Domakihub How to Move a Light Switch: What to Expect and When to Call an Electrician
Understand every step of relocating a switch so you can brief your electrician and avoid costly surprises.
Reviewed by Domakihub home & decor pros · 2026-06-23 · 5 min read
Moving a light switch is one of those jobs that looks deceptively simple from the outside — pull a box out of one wall, patch the hole, install a new one nearby — but mains electrical work in Greece requires a licensed electrician (ηλεκτρολόγος) and a permit for any new cable run. The video above walks through the full physical process so you can see exactly what is involved. This guide gives you the step-by-step logic, explains why each stage matters, and helps you have a precise, cost-saving conversation with your tradesperson before work begins — essential whether you manage a villa in Crete or a city apartment in Athens.
Why People Move a Light Switch
The most common triggers are a door rehang that puts the switch behind the opening edge, a furniture layout change in a hotel room or holiday rental, or a renovation that opens up walls and makes a better position obvious. In rental properties in particular, a switch in the wrong place causes guest complaints and poor reviews — getting it right is a worthwhile investment.
A second reason is accessibility: Greek disability regulations for public accommodation require switches at a height reachable from a wheelchair. Whether you are retrofitting a ground-floor bedroom for an elderly relative or upgrading a licensed tourist accommodation, a simple switch relocation can bring a room into compliance.
What the Job Actually Involves (and Why It Needs a Pro)
Relocating a light switch means extending or rerouting a cable inside a wall cavity, installing a new back-box at the chosen position, connecting the conductors correctly, and sealing the old opening. Every step that touches a live mains circuit — including confirming the circuit is dead with a voltage tester, pulling new cable through conduit or chasing plaster, and making the final terminations — must be performed by a licensed electrician in Greece. Attempting it yourself on mains wiring violates safety codes, can void building insurance, and carries real electrocution risk.
That said, understanding the process helps you choose the right professional, supply accurate measurements, agree on a realistic price, and check the finished work with confidence. The sections below walk through exactly what a competent electrician will do.
The 5 Stages of Moving a Light Switch
- 1
Isolate the circuit and verify it is dead
The electrician switches off the correct circuit breaker at the consumer unit (πίνακας), then tests the switch terminals with a non-contact voltage tester before touching anything. A quick visual check confirms the correct breaker by labelling — if the panel is unlabelled (common in older Greek buildings), this step alone can take extra time. Nothing else happens until a confirmed dead circuit is in hand.
- 2
Remove the existing switch and assess the cable route
The face plate and back-box come out carefully. The electrician inspects how much slack exists on the existing cable, which direction it runs, and whether the new position is reachable without opening additional wall sections. In solid concrete or block construction — the norm in Greek residential buildings — running new cable usually means chasing a groove (σκαλωσιά) with an angle grinder, which produces significant dust. In timber-frame or plasterboard partition walls, cable can often be fished through the cavity with a steel draw-wire, keeping the job cleaner.
- 3
Run the new cable to the chosen position
A suitable length of twin-and-earth (or the Greek equivalent, NYM cable) is routed from the original switch position to the new one, following the shortest safe path — typically vertically up to the ceiling void, then down. The cable is secured inside conduit or trunking wherever it passes through the chase, both to protect it from physical damage and to comply with installation standards. All routing decisions should be agreed before chasing begins, since plastering over a chase is an additional cost.
- 4
Install the new back-box and make the connections
A plastic or metal back-box is fixed securely into the new opening — in masonry, this means drilling and anchoring, not just jamming it in with filler. The cable conductors (line, neutral if present, and earth) are connected to the correct terminals on the new switch mechanism, following the original wiring configuration. The earth conductor is always sleeved green-and-yellow and connected to the earth terminal on the metal box or switch plate. The electrician double-checks polarity with a loop tester before fitting the face plate.
- 5
Patch the old opening, restore power, and test
The original hole is made good: a proprietary plasterboard patch or fresh render fills the cavity flush with the surrounding wall, then receives a skim coat to match the surface texture. Once dry, the area is ready for paint. Power is restored at the consumer unit, and the electrician confirms the switch controls only the intended luminaire — nothing else. A brief insulation-resistance check (with the switch open) confirms the new cable run is sound. You should receive a signed certificate of electrical work for the permit record.
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FAQ
- Can I move a light switch myself in Greece?
- Not legally if it involves extending or rerouting mains cable. Greek electrical installation work on fixed wiring requires a licensed electrician (ηλεκτρολόγος εγκαταστάσεων) and must be documented with the relevant permit authority. The one exception is replacing a like-for-like switch mechanism in the existing box — swapping a faulty switch for a new one of the same type in the same position is generally considered maintenance rather than installation work, though switching off the circuit first is mandatory even then.
- How long does it take and what does it cost?
- A straightforward move within the same wall — where the existing cable has enough slack and no chasing is needed — can take 1–2 hours. A move to a different wall, or in a solid-concrete building requiring a full chase, is typically a half-day job. Costs in Greece vary by region and complexity, but budgeting €80–€200 for labour is a reasonable starting point; add €30–€80 if significant plastering is required. Always get a written quote that specifies whether patching and plastering are included.
- What about wireless (battery-operated) switch solutions?
- Wireless smart switches are a legitimate alternative when running new cable is impractical — for instance in a heritage property where you cannot chase walls, or in a holiday rental where you want to avoid the disruption of plastering. A self-powered wireless transmitter clips over or replaces the existing switch plate and sends a radio signal to a receiver wired into the light circuit at the ceiling rose. No new wall cable is needed. The trade-off is battery maintenance (typically once every 1–3 years) and a small premium on the hardware. These devices do not require an electrical permit since no new fixed wiring is installed.