Electricians in Kenton

Does a Kenton house rewired decades ago need rewiring again?

Not as often as some quotes suggest. Wiring from the 1970s or 1980s may still be sound, while the consumer unit, earthing and bonding are the parts that have fallen behind. In many Kenton semis the practical fix is a new board with RCD protection, updated bonding and perhaps a new circuit for a kitchen or loft room added later.

That brings the safety gain without lifting floors or chasing walls in a freshly decorated house. If a full rewire really is the answer, you see the test results that prove it, and we can do the rewire ourselves. Holding a rewire quote from elsewhere? Bring it to us for a second view.

Garden supplies on Kenton's long plots

Kenton's interwar houses often have long rear gardens, and over the decades those gardens have gained sheds, workshops, garden offices, outside lights and sockets. The supplies were often run by whoever built the shed, sometimes in cable never meant to be buried. When an RCD trips after rain, that is the first place we look.

For a new garden room we install a proper supply from the board, with the right cable, protection and depth, and certify it. That supply is a new circuit, so it is registered with Building Control, and a buyer's conveyancer will ask about it when you sell.

Charge points on Kenton drives

Kenton runs on cars more than most of London. At the 2021 Census, 42.8% of Kenton West households ran two or more cars or vans, well over double London's 17.6%, and just 13.7% had none. Where a semi has a front drive, a wall-mounted charge point is usually a straightforward job: its own circuit from the board, protection suited to the earthing arrangement, and a check that the main fuse and supply can carry the extra load.

Since 30 June 2022 a charge point sold for home use has had to be a smart model, set by default to charge outside the weekday peaks, 8 to 11 in the morning and 4 to 10 in the evening, and you can change those hours. A new circuit is notifiable work, so you get a certificate and the job is registered with Building Control.

Adding sockets to a house built with too few

Houses of this age were built for a few lamps and a wireless, which is why so many Kenton living rooms rely on extension leads. Extra sockets, a dedicated circuit for a kitchen in an extension, better lighting, extractor fans and an outside socket are all routine. Designing sockets in where they are needed is safer than a chain of adaptors behind the television. Every alteration is certified, and we keep a copy in case you need it again when you sell or let.

Sockets in a shared kitchen, Harrow side or Brent side

Both councils set a minimum for house shares. Brent's HMO standard asks for two double 13-amp sockets above the worktop for each set of kitchen facilities, on top of any outlets for major appliances. In a share of up to five, Harrow's published HMO standard wants two twin sockets placed at a convenient height, plus one more twin socket for each two people above five, and a 30-amp supply if the cooker is electric.

Each extra living room should also have enough sockets for a fixed heater, and Harrow does not want them all on one wall. Before quoting for a Kenton share, we check the kitchen and living rooms against the right council's list.