Handymen
A list of small jobs is the perfect brief: write every one down. Gas work and most electrical work need registered trades.
or call 0800 033 4343
Listed handymen
None listed yetNo handymen here yet.
Post your job and trades who join will see it. Never more than 3 trades get your details.
Post your jobWhat to put in your job description
- Every job on your list, one per line: a shelf, a curtain pole, a flat-pack wardrobe, a dripping tap.
- What you have already bought, and what they should bring.
- Anything high up or heavy.
- When you'll be in.
- Whether there is waste to take away.
Don't put your name, phone number or address in the description: every trade who covers your area reads it. Your name, phone, email and address go only to the trades who take the job (3 at most).
Questions to ask before you hire
- Is the price per hour, per job or for the whole list?
- Is there a minimum charge?
- Which jobs on my list should go to a registered gas engineer or electrician instead?
- Will you take away packaging and waste?
- Do you have public liability insurance?
Registers and schemes to check
There is no register for handymen. Gas work must be done by an engineer on the Gas Safe Register, and a lot of electrical work by an electrician in a competent person scheme, so leave those jobs to them. We don't check this for you yet.
What the job usually involves
- Small jobs around the home: shelves, curtain poles, pictures, TV brackets.
- Flat-pack furniture assembly.
- Small repairs: doors that stick, dripping taps, sealant round baths, gutters.
- A list of jobs done in one visit, often by the hour.
- Leaving gas and most electrical work to registered trades.
How quotes and visits work
Many handymen charge by the hour or half day, sometimes with a minimum. A list of jobs with photos helps them say how long it will take. Ask whether they bring fixings and materials.
Ask for a written quote (a fixed price) rather than an estimate (a guess that can change), and for what it includes. If you agree a job in your home, you usually have 14 days to cancel under the Consumer Contracts Regulations; if you want work to start sooner, you may have to pay for what has been done.
Safety
- Gas work must be done by an engineer on the Gas Safe Register.
- New circuits and work near a bath or shower should be done by an electrician in a competent person scheme.
Insurance and TrustMark
Ask for public liability insurance before work starts. It covers damage or injury caused by the trade to you, your home or someone else. Ask for the insurer's name and the cover's end date; you can ask to see the certificate.
TrustMark is the government-endorsed quality scheme for work in and around the home. Its registered businesses agree to its code of practice, and you can look them up on trustmark.org.uk.
Guides for homeowners
We take jobs from anywhere in the UK: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Trades choose the postcode districts they cover.
Handymen by town and city
England
Scotland
Wales
Northern Ireland
Fair questions
How many handymen get my details?
3 at most. Handymen who cover your area see the job first, without your name, phone, email or address. Only the first 3 who take it get your details, for this job only.
Do you check handymen?
Not yet. There is no register for handymen. Gas work must be done by an engineer on the Gas Safe Register, and a lot of electrical work by an electrician in a competent person scheme, so leave those jobs to them. We don't check this for you yet.
Is it free?
Yes, for homeowners. Trades pay us a monthly plan to see jobs and contact homeowners.
What jobs suit a handyman?
Small, mixed jobs that don't need a registered trade: fixing, fitting, assembling and minor repairs. For bigger jobs in one trade, a specialist is often quicker.
Can a handyman change a light fitting?
Like-for-like replacements are often fine for a competent person, but new circuits and work in bathrooms should be left to a registered electrician.