Rewire 5 bed house in Southport - unoccupied or occupied?

[Glenda]

Hi all, I'm not knowledgeable about electrics at all, just here for some advice please if you don't mind. My husband and I are buying a house in Southport and I think it's going to need a full rewire. It's a 5 bedroom 3 reception room house and I know that nothing has been done to the electrics for over 20 years.

I looked at the fuses and breakers and there seems to be a mix of stuff. There are some old fuses (the 15 amp fuses that blow out and need replacing) and there are some on breaker switches. The people selling the house said "a mate of theirs" ( no idea of qualifications) looked at the setup and said "because the cables are all the thick kind it's not that bad " but this is all I know so far. I also know that there won't be any room for negotiation on price as we're getting a decent price already but the seller has made it very clear he won't renegotiate after a survey.

So my questions are:

1. Any way of guessing whether we need a full rewire or just patching things up?
2. Assuming we need a rewire approx what kind of price should we be expecting to pay?
3. And would the price be much lower if we didn't move into the house until the work had been completed, so the house would be retired while unoccupied?
4. Finally, if the cost is say £5k do most people get loans or something to pay it all at once? Or do many electricians take credit cards nowadays? We will be quite skirt for a few months after purchasing the house but don't want to wait to get a rewire if the electrics are a safety risk now.

Thanks for any help you can offer. By the way, my wonderful uncle, sadly passed away a few years ago now, was a very talented electrician who tookmhis work very seriously and I have a lot of respect for your profession.

 

[shanky887614]

If it needs rewiring its better to have it rewired prior to moving in, that way floors can all come up and walls chased if need be and made good much easier and quicker

 

[Pete999]

Was none of this mentioned in the surveyor's report? if not, then best get an Electrician in to have a look, maybe pay for an Electrical Installation Condition Report, EICR without seeing the house, probably £200:00ish depending, anyway if it was me and I was unsure that's what I would do, sorry if that's not what you wanted to hear, that's the best advice I can give, see what the other members say, good luck

 

[Silvermerlin]

Agree with above, get an Electrical Installation Condition Report done and you should then know what needs doing, the wiring may be okay, but I would upgrade the consumer unit (fuse board), then you will have RCD protection, best to have any work done before moving in

 

[J@mes]

The only way to really tell is to have it tested by a qualified and EXPERIENCED electrician who knows what s/he is doing and has the proper test equipment to do it.

Perhaps there is someone on this forum in your area who may want the work?

 

[Badged01]

From what you are saying it sounds like you are heading towards a full re-wire but if cash is tight then for the sake of £200 get an EICR completed to know exactly where you stand!

 

[Badged01]

... and Southport is a nice place :yes: If I was closer I'd come give it a look over for you!

 

[Pete999]

To far for me as well Northampton

 

[GLENNSPARK]

Hi all, I'm not knowledgeable about electrics at all, just here for some advice please if you don't mind. My husband and I are buying a house in Southport and I think it's going to need a full rewire. It's a 5 bedroom 3 reception room house and I know that nothing has been done to the electrics for over 20 years.

I looked at the fuses and breakers and there seems to be a mix of stuff. There are some old fuses (the 15 amp fuses that blow out and need replacing) and there are some on breaker switches. The people selling the house said "a mate of theirs" ( no idea of qualifications) looked at the setup and said "because the cables are all the thick kind it's not that bad " but this is all I know so far. I also know that there won't be any room for negotiation on price as we're getting a decent price already but the seller has made it very clear he won't renegotiate after a survey.

So my questions are:

1. Any way of guessing whether we need a full rewire or just patching things up?
2. Assuming we need a rewire approx what kind of price should we be expecting to pay?
3. And would the price be much lower if we didn't move into the house until the work had been completed, so the house would be retired while unoccupied?
4. Finally, if the cost is say £5k do most people get loans or something to pay it all at once? Or do many electricians take credit cards nowadays? We will be quite skirt for a few months after purchasing the house but don't want to wait to get a rewire if the electrics are a safety risk now.

Thanks for any help you can offer. By the way, my wonderful uncle, sadly passed away a few years ago now, was a very talented electrician who tookmhis work very seriously and I have a lot of respect for your profession.

LOL.

i wonder which bar they found him sat at the end of then?...lol

look, seriously love.
get an electrician in to have a look around.....theres plenty in here that are round your way...or not too far and could attend.

did this `electrician` issue any paperwork?...were any tests carried out?

 

[GLENNSPARK]

Tel might be able to go...philD as well....