Rewiring a home is one of those jobs that sounds frightening on price. The good news: with real figures on the table, it's easier than you'd think to get a sense of the cost. Here's what it costs to rewire a house in Málaga, what's included, and the factors that move the quote.
When do you need to rewire?
Not every home needs a rewire, but there are fairly clear signs the time has come:
- The installation is over 30 or 40 years old and has never been touched.
- There's no earthing, or the sockets are old without an earth pin.
- The RCD trips frequently for no obvious reason.
- There's aluminium cabling or a cross-section too small for today's consumption.
- You're buying an older property (our electrical checklist for buyers will help).
- You need a boletín eléctrico (electrical certificate) and the installation doesn't meet regulations.
Ballpark rewiring prices
The price varies a lot by home, but these figures are a useful reference for a full rewire (consumer unit, cabling, fittings and certificate):
- Small flat (up to 60 m²): roughly €2,000 - €3,000.
- Average flat (70-90 m²): roughly €2,500 - €4,500.
- Large home or villa (100 m² or more): from €4,500 upwards, depending on the number of circuits and rooms.
These are indicative: the real quote depends on the starting condition, the quality of materials and whether building work is needed. For a specific case, a site visit is what counts.
What does a full rewire include?
A proper rewire isn't just "changing cables". It should include:
- A new consumer unit with main switch, RCDs and circuit breakers per circuit. We break this down in how much it costs to replace an electrical panel.
- New cabling with the correct cross-section for each circuit.
- Independent circuits for kitchen, washing machine, air conditioning, etc.
- Proper earthing.
- New fittings (sockets and switches).
- The electrical certificate (CIE) confirming everything meets regulations.
What moves the price
Two homes of the same size can have very different quotes. These are the factors that weigh most:
- Does the wall need chasing out? If the wiring runs through buried conduit in good condition, new cable can often be pulled through without building work. If not, channels have to be cut, and that adds cost.
- Number of circuits and points. More rooms and more sockets mean more labour and materials.
- Quality of materials. Premium brands and fittings raise the quote, but also durability.
- Extras. If you take the chance to add air conditioning, home automation or a charging point, the cost grows but it's cheaper to do it all at once.
Can it be done in phases?
Yes. If money is tight, you don't have to do it all at once. You can prioritise what matters for safety (consumer unit, protective devices and earthing) and leave secondary circuits for a second phase. An electrician can plan the rewire in stages without ever compromising safety.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to rewire a flat?
For an average flat of 70-90 m², a full rewire typically costs €2,500 to €4,500, including consumer unit, cabling, fittings and certificate. The final price depends on size, previous condition and materials.
When do I need to rewire?
When it's over 30-40 years old, has no earthing, uses aluminium cabling or an inadequate cross-section, trips frequently, or you're buying an older property. Also if you need a certificate and it doesn't meet regulations.
Can the rewire be done in phases?
Yes. You can prioritise the most urgent work (consumer unit, protection, earthing) and leave secondary circuits for later. An electrician plans the rewire in safe stages.
Does the rewire include the electrical certificate?
A full rewire should include the certificate (CIE), confirming the installation meets regulations. It's worth confirming on the quote.
Do the walls have to be chased out to rewire?
Not always. If the buried conduit is in good condition, new cable can often be pulled through without breaking walls. If it's damaged, building work will be needed. It's assessed on the site visit.
Want a quote for your home?
At VLR Instalaciones we carry out full home rewires across Málaga province, certificate included and at a fixed price. We visit your home, tell you exactly what it needs, and give you a quote with no surprises.