From Victorian and Edwardian terraces to ex-council flats, much of East London’s housing is decades old — and so is a lot of its wiring. Here’s what to look out for.
Common issues in older homes
- Old wiring — rubber or fabric-insulated cable perishes with age; some homes still have it hidden away.
- No earth or no RCD — older installations may lack modern shock protection.
- Old fuse boards — rewireable fuses instead of MCBs and RCDs.
- Too few sockets — leading to extension-lead overload.
- Layers of DIY — decades of untested alterations by different owners.
The warning signs
Round-pin sockets, black/red wiring, a fuse box with wire fuses, warm sockets, or frequent tripping all point to an ageing installation — see our guide to the signs your fuse board needs upgrading.
The best first step
An EICR tells you exactly what condition the installation is in and what, if anything, needs doing. Most older homes need targeted repairs — a new consumer unit, some new circuits — rather than a full rewire, unless the wiring is genuinely at the end of its life.
Common questions
Wiring over about 25–30 years old should be inspected. Rubber or fabric-insulated cable and old fuse boards are signs an installation may need updating — an EICR will confirm.
No — most older homes need targeted repairs such as a new consumer unit or some new circuits. A full rewire is only needed when the wiring is genuinely at the end of its life.
Round-pin sockets, black and red wiring, a fuse box with rewireable fuses, warm sockets, scorch marks and frequent tripping all point to an ageing installation that should be checked.
Own an older property?
An EICR tells you exactly what your wiring needs — book a fixed-price inspection.
Call 020 7473 7807