The Loacally blog
Getting things sorted at home.
Practical, no-nonsense help for your London home. What jobs really cost, which trade you actually need, and how to hire someone you can trust.
How Much Deposit Should You Pay a Tradesperson? (2026 UK Guide)
How much deposit to pay a tradesperson: what Citizens Advice and the Federation of Master Builders recommend, when no deposit is normal, when a bigger one is justified, staged payments and retention, how to pay safely by card or bank transfer, your cancellation rights, and what to do if a trader takes your deposit and disappears.
How Much Does a Power Flush Cost in London? (2026 Prices)
What a power flush costs in London in 2026 by size of home, from flats to five-bedroom houses. Includes a fair quote checklist, the signs your system needs one, how it compares with a chemical flush or magnetic filter, and whether you need one before a new boiler.
What to Do If a Tradesperson Does a Bad Job: Your Rights (2026 Guide)
What to do if a tradesperson does a bad job: your rights under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, how to complain in writing, whether you can withhold payment, how to get a redo, price reduction or refund, the escalation ladder from trade bodies to small claims, and the safety route for unsafe gas or electrical work.
How Much Does a Boiler Repair Cost in London? 2026 Prices by Fault
What a boiler repair costs in London in 2026, fault by fault: the diagnosis visit, minor fixes, pumps and diverter valves, circuit boards and heat exchangers. Includes a fair quote checklist, the checks you can safely do yourself, when to repair or replace, and who pays if you rent.
Why Is My Radiator Not Heating Up? Causes, Fixes and When to Call a Plumber (London, 2026)
A cold radiator in a London home is usually easy to diagnose once you read the cold pattern. This 2026 guide explains what trapped air, sludge and valve faults look like, which fixes are safe to do yourself, what a plumber should charge to sort the rest, and when the job legally needs a Gas Safe registered engineer.
House Extension Cost in London (2026): Rear, Side Return and Wrap-Around
A house extension in London costs roughly £2,300 to £4,500 per square metre to build in 2026, excluding VAT and professional fees. See the cost by extension type, the fees and statutory charges that sit outside the builder quote, the party wall rules on a terrace, and exactly what a fair quote itemises.
Electrician Day Rate in London (2026): What to Pay
A London electrician typically charges £350 to £450 for a standard full day in 2026, rising to £500 to £650 for central or urgent work. See day, half-day, hourly and call-out prices, what common jobs cost, and the NICEIC or NAPIT registration checks that separate a fair quote from a risky one.
Loft Conversion Cost in London (2026): Dormer, Velux, Hip-to-Gable and Mansard Prices
A loft conversion in London costs from around £18,000 for a simple Velux room to £50,000 to £85,000 for a dormer, the most common type, and up to £165,000 for a period mansard in 2026. See scenario-by-scenario prices, planning and party wall rules, VAT, timelines and a fair-quote checklist before you hire a builder.
Frozen or Burst Pipes in London: What to Do and How to Prevent Them (2026)
A burst pipe in a London home is a race against the water. This 2026 guide gives you the emergency steps in order, how to thaw a frozen pipe safely, how to prevent freezing over winter, who is responsible when you rent or own a leasehold flat, and when to call a WaterSafe or Gas Safe registered professional.
How Much Does Underfloor Heating Cost in London? (2026 Prices)
Underfloor heating costs roughly £40 to £120 per m² for electric systems and £85 to £190 per m² for wet systems in London in 2026. Compare electric vs wet prices, running costs, the safety rules on who can legally fit it, and how to judge a fair quote from a trusted local heating engineer.
How Much Does It Cost to Replace a Radiator in London? (2026 Prices)
A like-for-like radiator swap in London costs about £180 to £350 all-in during 2026, of which labour is roughly £90 to £220. See scenario prices for moving, adding and whole-house swaps, what a fair quote itemises, why you do not need a Gas Safe engineer, and how VAT is applied.
Tiler Day Rates in London: What Tilers Charge Per Day and Per m² in 2026
An experienced sole-trader tiler in London typically charges £250 to £360 a day, or roughly £35 to £70 per square metre, for standard work in 2026. See how tilers quote by the day and by the metre, what a fair quote includes, why large-format and stone cost more, and the checks to make before you hire.