What we do and don't do
First Rate Handyman takes on general repairs, fixings, assembly, doors, carpentry, flooring, minor plumbing, exterior repairs, resealing and touch-up work across London. We don't do gas, electrical, roof or gutter work, asbestos, full decorating or tiling — and we'll tell you who to call instead.
What we do
General repairs and fixings; furniture and flat-pack assembly; TV and wall mounting; curtain poles, blinds, shelves, pictures and mirrors; internal doors — hanging, adjusting and fitting handles; skirting, architrave and boxing in; laminate and vinyl flooring, and carpet lifting; taps, wastes, toilets and radiator swaps on the water side of the system; fence, gate and decking repairs; bath and shower resealing and regrouting; and painting touch-ups and filling.
Gas work
We don't do gas work of any kind. In Great Britain, gas work can only be carried out by someone competent to do so, and in practice that means an engineer on the Gas Safe Register. You can check an engineer by searching their postcode on the Gas Safe Register website, texting their 7-digit licence number to 85080, or calling 0800 408 5500. The radiator swaps we do carry out are on the water side of the heating system only — boilers, gas appliances and gas pipework are outside what we do.
Electrical work
We don't currently do electrical work. Part P of the Building Regulations covers the safety of electrical installations in homes in England, and some electrical work has to be self-certified by an electrician registered with a government-authorised competent person scheme. We'll recommend a registered electrician instead.
Roofs, gutters and working at height
We don't work on roofs, don't clear gutters, and don't take on jobs that need working at height beyond a standard step ladder. If a job needs roof access or scaffolding, we'll recommend a roofer instead.
Asbestos
If we suspect a material might contain asbestos, we stop work. Buildings built or refurbished before 2000 may contain asbestos-containing materials, and suspected material should be identified — and, where necessary, sampled and tested — before it's disturbed by drilling, sanding or removal. We're not asbestos surveyors or licensed asbestos contractors, so we'll recommend one instead of carrying on.
Cracks in walls
We fill cosmetic hairline cracks in plaster and render as part of general repair and touch-up work. Cracks that are wide, growing, or run diagonally through brickwork in a stepped pattern are a different matter — we're not surveyors, so we'll suggest getting a surveyor or structural engineer to look at those rather than filling over them.
Full decorating and tiling
We don't offer full decorating or tiling as a service. What we do is touch-up painting, filling, and resealing or regrouting around a bath or shower. For a full repaint or a tiling job, a decorator or tiler is the better fit.
Flats and mansion blocks
We're happy to work in occupied flats. Many blocks have their own rules on working hours, noise, lift use or contractor access, so it's worth checking with your managing agent or your building's own rules before booking us in — that way there's no delay on the day.
| Why it matters | Data | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Gas work must be carried out by someone competent to do so | “No person shall carry out any work in relation to a gas fitting or gas storage vessel unless he is competent to do so.” | legislation.gov.uk — The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, regulation 3 (https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1998/2451/regulation/3) |
| How to check a gas engineer is on the Gas Safe Register | Search by postcode using the ‘Find an Engineer’ service, text the engineer’s 7-digit licence number to 85080, or check the licence number against their ID card | HSE — Check an engineer is Gas Safe registered (https://www.hse.gov.uk/gas/gas-safe-register-check.htm) |
| Some domestic electrical work must be self-certified by a registered competent person | Fixed low or extra-low voltage electrical installation work in dwellings can be certified under government-authorised competent person schemes, including BESCA, Blue Flame Certification, Certsure, NAPIT and OFTEC | GOV.UK — Competent person scheme: current schemes and how schemes are authorised (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/competent-person-scheme-current-schemes-and-how-schemes-are-authorised) |
| Older buildings may contain asbestos, which must be identified before disturbance | If a building was built or refurbished before 2000, assume it contains asbestos; any refurbishment work that disturbs the fabric of the building needs a survey completed before work starts | HSE — Duty to manage asbestos: is asbestos present? (https://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/duty/is-asbestos-present.htm) |
Frequently asked questions
Can a handyman fix a door?
Yes — hanging, adjusting and re-hanging internal doors, and fitting handles and locks, are all jobs we take on.
Can a handyman replace a toilet or tap?
Yes, on the water side — swapping a toilet, tap, waste or radiator. We don't touch gas appliances or gas pipework; that's Gas Safe registered engineer work only.
Can a handyman change a light fitting?
Not us, currently. Electrical work in the home is covered by Part P of the Building Regulations, and some of it has to be self-certified by an electrician registered with a government-authorised competent person scheme. We'll point you to a registered electrician instead.
Can a handyman work on a boiler or gas pipe?
No. Gas work in Great Britain can only be carried out by someone competent to do so, and in practice that means a Gas Safe registered engineer. We won't touch a boiler, a gas appliance, or any boxing-in that involves gas pipework.
Do handymen need qualifications?
There's no single qualification that covers general handyman work. What matters is the specific job: gas work must be done by someone on the Gas Safe Register, and some electrical work must be carried out by a registered competent person under the Building Regulations. If a job falls into either category, we'll say so rather than take it on.
What happens if you find something outside your scope during a job?
We stop, explain what we've found and why it's outside what we do, and tell you who to call instead — a Gas Safe registered engineer, a registered electrician, a roofer, a surveyor or an asbestos specialist, depending on the issue.
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