Good help for homes
in Kent.
From coastal towns to commuter belt, older housing and new estates alike. Practical reading for households across Kent.
Get help with a job in Kent ↗
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Everything below is written for Kent. Pick another area if you are somewhere else.
Start with the job, in Kent.
Each desk explains the common problems, what you can safely check first and when a professional should take over.
Reading for Kent households.
Plumbing & heating
How much do plumbers charge per hour in Kent: a cost guide
Indicative hourly rates and job prices for plumbing and heating work across Kent, what pushes a bill up, and how to get a written…
Painting & decorating
Need a painter and decorator in Kent fast: an urgent guide
Decorating is rarely an emergency, but a leak, a sale completion or a tenant moving in can make it urgent. Here is what to…
Handyman
How to choose a handyman in Kent: vetting, insurance, red flags
Handymen are unlicensed, so the vetting is on you. A plain guide to checking insurance, experience and references before hiring a handyman in Kent,…
Pests & damp
Before you book a damp survey in Kent: checks to do first
The safe checks to make before you pay for a damp survey in Kent, what to record, what information a surveyor needs, and the…
House clearance
House clearance in Kent: how the season changes the job
Clearance firms are busier at some times of year than others, and the weather changes what the job involves. Here is how to time…
Cleaning
Cleaning services in Kent: why limescale wins and how to beat it
Kent's chalk-filtered water leaves limescale on every tap, screen and kettle. Why it forms, where it builds, what dissolves it without wrecking surfaces, and…
Exterior cleaning
Patio cleaning in Kent: why paving goes green and black
Green film, moss in the joints and black spots on the slabs are three different problems. What is growing on your patio, why Kent's…
Removals & man and van
Removals in Kent: the moving day checklist that keeps things calm
What to do in the week before, the night before and on the morning of a move, written for Kent households using a removal…
Electrical
EICR certificate in Kent: landlord and tenant responsibilities
Who is responsible for electrical safety in a rented home in Kent: the landlord's duties under section 11 and the 2020 regulations, what tenants…
Locksmith
Locksmith advice for Kent homes: period doors to new-build estates
Kent's housing runs from medieval Canterbury to ten-year-old Ebbsfleet, and the right lock, the likely fault and the realistic price change with each. A…
Gardening
Gardeners in Maidstone and across Kent: your questions answered
Eight short answers to the questions Kent householders ask before booking a gardener, from hourly rates and nesting season to tree consent and who…
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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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