“How long will it take?” is one of the first questions people ask about a rewire — usually because they’re trying to plan around the disruption. Here are realistic timescales by property size, what changes them, and how to keep things moving.

Typical timescales by size

As a rough guide for a full rewire:

• 1–2 bed flat: around 3–5 days
• 2–3 bed house: around 5–8 days
• 4 bed house: around 8–12 days
• 5+ bed / large period home: 2–3 weeks or more

These cover the electrical work itself. Add time for plastering and making good afterwards (often a few extra days), and decorating, which is yours to arrange.

Why the range is so wide

Two same-sized homes can differ a lot because of:

• Property age and construction. Solid walls, lath-and-plaster, and period features slow cable routing versus modern stud walls.
• Access. Suspended timber floors and a loft make life easier; concrete floors and no loft mean more chasing.
• Scope. A like-for-like rewire is quicker than one adding lots of new sockets, circuits, smart wiring, and a relocated consumer unit.
• Occupied vs empty. An empty house is faster — no working around furniture and people.
• Period features to protect. Careful, sympathetic work (worth it) takes longer than ripping through.

Living in vs moving out

You don’t usually have to move out, but it’s disruptive — floorboards up, walls chased, power off in areas being worked on. Done room by room, you can often stay, with power restored to finished areas each evening.

Moving out (or doing it between tenants/before moving in) is faster and less stressful — the team works without interruption, and there’s no living around dust and disruption. If you can time a rewire for an empty property, it’s the smoother route.

A typical sequence

1. First fix — lifting floorboards, chasing walls, running new cables to all points (the bulk of the time).
2. Consumer unit — fitting the new board and connecting circuits.
3. Second fix — fitting sockets, switches, light fittings, and testing.
4. Testing & certification — full testing and your certificate.
5. Making good — plastering chases and patching, then it’s over to your decorator.

What speeds it up

• Decide fittings and socket positions early — last-minute changes cause delays.
• Clear access to rooms, floors, and the loft.
• Empty the property if you can.
• Book plastering and decorating to follow on promptly.

What slows it down

• Discovering hidden problems once walls are open (old damage, asbestos in artex — which needs specialist handling)
• Scope creep mid-job
• Awkward access and solid floors
• Coordinating around occupants

Don’t rush the testing

However keen you are to finish, the testing and certification stage matters — it’s what proves the installation is safe and compliant with BS 7671, and gives you the Part P certificate you’ll need when you sell. A good electrician won’t skip or rush it.

Planning your rewire

For a realistic timeline on your specific property, the best step is an assessment — size, age, access, and scope all feed into it. GFL Electrical carry out rewires across East London and will give you an honest schedule up front. See our house rewiring service and rewire cost guide, or call 020 3774 5604.