Looking for an Electrician in Lewes?

Lewes is a town that will never have two jobs the same. You can go from working in a 17th century house just off the high street, to a modern new-build on the outskirts of the town. The variety and history is what I enjoy about working in lewes because each job has its own needs and that's where experience pays off.

Last year we took on a rewire of a Grade II listed property in the town. Because of the listed status we were strictly limited in where we could run cables - certain floorboards couldn't be lifted, and there were real constraints on where we could drill. We planned every cable route carefully before we touched anything. The job came out cleanly, with no visible surface-run wiring and no damage to the fabric of the building. That kind of work can't be rushed, and it taught me a lot about what the older housing stock in Lewes genuinely demands.

I'm Harry McLoughlin and I run Oval Electrical. I've been an electrician for nearly 10 years now. I'm NAPIT registered and I have nearly 100 five-star Google reviews. Whether you have a fault that needs sorting or think your fuseboard may need updating I will give you honest straight forward advice for your home.

1) Working across Lewes

The housing stock in Lewes is genuinely one of the most varied I work in. The town centre, around the High Street, the twittens, and the streets climbing up towards the castle, has properties going back to the 15th century. Timber frames, solid stone walls, and layouts that were never designed with modern electrics in mind. Further out towards the A27 and the newer developments, you get houses from the 1970s through to the present day. Different challenges, but still often with ageing consumer units or wiring that's overdue a look.

That mix is part of why I think an electrician working in Lewes needs to have seen a range of situations, not just standard new-build work.

Earlier this year I carried out an Electrical Installation Condition Report for a shop on Cliffe High Street — a routine inspection to make sure the installation was safe and compliant. On the day, there were a couple of minor issues we identified, and because we had the right parts and equipment with us, we were able to fix both while we were on site. The business owner didn't need to book a second visit or close again for remedial work — it was dealt with cleanly in one appointment.

That's how I try to approach every job. If something small comes up, I'd rather sort it there and then than leave you waiting.

2) Common electrical problems in Lewes properties

The single most common thing I find in Lewes, particularly in the older streets around the town centre, is consumer units that are well past their useful life. Many properties still have fuse wire boards or early-generation plastic MCB units that don't provide the protection modern wiring standards require. The second most common issue is wiring that simply wasn't designed for today's electrical load: more circuits, more appliances, EV chargers. Older installations weren't built for any of it.

If you're buying an older property in Lewes, or you've lived in one for a number of years and can't remember the last time anyone looked at the electrics properly, an EICR is the sensible first step. It gives you an honest picture of where things stand.

3) Services I offer in Lewes

EICR (electrical installation condition report) — a thorough inspection of your electrical installation, required by law for landlords and recommended for any homeowner in an older property. I'll give you a clear written report and talk you through the findings.

Fuseboard consumer unit upgrades -  the most common job I carry out in Lewes. Upgrading from an outdated board to a modern unit with RCDs and surge protection significantly improves the safety of your home or business.

Rewires - partial or full rewires, including on older and listed properties. I'm experienced in working with the constraints that come with historic buildings and can advise on the best approach before work starts.

Additional sockets - extra sockets in kitchens, home offices, outbuildings — wherever you need them, installed to current regulations.

Outside lighting - security lighting, feature lighting, or practical external circuits for outbuildings and gardens.

Fault finding - if something isn't working as it should, intermittent trips, dead circuits, flickering lights, I'll diagnose the problem properly rather than guess.

4) Why customers in Lewes use Oval Electrical

I won't dress this up with marketing language. Here's what I think actually matters to customers:

NAPIT registration means that any work I carry out is certified and notified to the local authority automatically — you don't need to separately inform Building Control for notifiable work. It's also your assurance that I'm working to current standards and that my work is regularly assessed.

95+ 5 star google reviews

We always aim to give the best service and our reviews show that. The pattern you'll see is that people mention clear communication and jobs done properly first time.

You'll speak to me directly.

I answer my own phone. When you call Oval Electrical, you won't go through a call centre or speak to a booking agent who doesn't know the trade. If you need to ask a technical question before committing to anything, I can answer it.

Appointment notifications 

Any appointment you make with us you will receive a booking confirmation and closer to the time a text reminder so you know exactly when we will turn up!

5) What to expect when you get in touch

I'll ask you a few straightforward questions about the property and what work you're looking to have done. For most jobs I'll be able to give you a clear indication of cost without needing a visit first. If I do need to see the property to give an accurate quote — for a rewire or a complex fault, for example — I'll arrange a convenient time to come out and have a look. We don't have call-out fees for quotes, and I'll never push you towards work you don't need.

6) FAQ’s

How do I know if my fuseboard needs replacing?

If your consumer unit still uses old wire fuses rather than circuit breakers, it almost certainly needs upgrading. Even older MCB boards without RCD protection don't meet current standards and leave your home less well protected against shock and fire. I can usually tell you over the phone whether an upgrade is likely to be needed, or an EICR will confirm it definitively.

I'm buying an older property in Lewes — do I need an EICR before I move in?

It's not a legal requirement for buyers, but I'd strongly recommend it. Lewes has a significant number of properties with older wiring, and the cost of an EICR is small compared to the cost of finding out later that a rewire is needed. It also gives you a solid basis for any negotiation with the seller.

Can you work on listed buildings?

Yes. We've carried out electrical work on listed properties in Lewes, including a full socket-circuit rewire where we had strict limitations on cable routes and couldn't lift certain floorboards. Listed buildings require careful planning, but it's entirely achievable with the right approach — I'll be honest with you about what's involved before any work starts.

Are you NAPIT registered, and what does that mean for me?

Yes, Oval Electrical is NAPIT registered. For you, it means that any notifiable electrical work — such as a fuseboard upgrade or rewire — is automatically certified and the local authority is notified on your behalf. You receive a certificate for your records, which is important when you come to sell the property. It also means my work is assessed against current standards.

Do you cover commercial premises as well as homes?

Yes. I work for both homeowners and businesses across Lewes and the surrounding area. Recent commercial work has included EICRs for retail premises on Cliffe High Street. Whether it's a routine inspection or fault finding in a business setting, the process is the same — clear communication, a written report, and any remedial work carried out efficiently.

How quickly can you usually get to me?

I always aim to respond to any enquiries the same day. To actually book work in this can vary but on average its about two weeks.

7) What areas do you cover near Lewes?

As well as Lewes, I regularly work in Brighton, Hove, Hassocks, Burgess Hill, Patcham, and Woodingdean. To see all the areas we cover check out our service area page!

Oval Electrical is your local electrician, whether that's an EICR, a fuseboard upgrade, or something more straightforward, get in touch and I'll give you an honest, no-obligation assessment. I answer the phone myself, so you'll get a real answer to what you need and. There's no pressure to commit to anything; I'd rather you made the right decision for your property.

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