Do I Need a Rewire? A Guide to Domestic Electrical Rewiring in Edinburgh

If your home still has an old fuse box, discoloured sockets or wiring that predates the 1990s, a rewire is worth investigating properly rather than putting off. This guide covers what a rewire involves, what it costs to think about, and the questions homeowners across Balerno, Currie, Juniper Green and the wider Edinburgh area ask before booking one, with straight answers from Paul Ayton at Ayton Electrical's domestic services.

What does a full house rewire actually involve?

A full rewire means removing all the old cabling in a property and replacing it with new wiring, a new consumer unit, and new accessories such as sockets, switches and light fittings, all installed and tested to current wiring regulations. It's the electrical equivalent of a full refit rather than a patch repair.

The job typically involves lifting floorboards, chasing into walls where cables can't run under floors, fitting a new consumer unit with modern RCD and RCBO protection, and certifying the finished work. In an older Balerno cottage or a Victorian villa in Corstorphine, this often means working around solid stone walls, lath and plaster ceilings, and awkward roof spaces, which takes more care and more time than a modern timber-frame new build.

How do I know if my house needs rewiring?

You likely need a rewire if your wiring is more than 25 to 30 years old, uses round-pin sockets, fabric or rubber-insulated cable, or if you've had an EICR come back with multiple C1 or C2 faults. Age of the property alone isn't proof, but age of the actual cable is.

A lot of the housing stock around Currie and Juniper Green dates back several decades, and it's common to find a property that's been extended or had a kitchen refitted without the underlying wiring ever being brought up to date. The safest way to know for certain is an inspection and test, not guesswork based on when the house was built.

What are the signs of old or dangerous wiring?

Warning signs include fuses blowing regularly, warm plug sockets, flickering lights, a burning smell near switches, black scorch marks on sockets, or a fuse box with a wooden back and rewireable fuse wire rather than trip switches. Any one of these is worth getting checked promptly.

Other quieter signs include sockets that feel loose when you plug something in, lights that dim when an appliance like a kettle or washing machine starts up, and cables with fabric or black rubber insulation visible in the loft or under floorboards. None of these should be lived with on the assumption they'll sort themselves out.

How much does a rewire cost in Edinburgh?

There's no fixed price for a rewire because cost depends on the size of the property, how many circuits are needed, how accessible the walls and floors are, and whether it's a full or partial rewire. Rather than quote a figure that might not fit your job, Paul Ayton assesses each property in person before pricing it.

What genuinely moves the price is the number of rooms and sockets, whether floors are suspended timber or solid concrete, how much replastering or redecoration follow-up is needed, and whether the property is a straightforward semi-detached house or a converted steading with unusual room layouts. Stone-built properties in Balerno and Colinton, where walls are thick and solid, often take longer to chase and make good than a standard timber-stud house, which affects labour time more than materials.

How long does a rewire take?

A full rewire on an average three-bedroom house typically takes one to two weeks, though flats and smaller properties can be quicker and larger period homes with more rooms or outbuildings take longer. The exact timescale depends on access, the condition of existing wiring, and whether other trades are needed alongside.

Bigger jobs, such as a detached villa with an extension or a converted mill building with several separate living spaces, can run closer to three weeks once first fix, second fix, testing and snagging are all accounted for. Paul Ayton will give a realistic timescale once he's seen the property rather than a generic estimate.

Do I need to move out during a rewire?

You don't always need to move out, but living in a property mid-rewire is disruptive, particularly for first fix work when floorboards are up and power may be off room by room. Many people choose to stay in one part of the house while another is worked on, or plan to be away during the noisiest days.

For a full rewire of an occupied family home, it's sensible to plan around at least a few days without power in the rooms being worked on, and to expect dust from chasing walls in older stone properties. Ayton Electrical will talk through a practical plan for your specific home before work starts, so there are no surprises.

What's the difference between a full rewire and a partial rewire?

A full rewire replaces every circuit in the property, while a partial rewire upgrades only the circuits or areas that actually need it, such as a kitchen extension, a converted loft, or a single floor of an older house. Partial rewires make sense when most of the wiring is sound but one section clearly isn't.

An EICR is usually what identifies whether a partial or full rewire is the right call. If most circuits test fine and only the upstairs lighting circuit or an old kitchen ring is flagged, there's no need to disturb the whole house. This is often the case in properties that have been renovated in stages over the years, which is common across Juniper Green and Colinton.

Why do older Balerno and Currie properties often need rewiring?

Many homes along the Water of Leith corridor, in Balerno, Currie and Juniper Green, are stone-built cottages, former mill workers' houses or converted farm steadings that have had multiple owners and partial updates over the decades, leaving a mix of old and new wiring rather than one consistent system. That patchwork is exactly what tends to fail an EICR.

