Report.
An EICR will assess the entire installation and identify whether the wiring poses an immediate danger, needs urgent attention, or can be managed in the short term. Most electricians will recommend rewiring a property that still relies on rubber-insulated cloth-covered cable, as there is no safe way to restore the insulation properties of aged rubber. This is not something to delay, particularly if you have children or elderly people living in the property.