How to hire a good handyman

Finding a handyman who does a job properly, turns up when agreed, and charges a fair price usually comes down to a handful of checks before you book, rather than luck. None of these take long, and together they filter out most of the problems that lead to a disappointing job or an unexpected bill.

Start with a clear, written quote or a clearly stated hourly or day rate, rather than a vague verbal estimate. A proper quote should set out what work is being done, roughly how long it will take, whether materials are included or charged separately, and whether there's a minimum call-out charge. Getting this in writing, even as a short text message or email confirming what was discussed, gives you something to refer back to if there's a disagreement later about what was agreed.

Public liability insurance is one of the most important, and most commonly overlooked, things to check before hiring anyone to work in your home. It covers you if the handyman's work accidentally causes injury or damage to you, a family member, or your property — a cracked tile, a scratched floor, or something more serious — and without it, you'd have to pursue the handyman personally for any costs rather than claiming through their insurer. It's entirely reasonable to ask to see a current certificate before work starts; a properly run handyman business will have one ready to show, and platforms such as Checkatrade require members to hold public liability cover as a condition of membership, which is one reason vetted directories can be a useful starting point when you don't already have a trusted recommendation.

Recent, genuine customer reviews are worth checking too, ideally from more than one source rather than relying solely on testimonials on a handyman's own website. Look for reviews that mention the specific type of work you need done, since a handyman who's excellent at flat-pack assembly and general repairs isn't necessarily the right choice for something more specialised. It's also worth asking directly what kinds of jobs the handyman doesn't take on — a trustworthy tradesperson will be upfront about the limits of their scope, for example steering clear of gas work or notifiable electrical installations that legally need a different specialist, rather than taking on everything regardless of whether it's within their competence.

Payment and deposits deserve a bit of care too. As a general rule of thumb, consumer guidance commonly advises never paying a deposit larger than around 25% of the total job value, or £7,500, whichever figure is lower, and for small, quick jobs, no deposit at all is normally necessary. Where a deposit is requested, it's worth paying by a traceable method such as a bank transfer or card payment rather than cash, simply so there's clear evidence the payment was made if a dispute arises later. For a larger job spanning several days, agreeing a staged payment plan tied to specific milestones, rather than paying the full amount upfront, gives both sides a fairer arrangement and gives you some leverage if the work isn't progressing as agreed.

A few warning signs are worth taking seriously if they come up. Unsolicited cold calls or leaflets pushing urgent work, insistence on cash-only payment, reluctance or refusal to show proof of insurance, and quotes that are noticeably lower than everyone else's for what's otherwise the same job are all patterns commonly associated with poor-quality or opportunistic tradespeople. None of these prove a problem on their own, but together they're a reasonable prompt to look elsewhere rather than proceed.

Put simply: get the scope and price in writing, check for public liability insurance and recent reviews, ask what's outside their scope, and keep deposits modest and traceable. None of this guarantees a perfect job every time, but it consistently narrows the gap between hiring someone reliable and hiring someone you'll regret trusting with your home.

Frequently asked questions