Will an old fuse box fail a house survey?

Surveys do not pass or fail. An old board is flagged with a recommendation to have the electrics tested, which buyers often use to negotiate.

Should I replace my fuse box before selling?

If it has no RCD protection or has been coded C1 or C2, replacing it usually costs less than the discount a buyer will ask for. If it is a modern board in good order, an EICR is enough.

Can I ask the seller to replace the fuse box?

You can ask, or ask for a price reduction instead. A fixed written quote makes either conversation easier.

How quickly can you fit before completion?

We send a fixed price within two working hours of your photos and often fit within the week. Tell us your completion date and we will plan around it.

Buying or Selling a House With an Old Fuse Box

The short answer

An old fuse box rarely stops a sale, but surveyors flag it and buyers use it to negotiate. Buyers should ask for an EICR or a fixed replacement price before exchange. Sellers can get an EICR to show it is safe, or replace the board, which costs £449 to £750 for most Greater Manchester homes and removes the question. Keep the certificate, because solicitors ask for it.

What the survey says

Surveyors do not test electrics. They look, and when they see an old board, missing RCD protection or dated wiring, they recommend a test by a qualified electrician. That line is what reaches the buyer, their lender and their solicitor.

The seller's property information form also asks whether electrical work has been done since 1 January 2005 and whether there are certificates for it. A new board comes with both.

If you are buying

Ask for an EICR before exchange, so you know what you are buying.
Get a fixed replacement price. Send us the seller's photos or the agent's, and we will send a written price in two working hours, fixed for 30 days. A real number negotiates better than a vague worry.
Plan the swap for after completion. One visit, power off for four to six hours, ideally before you move furniture in.

If you are selling

You have two options. An EICR shows the installation is safe, or lists what needs fixing. Our sister company Wired & Certified does EICRs from £150. Or replace the board and hand the buyer an Electrical Installation Certificate and a Building Regulations compliance certificate. That turns a survey flag into a selling point.

An old rewireable fuse box with ceramic fuse carriers — A rewireable fuse box we replaced in Greater Manchester. Same position on the wall, **an RCBO on every circuit**.

The modern RCBO consumer unit fitted in its place — A rewireable fuse box we replaced in Greater Manchester. Same position on the wall, **an RCBO on every circuit**.

The certificates solicitors ask for

For a board replacement: the Electrical Installation Certificate, and the Building Regulations compliance certificate from the electrician's registration scheme. If you have lost them, the scheme the electrician used can usually provide a copy. See Part P and fuse box replacement.

Ready to sort it? Fuse box replacement prices, fixed from £449.Fuse box replacement prices →

NAPIT registered, member 75762. Every board we fit is assessed to BS 7671 and notified to Building Control.Check the register →

Three photos. One fixed price.

Send the board, the meter tails and the earthing. A qualified electrician sends a fixed written price within two working hours.