Your house likely needs rewiring if it was built before 1980 and still has the original wiring, if you have a ceramic fuse box, if you notice flickering lights or burning smells, or if an electrician's inspection reveals degraded insulation or non-compliant wiring. Homes with old rubber- or cotton-insulated wiring (commonly called VIR or TRS cabling) are a fire risk and should be rewired as a priority.
Overview
Rewiring is one of the most important safety upgrades for older Australian homes. Wiring insulation degrades over time — rubber and cotton-insulated cables (common in pre-1970s homes) become brittle, crack, and expose live conductors, creating a serious fire and electrocution risk. Even PVC-insulated wiring from the 1970s and 1980s may have degraded in hot roof spaces. A full rewire replaces all old cabling with modern TPS (Thermoplastic Sheathed) wiring, upgrades the switchboard, and brings your home's electrical system up to current AS/NZS 3000 standards. While it's a significant investment, it protects your family and dramatically increases your property value.
When you need this service
- ✓Your home was built before 1980 and has never been rewired
- ✓An electrical inspection has revealed degraded, cracked, or non-compliant wiring
- ✓You're undertaking a major renovation and need to bring wiring up to current standards
- ✓Your insurance company has flagged old wiring as a risk or increased your premium
- ✓You experience frequent circuit trips, flickering lights, or burning smells with no appliance fault found
How it works
- 1
Electrical Inspection & Report
A thorough inspection of all existing wiring, including roof space, sub-floor, and in-wall cables. The electrician provides a detailed report on the condition of your wiring and a scope of works.
- 2
Detailed Quotation
You receive a comprehensive quote covering all new cabling, switchboard upgrade, power points, light switches, and any making-good of walls and ceilings (or coordination with a plasterer).
- 3
Rewiring Phase
New TPS cabling is run through the roof space, walls, and sub-floor. The switchboard is upgraded. Power is progressively switched from old circuits to new ones — in many cases partial power can be maintained during the work.
- 4
Testing, Patching & Certification
Every circuit is comprehensively tested. Access holes in walls and ceilings are patched (by the electrician or a plasterer). A full compliance certificate is issued.
How much does it cost?
A full house rewire in Australia costs $8,000 to $25,000 depending on the size of the home, number of storeys, accessibility (e.g. brick vs weatherboard, slab vs stumps), and the number of circuits and power points. A 3-bedroom single-storey weatherboard home typically costs $10,000 to $15,000. A 4-bedroom two-storey brick home can cost $18,000 to $25,000. These costs usually include a switchboard upgrade but may not include wall patching and repainting, which can add $1,500 to $4,000 if extensive.
Australian regulations
House rewiring must comply with AS/NZS 3000 (Wiring Rules) and all work must be performed by a licensed electrician. The new installation must include modern TPS cabling, a compliant switchboard with safety switches on all circuits, correctly rated circuit breakers, and proper earthing. In most states, the electrician must notify the local energy distributor and lodge a compliance certificate with the relevant electrical safety authority. If asbestos is encountered in walls, eaves, or the meter board, licensed asbestos removal is required before the electrician can proceed.