Re-wire

[horselady]

Is anyone aware of any type of grant to help someone on state pension with a house re-wire? She is in a house over 45 yrs old and is beginning to worry that it should be re-wired.

[The Builder]

I would try Citizens' Advice, or Social Services Mrs Horse.
Technically, if you go by the book, 45 years is possibly long enough, but it's not compulsory.
I know it would cost a bit, but does a neighbour know a friendly local electrician? A few simple tests could put her mind at rest. If the tests failed, then at least that would be the ammunition you need to approach Social Services.

[horselady]

Thanks Builder, I will suggest to her that she gets some tests done, maybe it won't need doing at all. She had a fuse go on Christmas morning for what she thought was no apparent reason and I think it's now playing on her mind.

[woofgang]

is it the new kind of trip fusebox or the old kind with wires in? the wires in the old ones do burn out eventually.

[horselady]

When I mended the fuse for her I had to do the old fashioned wiring bit, which I haven't done for ages. She does have the box with one switch beside it, but not a row of separate switches like we have.

[AlBags]

Very likely not much needed to update to modern specs ... not necessary modern 'requirements'. They are different things.
A modern consumer box is probably all that's needed along with a leakage test in the rest of system.