General builders in London.

Where a builder covers your postcode, you can book or request a site visit in a couple of minutes. The builder sets their own hours for that first visit, then provides a written quote and a start date once they have seen the work. Because extensions and loft conversions are planned projects rather than emergencies, most reputable London builders have a lead time of a few weeks to a couple of months before they can start on site. Booking the survey early secures your place in their schedule.

Building is not a licensed trade in the UK, so there is no single mandatory register the way Gas Safe covers gas work. Every builder’s application is reviewed by hand before their profile goes live, and we check by hand the accreditations and insurance a builder declares, such as Federation of Master Builders (FMB) membership or TrustMark registration, which you can also confirm on those organisations’ own websites. For structural and notifiable work, the job must still pass building control sign-off, and you should ask your builder which structural warranty or insurance-backed guarantee they provide. Reading recent reviews from London homeowners is the strongest signal of reliable workmanship.

It depends heavily on the project, which is why builders quote after a site visit. As a rough guide for London, a single-storey rear extension runs from £2,500 to £3,200 per square metre fitted, a dormer loft conversion lands between £45,000 and £75,000, and a whole-house refurbishment sits around £1,200 to £2,500 per square metre. Day rates for general building labour are typically £180 to £320. London prices sit above the national average because of access, parking, and skip-permit constraints.

A general builder undertakes structural and large-scale construction, such as extensions, loft conversions, knocking through walls, and full refurbishments, often spanning weeks or months and frequently coordinating other trades. A handyperson handles small, self-contained jobs that take from 30 minutes to a half-day. If your project involves removing or altering a load-bearing wall, fitting an RSJ, or anything needing building control approval, you need a builder. For the dozen small jobs around the house, book a handyperson.

Many extensions and loft conversions in London fall under permitted development and do not need full planning permission, but conservation areas, listed buildings, and flats are common exceptions across the capital, so always check with your borough first. Building control sign-off is required for structural work regardless of planning. If you share a wall with a neighbour, the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 usually applies and you must serve notice before work starts. A good London builder will flag all of this at the site visit and can recommend an architect or party-wall surveyor where needed.

You pay your builder directly, in whichever method they accept and on the payment schedule agreed in their written quote, which for larger projects is usually staged against milestones. Loacally does not take payment for the work and never holds your money. If a builder charges for the site visit, the price shows on their profile before you book; the project quote comes afterwards and is captured against your booking for reference.