It's common to find a property where the kitchen was rewired in the 1990s, a loft conversion added a modern circuit in the 2000s, but the original bedroom and hallway circuits are still on cabling from decades earlier. Each section might look fine in isolation, but together they create an inconsistent, harder to fault-find system that a full rewire resolves properly.

Do converted steadings and mill buildings have particular wiring problems?

Yes. Steadings and mill conversions around Balerno and Currie were often built for agricultural or industrial use long before domestic wiring standards existed, so cabling routes can be unconventional, running through original stone or timber structures never designed with modern electrical loads in mind. This makes planning a rewire more involved than in a standard house.

These properties also often combine very thick stone walls with newer stud partitions added during conversion, which means cable routes have to be worked out room by room rather than assumed. It's a job where an electrician who's used to older Edinburgh-area properties, rather than only new-build estates, makes a real difference to how tidy the finished result looks.

Is my fuse box out of date?

If your fuse box has a wooden back, ceramic fuse holders, or rewireable fuse wire rather than switches, it's out of date by current standards and almost certainly lacks modern protective devices. Boxes like this are common in properties that haven't had electrical work done since the wiring was first installed.

Even fuse boxes from the 1980s and 1990s, while safer than the oldest wooden-backed units, often lack RCD protection on enough circuits and use a plastic consumer unit type that's since been superseded by fire-resistant designs required under current regulations. An inspection will confirm exactly where yours sits.

What is the difference between a fuse box and a consumer unit?

A fuse box is the older term for the unit that distributes electricity around your home and protects circuits, typically using replaceable fuse wire, while a consumer unit is the modern equivalent using circuit breakers and RCDs that trip automatically and can be reset without replacing anything. The terms are often used interchangeably, but the technology is very different.

Modern consumer units are also built with fire-resistant enclosures, a requirement introduced after wiring regulation updates, which is one reason insurers and mortgage surveyors sometimes flag an old-style board even if it's technically still working.

Do I need an RCD or RCBO in my consumer unit?

Yes, current wiring regulations require RCD protection on socket circuits and most other circuits in domestic properties, because RCDs cut the power in milliseconds if they detect a fault to earth, which significantly reduces the risk of electric shock. RCBOs go a step further by giving each individual circuit its own dedicated protection.

The practical difference matters most when something goes wrong: with a single RCD covering several circuits, a fault in one part of the house can trip everything and leave you in the dark, whereas RCBOs isolate just the faulty circuit and leave the rest of the property running normally. It's a small cost difference at rewire stage that makes daily life noticeably easier afterwards.

How often should electrical wiring be inspected?

Domestic wiring should be inspected and tested roughly every ten years, or at change of occupancy, whichever comes first, and sooner if the property is older, has had visible faults, or hasn't been checked in living memory. Rental properties in Scotland have their own legal minimum, covered below.

An inspection produces an Electrical Installation Condition Report, which grades any issues found by severity. It's a useful health check even if you're not planning any work, because it tells you honestly whether you're looking at a straightforward repair, a partial rewire, or nothing urgent at all.

What is an EICR and do I need one?

An EICR, or Electrical Installation Condition Report, is a formal inspection and test of a property's fixed wiring that identifies any damage, deterioration or non-compliance with current standards, and classifies findings from C1 (danger present) through to C3 (improvement recommended) or satisfactory. It's the standard way to establish the true condition of a property's wiring.

Anyone buying an older home in Colinton or Corstorphine, or taking on a property that hasn't had work done in years, would be sensible to arrange one before committing to a rewire or partial rewire, since it removes the guesswork and gives a clear, documented starting point.

Do landlords need an EICR in Scotland?

Yes, landlords in Scotland are legally required to have an EICR carried out at least every five years and provide tenants with a copy, as part of the Repairing Standard. This applies to all private rented properties, including flats and houses across Edinburgh and the surrounding areas.

Given how many older properties are let out across Juniper Green, Currie and Edinburgh's tenement stock, this is one area where an out-of-date fuse box or ageing wiring can turn into a compliance problem quickly, not just a safety one. Ayton Electrical carries out EICRs for landlords and can advise on any remedial work flagged, whether that's minor repairs or a full rewire.

What's the difference between domestic and commercial electrical work?

Domestic electrical work covers homes and typically involves lighting circuits, sockets, consumer units and appliance connections at household scale, while commercial electrical work covers business premises, which often means higher electrical loads, three-phase supplies, emergency lighting, fire alarm interfaces and stricter periodic testing schedules. The underlying regulations and safety principles are the same, but the scale and compliance requirements differ.

