Rewiring an older Auckland home: what to expect

Signs an older home needs rewiring

Old wiring rarely fails all at once. It shows up in small ways first. If a few of these ring true in your home, it is worth having the wiring assessed.

• The home is 40 years old or more and has never been rewired.
• Two-pin, unearthed power points.
• Rubber or cloth-covered cables are visible in the roof or under the floor.
• Flickering lights or fuses and breakers that trip often.
• Power points that feel warm or look discoloured.
• A faint burning smell or a buzz from outlets.

The process and consent

We start by assessing the existing wiring and planning the new circuits around your renovation. A full rewire is restricted building work, so council consent is usually needed, and we handle that application. The old cabling comes out, new wiring goes in throughout, and every circuit is tested for polarity, insulation and earth before an Electrical Safety Certificate is issued.

How long it takes and living through it

Most owners do not have to move out. The power is off for parts of each day while we work, but we keep essential supply going where we can and plan the days around you. The timeline depends on the size of the house and how much access the renovation gives us.

What it costs

As a general Auckland range in 2026, a full rewire runs from about $4,000 to $10,000 and up. A small two-bedroom home is often $3,000 to $6,000; a four-bedroom home around $8,000 to $15,000. Every home is different, so these are market figures rather than a UBL quote, and a partial rewire of just the problem circuits costs less.