Small works · Leith
Handyman and small works in Leith
Leith puts three very different kinds of building on the same street: nineteenth-century tenements, converted warehouses and bonded stores, and new waterfront blocks with factors and service charges. Each fails in its own way, and the right person for a Shore warehouse conversion is rarely the right person for a Bonnington tenement roof.
The short answer
Small works in Leith are the half-day and one-day jobs a property accumulates: leaking taps, blocked sinks, radiators that will not heat, sticking doors, silicone, shelves, flat-pack, TV brackets and door locks. We cover EH6, EH7 and introduce you to independent local tradespeople. Gas, notifiable electrical work and anything structural must go to a qualified, registered specialist instead.
Postcodes we cover
- EH6
- EH7
EH6 covers Leith, the Shore, Newhaven and Bonnington; the Easter Road and Pilrig edge of the same market sits in EH7.
Areas covered include The Shore, Bonnington, Newhaven, Pilrig, Easter Road, Leith Links, Great Junction Street, Ocean Terminal and the Waterfront.
What is different about Leith
- Leith Walk and Constitution Street carry the tram line, so lane closures, loading restrictions and tram-side scaffolding all affect scheduling and cost. Parking is zoned across most of EH6. Shore-side buildings take driven rain and salt air straight off the water, which shortens the life of paintwork, render and exposed metal.
- Batch the jobs. Most of the cost of a small job is the visit, so five jobs in one visit is far cheaper than five visits.
- Gas work must be done by a Gas Safe registered engineer, and electrical work should go to a SELECT or NICEIC registered electrician. A general handyperson should decline both.
- In a flat, anything touching the common stair, the roof space or a shared supply stops being a small job and becomes a common repair.
Local rules and responsibilities
- Large parts of the Shore, Leith Links and Pilrig are conservation areas, and several warehouse conversions are listed, so external repairs are expected to be like-for-like.
- In a factored block the factor — not the individual owner — usually instructs common work, and the written statement of services sets out how that is decided and billed.
- Tenement common repairs follow the Tenements (Scotland) Act 2004 where the deeds are silent: majority decision, equal shares.
- Coastal exposure means an EWS1 or fabric question on a modern block is more likely to come up when a flat is sold or remortgaged.
How to go about it
- 1List every small job in the property in one go, room by room.
- 2Mark which ones need a specialist — anything gas, notifiable electrical, structural or on shared parts.
- 3Send the whole list when you ask for a price, with photographs of anything unusual.
- 4Agree whether materials are supplied by you or the tradesperson before the visit.
- 5Book a single half-day or day rather than a series of callouts.
Small works jobs in Leith
- Leaking taps and running toilets
- Blocked sinks and slow drains
- A radiator that will not heat
- Light fittings and switches
- Extra sockets and USB points
- Doors that stick or will not close
- Sash window easing and cord repairs
- Silicone and sealant renewal
- Tile and grout repairs
- Shelving, storage and flat-pack assembly
- Curtain poles and blinds
- Wall patching and making good
- Repainting a single room
- Skirting and facings repairs
- Creaking and loose floorboards
- Bathroom and kitchen extractor fans
- Replacing a basin, toilet or tap
- Kitchen door and drawer repairs
- Fence, gate and boundary repairs
- Grab rails, handrails and access
About Lothian Property
An independent starting point, not an estate agency
Lothian Property is an independent property information and introduction service. We are not an estate agency. We help homeowners understand their property, their options and their local market, and — where appropriate and only with your permission — introduce them to independent estate agents and other property professionals who can assist.
How Lothian Property worksCommon questions
- What is a typical handyman rate in Leith?
- Most tradespeople price by half day or day rather than by job, plus materials. Because the visit is the main cost, one visit covering several jobs is almost always better value than separate callouts.
- What can a handyperson not do?
- Gas work needs a Gas Safe registered engineer. Notifiable electrical work needs a registered electrician. Anything structural, or work to a listed building's exterior, needs the appropriate specialist and often a warrant or consent.
- Can you do the work today?
- We do not carry out work at all — we are an information and introduction service. If a job is an emergency, contact an emergency trade, your factor or, for gas, the national gas emergency line on 0800 111 999.
Other help in Leith
- Property maintenance in Leith
- Landlord property maintenance in Leith
- Void property clearance in Leith
- Pre-sale property preparation in Leith