HMO electrical works keep the wiring in a shared house safe and certificated. Reading is 37 miles west of London. We price rewires and EICR remedials there against England’s HMO rules and the council’s written HMO standards, so work is planned to the standard an inspection looks for. Reading has a university population, so many shared houses are let to students on yearly tenancies, and summer is the main window for works.
- Area
- Berkshire, England
- Postcodes
- RG1, RG4, RG6 and RG30
- Location
- 37 miles west of London
- Council
- Reading Borough Council
- Pricing region
- South East
What do rewires and EICR remedials in Reading involve?
- Emergency lighting circuits
- Electrical installation certificates
- Full or partial rewires
- EICR remedial works with confirmation
- Bathroom and kitchen circuits
Which rules apply in Reading?
The rules below are the England-wide position for this kind of work. Councils add their own standards and schemes on top, so we always check the address in Reading before we price.
- BS 7671, the wiring standard, calls for arc fault detection devices in HMOs on new socket circuits, such as rewires and consumer unit changes.
- Mandatory HMO licence for 5 or more people in 2 or more households (since October 2018); councils can add additional licensing for smaller HMOs.
- Licences last up to 5 years and carry conditions on gas and electrical safety, alarms, room sizes and waste.
- Under the Renters’ Rights Act, civil penalties reach £40,000 for offences such as running an unlicensed HMO.
Reading Borough Council: local HMO schemes
| Article 4 (HMO) | In force in part of the council area C3-C4 direction for parts of Park, Redlands and Katesgrove wards (from 2012, extended 2017) plus Jesse Terrace (made Jan 2016). |
|---|---|
| Additional licensing | In force across the council area Borough-wide additional HMO licensing commenced 1 Mar 2026 (five-year maximum). |
| Selective licensing | Proposed Selective licensing planned for Battle ward first, then Park and Redlands at 12-14 month intervals; not yet formally designated. |
Schemes change. Check the council’s current pages for the exact address in Reading before you buy or start work. Source: Reading Borough Council HMO licensing page, checked 2026-10-31.
How much do rewires and EICR remedials cost in Reading?
| Item | UK typical | Local guide | Per |
|---|---|---|---|
| EICR, 5+ bedroom house | £150 – £400 | £170 – £450 | inspection |
| Consumer unit upgrade with RCBOs and AFDDs | £700 – £1,400 | £780 – £1,550 | house |
| Full rewire, 4–5 bedroom house | £6,000 – £12,000 | £6,700 – £13,450 | house |
These are typical ranges including VAT, adjusted for South East, where costs run above the UK average. The fixed price for a house in Reading follows a site visit.
How long does it take?
Most jobs of this kind take 1–7 working days. If a council deadline applies in Reading, tell us at the first call so the programme is built around it.
If the house is let to students, we work backwards from the next tenancy start date in Reading.
When do Reading landlords need it?
We usually get the call when:
- An EICR with C1, C2 or FI items
- Converting or adding rooms
Questions about rewires and EICR remedials in Reading
Is a full rewire disruptive?
Yes. It means lifting floorboards and chasing walls, so it is best done in an empty house or room by room during voids.
Do you cover all of Reading?
Yes. We work across Reading and the RG1, RG4, RG6 and RG30 postcode areas, plus the rest of Berkshire. Nearby places we also cover include Lower Earley, Wokingham, Crowthorne.
Which council covers HMOs in Reading?
Reading is covered by Reading Borough Council. We read the council’s written HMO standards before pricing, and you should check the licence position for the exact address.
How much do rewires and EICR remedials cost in Reading?
Our guide ranges for South East are in the table on this page, and the guide-price tool gives a figure for your house. A fixed written quote follows a free site visit.
Rewires and EICR remedials near Reading
- Lower Earley · 3 mi
- Wokingham · 7 mi
- Crowthorne · 10 mi
- Yateley · 10 mi
- Bracknell · 10 mi
- Sandhurst · 11 mi
- All of Berkshire
Other HMO services in Reading
- Fire alarm and detection systems in Reading
- Licence condition and schedule-of-works in Reading
- Full HMO refurbishment in Reading
- House to HMO conversion in Reading
- Bedroom upgrades and room refits in Reading
- Escape routes, emergency lighting and fire stopping in Reading
- Communal kitchen refits in Reading
- Extensions for extra rooms in Reading