Most homeowners never think about their wiring — until something goes wrong. The UK has some of the oldest housing stock in the world, and a significant proportion of London homes still contain wiring installed 30, 40 or even 50 years ago. Here's what to look out for.
1. Flickering or dimming lights
Occasional flickering when you turn on a high-draw appliance is usually normal. But if your lights flicker regularly, dim unexpectedly, or flicker when nothing has changed, this can indicate a loose connection, overloaded circuit, or failing wiring insulation. Don't ignore it.
2. Circuit breakers that trip repeatedly
Modern circuit breakers trip to protect you. If yours trips once and stays in after resetting, that's fine — it's doing its job. If it trips repeatedly or won't stay in, there's a fault in the circuit that needs investigating. Never tape a breaker in the ON position.
3. Burning smell or scorch marks around sockets
A burning smell from a socket or switch is a serious warning sign. If you notice scorch marks around a socket or a persistent smell of burning plastic — even with nothing plugged in — turn off that circuit at the fuse board immediately and call an electrician. This can indicate arcing inside the wall, which is a fire risk.
4. Old-style fuse box (with wire fuses or wooden fittings)
If your property still has a fuse box with ceramic fuse holders and rewireable wire fuses rather than a modern consumer unit with MCBs and RCDs, your electrical system is likely over 28 years old. Modern consumer units offer vastly better protection against shock and fire. Upgrading isn't just about compliance — it could save your life.
5. Round-pin sockets or black/red wiring
Round-pin sockets and the old colour-coding (red = live, black = neutral, green = earth) date from before 1967 wiring standards. If you find any of these in your home, your installation is likely original and will need full assessment. Modern wiring uses brown, blue and green/yellow.
6. Sockets that are warm to the touch
Sockets should never feel warm — even with something plugged in. Warmth indicates resistance in the connection, which means heat buildup. Heat buildup in wiring is one of the leading causes of electrical fires. If your sockets feel warm, don't use them and call an electrician.
7. Too few sockets — using lots of extension leads
This one's more of an indirect sign. If you're running your home on a web of extension leads and multi-plug adaptors, your wiring doesn't have enough circuits for modern use. Extension leads aren't designed for permanent use — they overheat, get damaged underfoot, and are frequently overloaded. A rewire or additional circuits will fix this properly.
What should you do?
If you recognise any of these signs, the right first step is an EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report). An EICR will tell you exactly what condition your wiring is in and what, if anything, needs replacing. It's a fixed-price inspection — not a sales pitch.
At Royal Docks Electrical, EICRs start from £165 + VAT (£185 for a 1-bed flat). If a full rewire is needed, we'll give you a fixed price quote with no obligation.
Worried about your wiring?
Book an EICR from £165 + VAT — we'll tell you exactly what's what, with no upselling.
Call 020 7473 7807