At Lighthouse Engineering Ltd, we have over 30 years of electrical experience and are based in Dollis Hill, NW2. We work extensively with older London properties, carrying out electrical fault finding, testing, consumer unit upgrades, partial rewires and full house rewires.
Our approach is straightforward: inspect the existing installation, explain what we find, recommend what is actually needed and provide a clear quotation before work starts.
Do I need to rewire my old house?
This is one of the first questions homeowners ask.
The answer is: not necessarily.
The age of a property alone does not mean it automatically needs a complete rewire. An electrician should inspect and test the existing electrical installation before recommending major work.
In some older homes, the existing wiring may be capable of being retained with improvements to particular circuits.
In others, years of alterations and additions can leave an installation that is no longer suitable for modern demands.
Signs that an older property may need further investigation include:
- An old fuse box or outdated consumer unit
- Old or damaged cables
- A mixture of different cable types
- Sockets or switches that are damaged, loose or showing signs of overheating
- Frequent electrical faults or tripping
- Too few sockets
- Heavy reliance on extension leads
- Lighting circuits that require investigation
- Previous DIY electrical work
- Lack of adequate earthing or bonding
- Circuits that cannot be clearly identified
- An installation that has not been properly tested for many years
A modern consumer unit does not automatically mean the rest of the wiring is modern or satisfactory.
That is why proper inspection and testing matters.
A typical 1930s house rewire in Cricklewood
Consider a typical three-bedroom 1930s terrace in Cricklewood, NW2.
The property is being renovated before the owners move in.
The existing installation has:
- An old fuse board
- A mixture of old and newer wiring
- Additional sockets installed over several decades
- Limited socket provision
- Extension leads being used in several rooms
- Circuits that are difficult to trace
- An old electric shower supply
- Outdated lighting arrangements
- No modern interlinked mains-powered smoke alarm system
Nothing has necessarily failed catastrophically.
But the homeowner is about to spend thousands renovating the property.
This is the point at which it makes sense to deal with the electrical installation properly.
Rather than simply replacing what is visible, the rewire can be designed around how the house will actually be used.
Planning a house rewire before the work starts
One of the biggest mistakes with rewiring is treating it simply as a cable replacement exercise.
A good rewire starts with planning.
At Lighthouse Engineering Ltd, we would look at the property room by room and discuss how the homeowner intends to use it.
For example:
Kitchen electrics
Modern kitchens can have a surprisingly high electrical demand.
The electrical design may need to accommodate:
- Oven
- Hob
- Extractor
- Dishwasher
- Washing machine
- Fridge-freezer
- Microwave
- Small appliances
- Worktop sockets
- Under-cabinet or feature lighting
Socket and appliance positions should be agreed before the kitchen is installed.
Getting this right at the rewire stage can save considerable disruption later.
Living room
A modern living room may need considerably more electrical provision than a 1930s house originally had.
The homeowner may want:
- Additional double sockets
- TV power
- Data/internet cabling
- Media equipment
- Floor lamps
- Wall lighting
- Dimmable lighting
- Future equipment
It is much easier to install the necessary wiring while the walls and floors are accessible.
Bedrooms
Older houses often have very limited socket provision.
During a rewire, sockets can be positioned around the way the room will actually be used rather than simply replacing existing outlets in their original locations.
This can include practical positions around beds, desks and dressing areas.
Bathroom
Bathroom electrical work requires particular care because of the presence of water and the specific requirements applying to electrical installations in locations containing a bath or shower.
Lighting, extractor fans, switches, isolators and other equipment need to be appropriately selected and positioned.
Future-proofing your NW2 home
A full rewire can be an opportunity to think about what the property may need over the next 10 or 20 years.
For example, homeowners in NW2 may eventually want:
- An EV charger
- Garden power
- Garden lighting
- A garden office
- Security lighting
- Additional data cabling
- Electric heating
- Additional kitchen appliances
- Smart-home equipment
You do not necessarily need to install everything immediately.
However, discussing future requirements while the property is being rewired can prevent unnecessary disruption later.
Rewiring an occupied house versus an empty property
If you have bought an older property in Dollis Hill or Cricklewood and are planning a major renovation, completing the electrical work before moving in is often worth considering.
With an empty property, there is much better access to:
- Floors
- Walls
- Ceilings
- Loft spaces
- Cupboards
- Existing cable routes
It also makes it easier to coordinate the electrician with plasterers, decorators, kitchen installers and flooring contractors.
