Good help for homes
in Berkshire.
Reading, Slough, Windsor, Maidenhead and Bracknell: estates from every decade. Practical reading for Berkshire households.
Get help with a job in Berkshire ↗
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Everything below is written for Berkshire. Pick another area if you are somewhere else.
Start with the job, in Berkshire.
Each desk explains the common problems, what you can safely check first and when a professional should take over.
Reading for Berkshire households.
Roofing & gutters
Roof repair cost in Berkshire: what moves the price
Indicative ranges for roof and gutter repairs across Berkshire, the factors that push a quote up or down, and how to tell a fair…
Plumbing & heating
Emergency plumber in Reading, Berkshire: the first hour
What to do in the first hour of a plumbing emergency anywhere in Berkshire: stop the water, make it safe, and find a genuine…
Painting & decorating
How to choose painters and decorators in Berkshire
Decorating is an unregulated trade, so the vetting is down to you. This guide covers insurance, qualifications, references and the warning signs to watch…
Handyman
Before you call a handyman in Reading, Berkshire: what to check
Ten minutes of checking before you search for a handyman in Reading or elsewhere in Berkshire can halve the visit, or remove the need…
Pests & damp
Pest control in Berkshire: what to expect season by season
Which pests turn up in Berkshire homes in each season, what you can do ahead of time, and when to book a professional rather…
House clearance
House clearance in Reading, Berkshire: how the process works
The most common house clearance problem is the family home that has to be emptied by people who live elsewhere and have never done…
Cleaning
End of tenancy cleaning in Reading, Berkshire: the day checklist
A week-before, day-before, on-the-day and check-out checklist for end of tenancy cleaning in Reading and the rest of Berkshire, room by room, with the…
Exterior cleaning
Driveway cleaning in Berkshire: a booking-day checklist
Most of what goes wrong on a driveway cleaning day could have been sorted the night before. A practical checklist for Berkshire householders, from…
Removals & man and van
Removals in Berkshire: what landlords and tenants each owe at move-out
Who is responsible for what when a tenancy ends: removals, cleaning, repairs, abandoned belongings and the deposit, with the law that applies in England.
Electrical
Electricians in Reading, Berkshire: wiring in 1960s to 1980s homes
Much of Berkshire's housing was built between 1960 and 1990. What those homes were wired with, what an EICR usually finds and the sensible…
Locksmith
24 hour locksmith questions answered for Berkshire households
Last train home, keys in the office, a uPVC door that failed at eleven o'clock: the questions Berkshire householders ask about calling a locksmith…
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Need help with an urgent household problem?
Find basic first steps, then describe what has happened to our household desk. For immediate danger, contact the appropriate emergency service.
Describe an urgent job ↗Reading from other areas.
Most household problems are the same wherever you live. Browse a nearby area, or switch your edition from the header.
Explore locations ↗The questions people ask us most.
Short answers with the indicative figures, then the full guide if you want the detail.
Can I fit or replace a boiler myself?
No. Work on a gas boiler, its pipework and its flue must be done by a Gas Safe registered engineer, and doing it yourself is an offence under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. A boiler replacement is also notifiable under Building Regulations, and a registered installer can certify the work for you. You can safely prepare the area, clear access and decorate once the installation is signed off.
How much does end of tenancy cleaning cost in the UK?
Expect roughly £150 to £220 for a one bed flat, £200 to £320 for two beds and £300 to £450 for a three or four bed house. London quotes sit at the top of those ranges or above. Carpets, ovens and outside windows are often charged separately, so ask for one fixed price covering everything the inventory lists. These are indicative typical ranges rather than quotes.
Do you need an electrician to change a light fitting?
No, swapping a light fitting like for like on an existing circuit is not notifiable work in England and Wales. You still have to isolate the circuit at the consumer unit, prove it is dead and leave the result compliant with BS 7671. Many older ceiling roses have no earth wire, which rules out most modern metal fittings, so get an electrician to check first. Adding a new light or switch in a bathroom or shower room is notifiable either way.
How much does it cost to fix a leaking roof in the UK?
Cost depends far more on access than on the leak itself. A single slipped tile refitted from a safely footed ladder might be £150 to £350, while anything needing scaffolding adds roughly £600 to £1,500. A roof survey to trace the source costs about £150 to £400 and is worth paying for when the cause is not obvious from the ground.
How much is an emergency locksmith at night or on a Sunday?
Out of hours work carries a premium, either a surcharge of about £40 to £90 or a rate near 1.5 times the daytime figure. A night or bank holiday lockout therefore tends to sit between £130 and £260 before any new hardware. Ask for the total on the phone, including the call out and any minimum charge. If the property is secure and you have somewhere to stay, waiting until morning costs noticeably less.
How much does a gardener cost per hour in the UK?
Expect roughly £25 to £40 an hour in 2026, rising to £35 to £55 in London and the South East. Day rates run from about £170 to £300 for one gardener. A regular round usually costs less per visit, because each visit is lighter work. These are indicative ranges rather than quotes, so compare two or three prices.
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