Electrical Installations
Socket & Switch Relocation in Surrey & London
Socket and switch relocation means moving existing sockets or switches to a new position, making the old position safe and testing the change. Moving one or two points is often a morning's work, more if solid walls need chasing. The work is usually recorded on a Minor Electrical Installation Works Certificate.
A new kitchen, a wall-mounted TV or a reorganised bedroom often leaves sockets and switches in the wrong place. Moving them is usually simpler than people expect, and far better than living with a socket behind a wardrobe.
The old position is made safe and blanked off, the new one is wired and tested, and Joe works around your decorators or kitchen fitters so the timing suits the rest of the job.
Typical work
- Moving sockets for a new kitchen layout or island
- Relocating a socket behind a wall-mounted television
- Moving a light switch to the correct side of a door
- Repositioning sockets and switches in a refitted bedroom or office
What the job involves
The circuit is isolated and the existing point opened up. The cable is then extended to the new position with a suitable joint, or a new length is run from the circuit. Joints hidden in walls or under floors have to be a maintenance-free type, otherwise they must stay accessible. The old position is removed and blanked or made good, and the moved point is tested.
When a socket moves into a kitchen worktop area, behind an appliance or near a sink, it is placed so it stays usable and meets the distance and protection rules for that spot.
Signs a socket is in the wrong place
- It sits behind a wardrobe, bed or sofa and cannot be reached
- Extension leads run across the floor to where you actually use power
- A light switch is on the hinge side of a door
- A new kitchen layout puts a socket where a cupboard or appliance will go
- A wall-mounted TV has cables hanging below it
Timing it with other trades
Relocation works best at first fix, before plastering, new kitchen units or decorating. For a kitchen refit that usually means after the old units come out and before the new ones go in. For a bedroom, it means before fitted wardrobes are built. Mention the fitter's dates in your enquiry so the electrical work can be planned around them.
What affects the cost
The distance between the old and new positions, the wall construction, and whether the cable can run through floor or ceiling voids. Moving a switch a short way along a stud wall is quick. Moving a socket across a solid brick wall to the other side of a room takes longer and leaves more making-good. Whether plastering and painting are part of the job or left to your decorator also changes the price. See general construction work for the making-good side, and socket and switch installation if you also need extra points.
Where we do this work
Socket & Switch Relocation from our base in Redhill, anywhere in Surrey including Redhill, Reigate, Merstham, Nutfield, Bletchingley and the surrounding towns, plus London and nearby counties. Larger commercial jobs further afield are welcome by enquiry. See all areas covered.
Common questions
Does moving a socket leave a mess?
There will be some making-good where the old socket was and along any new cable route. On a stud wall this is a small patch; on solid plaster it means filling, sanding and repainting.
Can a socket be moved to a different wall?
Yes. The cable is extended or replaced to reach the new position, as long as it can be routed there sensibly through the floor, ceiling or wall.
Can you move a switch to the other side of a door?
Yes, it is a common job. The cable is rerouted around the door frame or through the ceiling void, and the old position is blanked or plastered over.
Is moving a socket notifiable to building control?
Usually not. Moving or extending an existing circuit outside the special zones in bathrooms counts as minor work, and it is recorded on a Minor Electrical Installation Works Certificate.
Can sockets go behind a wall-mounted TV?
Yes. A recessed socket and a cable outlet plate behind the screen keep the wiring hidden, with the cables run inside the wall in the permitted zones.
When should sockets be moved during a kitchen refit?
After the old units are removed and before the new ones are fitted or the walls are plastered. Doing it at that stage avoids cutting into new tiles or worktops later.
Ready to talk about your electrical work?
Tell Joe what you need and where you are, and he will come back to you with a clear quote. Call, send a WhatsApp message, or use the quote form.