Handyman

General handyman

An hour or a day of small repairs around a house.

Post a task General handyman by county

Whether this needs a licence in Ireland

Ireland

No licence required

Taken from the statute below; not yet reviewed by a lawyer

Irelandwww.cru.ieChecked 14/10/2026

General handyman: what the job involves

An hour, a half day or a day of small jobs around the house — sticking doors, curtain poles, silicone, loose handles, minor repairs and fitting things — the list no single trade wants. A good handyman also tells you which items on the list need a registered electrician, gas installer or plumber instead.

Also asked for as: odd jobs · small jobs around the house · odd job man · home repairs · fix it man

How the job is usually done

Agree the list in writing, with photos, and flag anything that needs a registered trade
Confirm who buys the parts and materials, and the time allowed
Arrive with tools, fixings and common parts for the listed jobs
Work through the list in an order that keeps dust and noise together
Check each job with you as it is finished
Tidy up and note anything that needs a follow-up or another trade

General handyman: what is included

Usually included

The jobs agreed on the list, within the time booked
Common fixings, plugs, screws and sealant
Tidying up and taking small offcuts away

Usually not included — agree it separately

New sockets, circuits or moving wiring — Restricted Electrical Works
Anything on a gas appliance or pipe
Plumbing beyond simple jobs such as a washer, a toilet seat or a silicone seal
Large materials, which are bought separately or on your account
Waste removal, unless the handyman holds a waste collection permit

Materials and who supplies them

Fixings, plugs, sealant and filler — normally the handyman’s
Parts specific to your house: handles, hinges, curtain poles, blinds — usually yours, or bought by the handyman and recharged with the receipt
Drill, detector, levels and hand tools — the handyman’s

How long it takes

Most lists take a half day or a day; a long list, collecting parts, or a job that turns out bigger than it looked adds time.

When to book

Lists get long before Christmas and before a house goes on the market; book a few weeks ahead at those times.

General handyman: the rules in Ireland

What the official sources say, checked against them on the date shown. A summary, not legal advice — follow the link to read the rule itself.

New sockets, new or extended circuits, fuse-board work and moving wiring are Restricted Electrical Works, which only a Registered Electrical Contractor may carry out and certify. A handyman can swap a like-for-like light fitting or faceplate only where that falls within minor works.
Applies to: the handyman and the householder
Safe Electric Ireland, for the Commission for Regulation of Utilities — Electricity Regulation Act 1999 and S.I. 264 of 2013 · safeelectric.ie · Checked 9 October 2026
Installing, moving, repairing or disconnecting any gas appliance or pipework is gas work reserved to a Registered Gas Installer. Fixing something near a gas meter or pipe is fine; touching the gas fittings is not.
Applies to: the handyman and the householder
Register of Gas Installers of Ireland, for the Commission for Regulation of Utilities · rgi.ie · Checked 9 October 2026
Textured ceiling and wall coatings such as Artex commonly contained asbestos until the late 1980s; in a building built or refurbished before 2000 they should not be drilled, sanded or scraped until tested.
Applies to: the handyman, and the homeowner who commissions the work
Health and Safety Authority — asbestos regulations · hsa.ie · Checked 9 October 2026
Repair and maintenance of a home is charged at the reduced rate of VAT (13.5%) by a VAT-registered business, subject to the two-thirds rule on materials.
Applies to: the handyman, if VAT-registered
Revenue — Value-Added Tax Consolidation Act 2010, Schedule 3 · revenue.ie · Checked 9 October 2026

Grants

Mobility Aids Grant Scheme
Pays for works that address mobility problems in the home, such as grab rails, a ramp, a level-access shower or a stair-lift: up to €8,000, which may cover the full cost of the works.
Who qualifies: Households with an older or disabled person with mobility problems and a gross household income under €37,500 a year; apply to the local authority, which assesses the application before the work is done.
citizensinformation.ie · Checked 9 October 2026

What general handyman costs, and why

What jobs on Talqero came to

Not enough comparable jobs yet to publish a range here. Talqero shows a price range only once at least five comparable jobs, agreed prices or offers exist — a range from fewer would describe a handful of jobs, not the market. Post your job and compare the offers you get.

What affects the price

The length of the list and the time it needs
Whether parts and materials are supplied or bought on the day
Wall type and fixings for heavy items
Travel, parking and access, especially in apartments
A minimum charge or call-out for very short jobs

Paperwork to ask for at the end

A receipt listing the jobs done and any parts bought
A note of any items that need a registered trade

Safety

Anybody drilling should check for cables and pipes with a detector, and avoid the zones directly above, below and beside sockets and switches
Do not let anyone drill, sand or scrape a textured ceiling in a pre-2000 house before it is tested for asbestos
Ask that work at height uses a proper step-ladder or platform, not a chair
A handyman should turn off the water before working on taps, valves or toilets

General handyman: before you hire

Questions to ask a tradesperson

Do you charge by the hour, the half day or the job?
Do you bring fixings and common parts?
Which jobs on my list should go to a registered trade?
Are you insured for damage?

What you can do yourself

Changing a toilet seat, tightening a handle or re-hanging a picture are fine DIY; anything involving new wiring, gas, or drilling near hidden pipes and cables is better left to a professional.

What to put in your task

What is on your list?
Roughly how many jobs are on it?
Which kinds of jobs are there?
Do you have the parts and materials?
Is it a house or an apartment?

Photos that help

One photo of each job on the list
Close-ups of the fittings or parts involved
The wall where anything is to be fixed, if relevant

Handyman

Need general handyman? Describe the job.

Post it once, free. Professionals near you reply with their own price and when they could start. You choose, and pay them directly.

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Questions about general handyman

Does general handyman need a licence in Ireland?

No licence is required for this work in Ireland (source: www.cru.ie). Ask instead for references and photographs of similar jobs.

Can a handyman change a light fitting or add a socket?

Replacing a light fitting like for like can fall within minor works, but adding a socket, extending a circuit or moving wiring is Restricted Electrical Works for a Registered Electrical Contractor, who issues a completion certificate. Put electrical jobs in a separate task.

How do I get an accurate offer for a list of jobs?

Write one line per job, add a photo of each, and say whether you have the parts. Handymen price by time, so a clear list avoids surprises on the day.

Can a handyman fit grab rails for an older relative?

Yes, provided they are fixed into solid wall or proper fixings for the wall type. If the work is part of adapting the home for mobility, the Mobility Aids Grant from the local authority may cover it, but apply before the work is done.