If the property is occupied, a phased rewire may sometimes be possible.
However, homeowners should understand that a full rewire is disruptive.
There can be drilling, chasing, lifting floorboards, temporary loss of power and making good afterwards.
A professional electrician should explain this honestly before the quotation is accepted.
What happens during a full house rewire?
A typical rewire is completed in stages.
Initial inspection and quotation
The existing installation is assessed and the homeowner's requirements are discussed.
This is where we identify the likely scope of the work and any obvious issues that may affect the quotation.
First fix
The old installation is dealt with as appropriate and the new electrical infrastructure is installed.
This may include:
- New cables
- New socket positions
- Lighting points
- New circuits
- Consumer unit arrangements
- Appliance supplies
- Extractor fan supplies
- Smoke and heat alarm wiring
- External supplies
- Future provisions
Making good
Once the first fix is complete, other trades can carry out plastering and associated work.
The extent of making good required will depend on the property and the agreed scope.
Second fix
The visible electrical accessories are installed.
This includes:
- Sockets
- Switches
- Light fittings
- Smoke alarms
- Heat alarm
- Extractor fan
- External lights
- Other electrical accessories
Inspection and testing
The installation is then inspected and tested.
This is a crucial part of the project.
The electrician should not simply switch everything on and leave.
The completed installation needs to be properly checked and the appropriate electrical certification provided.
How long does it take to rewire a three-bedroom house?
There is no single timescale that applies to every property.
A straightforward three-bedroom house with good access may take around one to two weeks for the electrical installation, but the overall renovation programme can be longer once plastering, decorating, flooring and kitchen work are included.
Some properties take considerably longer.
Solid floors, difficult cable routes, limited access, extensive lighting requirements, additional circuits and bespoke installations can all increase the time required.
This is why an electrician should inspect the property rather than provide a firm price and timescale based purely on the number of bedrooms.
How much does it cost to rewire a house in NW2?
There is no honest single price for a house rewire.
The cost depends on the individual property and the specification.
Factors include:
- Property size
- Number of circuits
- Number of sockets
- Lighting requirements
- Access
- Floor construction
- Wall construction
- Consumer unit specification
- Kitchen requirements
- Bathroom requirements
- Smoke and heat alarms
- External electrics
- Data cabling
- EV charging provision
- Amount of making good required
A very cheap quotation should always be checked carefully.
Ask exactly what is included.
Does it include the consumer unit?
Are sockets and switches included?
Is testing included?
Is certification included?
Are smoke alarms included?
What happens if concealed damage is discovered?
Is cable removal included?
Who is responsible for making good?
A detailed quotation helps avoid misunderstandings.
When a full rewire may not be necessary
There are situations where a complete rewire is not the right answer.
For example, an older property may have an installation that tests satisfactorily but needs:
- Additional sockets
- New lighting
- A consumer unit upgrade
- Repairs to individual circuits
- Improved bonding
- Smoke alarm upgrades
- External electrical work
This is why testing should come before the recommendation wherever practical.
At Lighthouse Engineering Ltd, we do not believe homeowners should be told they need a complete rewire simply because their house is old.
The recommendation should be based on what we actually find.
Why Lighthouse Engineering Ltd for rewiring in NW2?
If you are searching for an electrician to rewire an old house in NW2, local experience matters.
Lighthouse Engineering Ltd is based in Dollis Hill, NW2, and has more than 30 years' experience in electrical work.
We work with homeowners and property professionals across:
Our experience includes older properties where electrical installations have been altered repeatedly over many years.
We specialise particularly in fault finding and diagnostics, which means we are used to investigating installations where the problem is not immediately obvious.
Lighthouse Engineering Ltd is a NICEIC Approved Contractor, Which? Trusted Trader and Part P registered, and we are committed to providing straightforward advice and quality electrical work.
Rewiring an old house in Dollis Hill, Cricklewood or NW2?
If you are renovating an older property, do not leave the electrical installation until after the decorating, flooring and kitchen have been completed.
Get the electrics assessed early.
Whether your property needs a complete rewire, a partial rewire or simply targeted electrical improvements, the first step is understanding what is already there.
Lighthouse Engineering Ltd can inspect your property, discuss your requirements and provide a clear written quotation for the electrical work.
With over 30 years' experience and a local base in Dollis Hill, NW2, we understand the challenges that come with older North West London properties. Get in touch today to enquire about a full or partial rewire in Dollis Hill, Cricklewood or NW2
