Survey finding
Outdated 60-amp electrics on your survey: what to do
Old fuse boards are a common Cat 2-3 finding. This page covers the EICR, rewire costs, and lender position.
Last updated: .
Finding
Outdated electrics (60-amp fuse board)
What this usually means
Older properties often retain a 60-amp main fuse, rewireable (BS3036) fuses, and no RCD protection. The installation may not meet current BS7671 wiring regulations and is unlikely to satisfy a modern EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report).
Why it matters
Most lenders accept older electrics with a satisfactory EICR; without one, retention is common. Some insurers load premiums or exclude electrical fire damage.
Ask your surveyor
- Check:Is there a recent EICR available, and what was the result?
- Check:What level of rewiring would you recommend: consumer unit only, partial, or full?
Ask the seller
- Check:When were the electrics last upgraded, and is there NICEIC or NAPIT certification?
- Check:Is there a current EICR?
Next steps
- •Get two written quotes from local trades before negotiating with the seller.
- •Speak to your mortgage broker before exchanging if the finding affects mortgageability.
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What you need to know
Severity
Significant. Specialist follow-up usually warranted before exchange.
Typical cost to fix
EICR £150-£300. Consumer unit replacement with RCD/RCBO protection £600-£1,500. Full rewire £4,500-£8,000 (3-bed). Partial rewire (kitchen/bathroom only) £800-£2,500.
Mortgage impact
Retention possible without satisfactory EICR; lifted once works are complete.
Insurance impact
Some insurers require RCD protection on all final circuits.
When to pull out
Not on its own. Almost always remediable.
When to renegotiate, and by how much
EICR cost plus likely rewire cost less depreciation; typical reduction £2,000-£6,000.
Thinking of pulling out or renegotiating? What to do after a bad survey
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The Survey Decoder explains the wording. The full report adds address-specific flood, subsidence, EPC, crime, listed status, building age and price comparison data, so a single finding isn't judged in isolation.
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Check the property before you offer
Free preview: flood risk, EPC rating, crime, tenure and air quality. The £9.99 report adds the remaining 17 checks, 22 in all, drawing on up to 15 public datasets.
Run a free previewRead next
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How MyPropertyScan produces this guide, and what it is not
Published by MyPropertyScan and written by Ziad Nasr, who is accountable for its accuracy. No page here is written or reviewed by a chartered surveyor, conveyancer or regulated adviser, and we do not claim otherwise.
This page is not:
- Chartered surveying: we do not inspect properties or produce RICS Home Survey reports
- Legal advice: we do not act as conveyancers or advise on title, tenure or contracts
- Mortgage or insurance advice: we are not regulated by the FCA and give no recommendations
Figures and process steps come from the published UK datasets and standards listed on this page, not from professional practice. Pages are updated when source coverage, survey cost assumptions, or lender and legal requirements materially change. Dataset limitations are set out on the methodology page.
Spotted something out of date or wrong? Email [email protected] and we will correct it and change the update date.
Sources used
We use UK public and specialist sources where they are available. Public datasets can be incomplete, delayed, or missing for some addresses. Treat them as a starting point, not as a replacement for professional advice.
Source standard: preference goes to official government datasets, statutory bodies, professional standards, and primary dataset publishers. We cite the source family on the page and explain coverage limits rather than filling gaps with unsupported estimates.
- Professional standard: RICS Home Survey StandardRICS standard for condition-based residential surveys in the UK.
- Learn more from: RICS consumer guide to surveysConsumer-facing guide to survey types and when each level is appropriate.
- Official guidance: GOV.UK buying or selling your homeGovernment overview of the home buying and selling process.