Good help for homes
in Croydon.
South London borough of 1930s semis, Victorian terraces and town-centre flats. Practical reading for Croydon households.
Get help with a job in Croydon ↗
Switch area any time.
Everything below is written for Croydon. Pick another area if you are somewhere else.
Start with the job, in Croydon.
Each desk explains the common problems, what you can safely check first and when a professional should take over.
Reading for Croydon households.
House clearance
House clearance cost in Croydon: what moves the price
House clearance is priced on volume, weight and access, not on the number of rooms. Here is how the figure is built in Croydon…
Cleaning
Urgent cleaners in Croydon: what to do in the first hour
A burst pipe, a backed-up drain or an inspection tomorrow: how to make a Croydon home safe in the first hour, which kind of…
Exterior cleaning
Overflowing gutters in Croydon: urgent gutter cleaning steps
Water pouring over a gutter in a storm is not an emergency in itself, but where it ends up can be. The first-hour steps,…
Removals & man and van
How to choose removals in Croydon, Surrey: vetting a removal company
What separates a good removal company from a van and a mobile number: insurance, surveys, trade bodies and the warning signs to watch for…
Electrical
Before you call an electrician in Croydon: safe checks to do first
Many electrical call-outs end with a reset or an unplugged appliance. Here are the checks a Croydon householder can safely make first, and the…
Locksmith
Seasonal locksmith advice for Croydon homes: autumn and winter prep
Swollen timber doors in October, frozen cylinders in January, moving-in lock changes in spring and open windows in July: the locksmith year in Croydon,…
Gardening
Garden clearance in Croydon: how an overgrown garden is tackled
Why a garden left for two summers becomes impassable, what a clearance crew actually does, and the choice to make once the ground is…
Appliance repair
Washing machine repair in Croydon: a booking day checklist
Model number, error code, fees, parking and a cleared floor. Everything to sort out before an engineer arrives so the visit is spent fixing…
Roofing & gutters
Roof repairs in Croydon: landlord or tenant responsibility?
A leaking roof in a rented home is almost always the landlord's problem, but tenants have duties too. What the law says, how to…
Plumbing & heating
Plumber in Croydon: 1930s semis, Victorian terraces and flats
Croydon's housing falls into three main types and each brings its own plumbing problems. What to expect in a Victorian terrace, a 1930s semi…
Painting & decorating
Painter and decorator in Croydon: your questions answered
Short, practical answers to the questions Croydon householders ask most about hiring a decorator, from what the job should cost to how long a…
A simpler journey from problem to solution.
Explain what happened
Tell us what needs attention, even if you are not sure what kind of trade you need.
Share your area
Your postcode or town helps us understand where assistance is needed.
Talk to our desk
Describe the job in a short chat with the help desk instead of filling out a lengthy form.
Agree the next step
Review the details and decide whether to proceed with a suitable trade.
Not sure which trade you need? Ask.
Describe what is happening in plain words on WhatsApp and the desk points you to the right service, the first checks worth doing and the guide that covers the cost, then takes your details so a trade can quote.
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.
Something needs doing in Croydon?
Tell our household desk what has happened and where. Availability is confirmed when you enquire.
Start an enquiry ↗