A shop unit on a Corstorphine high street or an office in central Edinburgh has different obligations around fire safety, emergency lighting and periodic inspection than a family home does, and the equipment installed, from distribution boards to emergency exit signage, reflects that. Ayton Electrical's commercial services cover this side of the work for local businesses.

What commercial electrical services does a business need?

Most commercial premises need periodic testing, fixed wiring inspections, emergency lighting maintenance, and installation or upgrade work for lighting, power and data circuits as the business changes and grows. Landlords letting commercial units also need documented compliance for insurance and lease purposes.

Beyond the basics, many businesses around Edinburgh are also adding EV charging for staff or customer parking, upgrading old fuse boards inherited from previous tenants, or rewiring units that have had several different occupiers over the years without a full electrical review in between. It's worth treating a change of tenancy as a natural point to check the wiring, not just the fit-out.

Do commercial premises need periodic testing?

Yes, commercial and industrial premises require periodic inspection and testing at intervals set by the type of business, use, and risk level, generally more frequently than the ten-year domestic guideline. Insurers and landlords will often specify a testing interval directly in a lease or policy.

Ignoring this isn't just a compliance risk, it's a practical one too. Commercial properties tend to have heavier daily electrical use than a home, from catering equipment to IT systems, so wear and faults can develop faster than in a domestic setting.

Can I get an EV charger installed at my home in Balerno?

Yes, most homes in Balerno, Currie and Juniper Green with off-street parking or a driveway are well suited to home EV charger installation, generally more straightforward than a flat in central Edinburgh without dedicated parking. The main requirements are a suitable supply, a sensible cable route, and a charger positioned within reach of where the car parks.

This is one area where the village and semi-rural character of Balerno and the surrounding villages genuinely works in homeowners' favour compared with tenement flats in the city centre, where shared stairs, no driveway and on-street parking make installation far more complicated. Ayton Electrical's EV charger installation service covers assessment, installation and certification for domestic and commercial chargers alike.

Do I need planning permission for an EV charger in a conservation area?

Most domestic EV charger installations don't need planning permission, but properties in conservation areas or listed buildings can have extra restrictions on where the unit and cabling are visible from the street. Balerno, Currie and parts of Colinton include areas where this is worth checking before installation.

In practice this usually means being thoughtful about charger position, cable routing and any external fixings on the front of a period property, rather than it being a barrier to getting a charger installed. Paul Ayton can advise on a sensible, unobtrusive layout as part of the initial site visit.

What electrical work needs a certificate in Scotland?

Most fixed electrical installation work, including rewires, consumer unit changes, new circuits and EV charger installations, needs to be certified on completion to confirm it meets current wiring regulations, and some categories of work also fall under building standards notification. A qualified electrician handles both the certification and, where relevant, the paperwork.

This matters at practical moments too: certificates are routinely requested by mortgage lenders, solicitors during a house sale, and insurers after a claim. Work carried out without proper certification can cause real problems later, even if it looks fine on the day it's done.

Should I use a NICEIC registered electrician?

Using a NICEIC registered electrician means the work is carried out and certified by someone assessed against national wiring standards, with the paperwork to prove it, which matters for insurance, mortgage lenders and future buyers. Ayton Electrical is NICEIC registered and a SELECT member, giving two layers of industry recognition on top of the certification issued for the job itself.

It's a reasonable question to ask any electrician before booking work, particularly for something as significant as a rewire or a new consumer unit, since it's the certification trail that proves the work was done to standard, not just that it works on the day.

Can I do my own rewiring or electrical work?

Legally, some minor electrical work can be done by a competent person, but rewiring, consumer unit changes and most new circuit installations fall under notifiable work that needs to be certified by a qualified, registered electrician. Attempting a rewire without the right training carries real safety risk, and uncertified work can cause problems at sale or insurance claim stage.

Beyond the legal side, a rewire also involves judgement calls, like circuit design, cable sizing and where RCBOs are genuinely needed, that come from training and experience rather than following a general guide. It's one area of home improvement where the risk of getting it wrong, from fire risk to failed inspections down the line, outweighs any saving from doing it yourself.

What happens if I ignore old wiring?

Ignoring old or deteriorating wiring increases the risk of electric shock, overheating and fire, and it can also cause practical problems like failed house sales, invalidated insurance, or landlords falling foul of their legal EICR obligations. Wiring doesn't tend to fail dramatically; it degrades quietly until something eventually goes wrong.

The honest answer is that not every old system is dangerous, and some older wiring can still test as satisfactory for now. But once an inspection has flagged genuine faults, particularly C1 or C2 findings, leaving them unaddressed is a real risk rather than a theoretical one.

Will rewiring disturb my walls and decoration in an old stone house?

