Signs that wiring needs replacing include rubber insulation, aluminium cables, frequent tripping, burn marks, or an EICR coding it as C1 or C2 (potentially dangerous).
🏠Homeowner view
Most UK homes built before 1966 used rubber-insulated wiring (it looks brown, black, or cream coloured, and often crumbles when touched). This type of wiring is now at the end of its design life and should be replaced. Homes from the 1960s–1980s may have aluminium wiring (silver-coloured conductors instead of copper) — this requires special treatment as it expands and contracts differently from copper and can cause loose connections. Signs you may need rewiring: lights flicker regularly, sockets and switches are discoloured or warm, circuit breakers trip without obvious cause, or you have an old fuse box with ceramic fuses. A rewire of a 3-bedroom house typically costs £3,000–6,000 and takes 3–5 days. An EICR inspection (electrical certificate) will tell you definitively whether rewiring is recommended.