Painting, period joinery, basic plumbing and electrics and careful maintenance — for houses and mansion flats across Kensington, South Kensington and Holland Park
Almost all of Kensington sits within a conservation area and a great many of its buildings are listed, so handyman work here is held to a different standard. The expectation is repair over replacement, a finish that matches what is already there, and a tradesperson who understands that an original door or window is not something to be swapped out for convenience.
Most of our W8 work is in period houses and mansion flats: sash window repair and draught-proofing, original joinery and ironmongery restored, careful decorating around fine plasterwork, and the everyday repairs done to a standard that suits the property. In blocks we work within the building's rules — permitted hours, porter notification, lift protection, waste taken away rather than skipped.
Half-day and full-day slots with the price agreed beforehand, carried out by insured tradespeople and covered by our 12-month workmanship guarantee.
Decorating in W8 is detail work. Fine cornicing, ceiling roses, panelled doors and shutters all need cutting in by hand, and preparation matters far more than the paint. Externally, stucco, railings, front doors and sash frames are usually within conservation control, so colours and finishes need to be appropriate as well as durable.
Walls, ceilings, trim, and detailed work with premium paints and perfect finishes.
Weather-resistant coatings for doors, windows, and facades that last for years.
Expert hanging and removal of all wallpaper types, including textured and patterned.
Thorough prep work including filling, sanding, and priming for perfect results.
Accent walls, decorative finishes, and special effects to make your space unique.
Professional advice on color schemes and paint types for your specific needs.
A standard room typically takes 1-2 days including prep work, two coats, and drying time. Larger rooms or those needing extensive prep may take longer.
We can supply all materials, or you can provide your own if you have specific brands/colors in mind. We'll advise on quantities needed.
We include filling holes/cracks, sanding surfaces, cleaning walls, and protecting floors/furniture. Any major repairs would be quoted separately.
This is the bulk of our Kensington work. Sash windows re-corded, freed off, spliced where timber has decayed and draught-proofed; shutters repaired and made to work again; original doors eased, re-hung and refitted with period ironmongery; panelling, skirting and architrave repaired and profile-matched. Replacement is the last resort here, not the default.
Built-to-measure storage solutions for any space
Internal doors, frames, and all hardware fitted perfectly
Fix and restore your valued wooden pieces
Custom woodwork tailored to your vision
Yes! We can match wood types, stains, and finishes to blend seamlessly with your existing features.
Absolutely. From built-in wardrobes to custom tables, we create bespoke pieces to your exact specifications.
The plumbing calls are the usual ones — taps, waste traps, cisterns, radiator valves, shower seals and silicone. The difference in W8 is what sits behind them: in a mansion flat, anything affecting the soil stack, risers or shared services needs freeholder consent, and we will tell you when a job crosses that line rather than cutting into shared infrastructure.
Kitchen and bathroom taps, including mixer taps.
Filling valves, flush mechanisms and running toilets.
Isolating and fixing small leaks under sinks and basins.
Fixing dripping taps at the source.
Fitting new showerheads and hoses.
Replacing faulty stop valves under sinks and toilets.
Clearing or replacing blocked or leaking wastes.
Releasing air locks and improving heating efficiency.
Fitting towel rails, toilet roll holders and soap dispensers.
We focus on basic plumbing maintenance and repairs — tap replacements, leak repairs, cistern fixes and similar tasks. For full plumbing installations or boiler work we recommend a Gas Safe registered plumber.
Yes — dripping taps are one of our most common jobs. We replace washers, O-rings or the tap itself depending on the cause.
We can replace toilet seats, cistern parts and flush mechanisms. For full toilet replacement including new waste connections we recommend a qualified plumber.
We reply during office hours, Monday to Saturday, 9am to 5pm. For an emergency such as a leak, please WhatsApp us on 07303 172140 for the fastest response.
Typical work is replacing switches, sockets and light fittings with pieces appropriate to the room, and adding discreet lighting where it can be routed without disturbing protected fabric. In listed buildings we are careful about chasing walls or lifting original floors, and anything notifiable under Part P goes to a registered electrician.
Swapping ceiling lights, pendants and spotlights.
Replacing faulty or damaged switches like for like.
Replacing damaged or discoloured sockets.
Upgrading standard sockets to USB-integrated versions.
Wired doorbell fitting and replacement.
Replacing outdoor security and porch lights.
Battery-operated and mains-replacement smoke alarms.
Installation of CO detectors.
Replacing damaged aerial sockets.
We carry out basic like-for-like electrical tasks that do not require Part P certification — such as replacing light fittings, switches and sockets. All new circuits, consumer unit work or full electrical installations must be carried out by a qualified Part P electrician, which we can recommend.
Yes — we can replace an existing light fitting with a new one on the same circuit. If new wiring or a new circuit is needed, a Part P electrician would be required.
We can replace existing spotlight fittings like for like. Installing new downlights into a ceiling where no fitting currently exists requires a Part P electrician.
We can replace standard switches and sockets with smart equivalents where the existing wiring supports it — such as Philips Hue switches and smart plug sockets.
Yes — we can replace existing outdoor light fittings like for like. New outdoor circuits require a Part P electrician.
Every job gets a fixed price before we start, worked out from these rates. Materials are charged separately.
One-hour minimum charge
Per hour after the first
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Prices are for labour. Materials are charged separately. Get your free quote today!
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We cover Kensington and the surrounding central postcodes for handyman work, period repairs and maintenance:
Yes — W8 and SW7 and the surrounding area, including South Kensington, Notting Hill, Holland Park, Earls Court, Chelsea and Knightsbridge.
Routine repair and redecoration in the same materials and finishes is generally fine. What needs listed building consent is anything affecting the building's character — and in a listed property that can include internal features such as doors, panelling, shutters, staircases and chimneypieces. We will tell you when a job falls into that category instead of proceeding.
Usually yes. Blocks commonly set permitted working hours, require the porter or managing agent to be notified, restrict lift use for materials and prohibit skips entirely. We work within those rules, protect communal areas and remove waste ourselves.
Yes, and in W8 it is normally both the required and the better route. Sashes can be re-corded, spliced, draught-proofed and repainted; shutters can usually be freed off and made to work again even after decades painted shut.
Yes. In a period property matching the existing profile and finish is the whole point — a repair that does not match is just a visible patch. We match rather than approximate.
Yes — full public liability insurance and a 12-month workmanship guarantee on all work.
Get in touch with your list and the address. We will confirm a time and price, and check any building access requirements, before coming out.
Something bigger — a whole-house project rather than a repair list? See full house refurbishment in Kensington.
We stand behind our work. If you're not satisfied with the quality of our workmanship within 12 months of completion, we'll make it right at no additional cost. This guarantee covers defects in our work, not normal wear and tear or damage caused by others.