Yes, rewiring an older stone-built property usually involves some chasing into walls and lifting floorboards, which means an element of replastering and redecoration afterwards, more so than in a modern timber-frame house where cables can often run more easily within stud walls. This is worth factoring into planning, particularly if a room's just been decorated.

Where possible, cable routes are planned to minimise disruption, running through floor voids and loft spaces rather than solid walls wherever the layout allows. But in solid stone cottages typical of Balerno and Colinton, some wall chasing is usually unavoidable, and it's better to know that upfront than be surprised partway through the job.

How do I choose an electrician for a rewire?

Choose an electrician who is NICEIC registered or a member of a recognised body like SELECT, will visit the property in person before quoting, and can explain clearly what work is needed and why, rather than just providing a number. For a rewire specifically, experience with older properties similar to yours is genuinely useful.

It's also worth asking how the job will be certified, what protection will be fitted in the new consumer unit, and how disruption will be managed if you're staying in the property during the work. A straight, unhurried answer to those questions tells you a lot about who you're dealing with.

What areas do you cover for domestic and commercial electrical work?

Ayton Electrical covers Balerno, Currie, Juniper Green, Corstorphine, Colinton and the wider Edinburgh area, working on everything from period cottages and converted steadings to modern semis and commercial units. Being based locally means a genuine understanding of the older housing stock typical of these villages, not a one-size-fits-all approach borrowed from new-build estates.

Whether it's a full rewire of a stone-built cottage in Balerno, an EICR for a rental flat in Edinburgh, or a consumer unit upgrade for a shop in Corstorphine, the same standards and certification apply across every job.

Why choose Ayton Electrical for a rewire in Edinburgh?

Ayton Electrical is led by Paul Ayton, NICEIC registered and a SELECT member, with a five-star record from customers across Balerno and the surrounding area. The combination of formal accreditation and consistently positive local feedback means work is certified properly and carried out to a standard homeowners and businesses can rely on.

Rather than quoting blind over the phone, Paul assesses each property in person, which matters particularly for older stone-built homes and steading conversions where the right approach isn't always obvious from a floor plan. That honesty about what a job actually needs, rather than a generic package, is what tends to matter most once the work is underway.

FAQs

How much notice do I need to give for a rewire?

It's sensible to book a survey a few weeks ahead of when you'd like work to start, particularly for larger rewires, so the job can be scheduled properly and materials ordered in advance.

Will I lose power completely during a rewire?

Power is typically off in the sections being worked on rather than the whole property at once, though there will be periods, particularly when the new consumer unit is connected, when the whole supply is briefly off.

Does a rewire include new light fittings?

A rewire includes new cabling, a new consumer unit and standard accessories like sockets and switch plates; decorative light fittings, unless basic pendants, are usually supplied separately or by the homeowner.

Can I get a mortgage on a house with old wiring?

Some lenders will request an EICR or evidence of a rewire before completing a mortgage on an older property with outdated wiring, so it's worth having documentation ready if you're buying or selling.

Do I need a rewire if I'm just adding a socket?

No, adding a single socket or light doesn't need a full rewire, but it's worth checking the circuit it's connecting to isn't already overloaded or outdated before adding to it.

What's involved in an EV charger installation survey?

A survey checks your existing electrical supply capacity, the route for the charger cable, and the best mounting position, along with any conservation area considerations for period properties.

Is a partial rewire cheaper than a full rewire?

Generally yes, because less cabling, fewer circuits and less making good is involved, but the actual saving depends on how much of the property still needs work.

How disruptive is chasing walls in a stone cottage?

It's noisier and dustier than working in stud walls, and takes longer, but it's a routine part of rewiring older properties and is planned for accordingly.

Do commercial units need a different type of consumer unit?

Larger commercial premises often need distribution boards rather than a domestic-style consumer unit, sized for higher loads and multiple circuits including emergency lighting.

What certificate will I receive after a rewire?

You'll receive an Electrical Installation Certificate confirming the work meets current wiring regulations, which should be kept for insurance, mortgage and future sale purposes.

Can Ayton Electrical install both domestic and commercial EV chargers?

Yes, chargers are installed for homes with driveways or off-street parking as well as commercial premises looking to offer charging for staff or customers.

How do I know if my consumer unit needs upgrading rather than a full rewire?

If an EICR shows the cabling itself is sound but the consumer unit lacks modern RCD or RCBO protection, an upgrade alone may be enough without a full rewire.

If your home or business anywhere across Balerno, Currie, Juniper Green, Corstorphine, Colinton or Edinburgh needs a rewire, an EICR, or advice on where to start, get in touch with Paul Ayton at Ayton Electrical or call 0131 392 7845 for an honest assessment and a clear quote for your domestic electrical services.