£42
Handyman / hour
weekday rate
weekday rate
£330
Full day (8h)
weekday rate
weekday rate
£85
Emergency call-out
flat charge
flat charge
NET 7
Payment terms
no upfront deposit
no upfront deposit
Commercial maintenance costs in London in 2026 vary significantly by trade, time of day, day of week, and the zone within the city. Central London postcodes (EC1, W1, SW1, E14) typically carry a 10–20% premium over outer London due to Congestion Charge, ULEZ charges, parking costs, and higher operative travel time. This guide covers 3COL's published 2026 rates alongside typical market ranges for specialist trades.
RATES BY TRADE
Handyman / General Maintenance
Hourly — Weekday
£42/hr
Hourly — Weekend
£52/hr
Half-Day 4h — Weekday
£170
Full Day 8h — Weekday
£330
Full Day 8h — Weekend
£380
Emergency Call-Out
£85 flat
Painting & Decoration
Hourly — Weekday
£38/hr
Hourly — Weekend
£46/hr
Per sqm — walls (2 coats)
£8–£14
Full office redecoration
from £1,200
Dilapidations redecoration
£6–£12/sqft
Out-of-hours / weekend
+20–25%
Commercial Plumbing
Hourly — Central London
£65–£90/hr
Call-out charge
£80–£120
Boiler service (commercial)
£180–£320
Leak investigation
£120–£250
Annual maintenance contract
from £600/yr
Emergency — out of hours
+30–40%
Commercial Electrical (NICEIC)
Hourly — Central London
£70–£95/hr
Full day (8h)
£560–£760
EICR — 2,000 sqft office
£450–£650
Fixed wire testing (per circuit)
£12–£25
PAT testing (per device)
£2–£4
Emergency fault finding
Priority rate
Carpentry & Joinery
Hourly — Central London
£45–£65/hr
Door hanging & fitting
£120–£220/door
Skirting boards (per m)
£18–£35/m
Stud partition (per m²)
£45–£75/m²
Partition removal + make-good
£60–£95/m²
Bespoke joinery
POA
Plastering & Wall Repairs
Hourly — Central London
£40–£60/hr
Skim coat (per m²)
£18–£28/m²
Patch repair (small)
£80–£150
Full room re-plaster
£350–£800
Damp patch — treatment + replaster
£280–£650
Listed building plasterwork
+30–50%
FULL RATE CARD 2026
All 3COL rates are fixed — no hourly minimums, no hidden surcharges. ULEZ and Congestion Charge are itemised separately when applicable.
3COL Published Rates — Effective January 2026
| Service | Weekday Rate | Weekend Rate | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial call-out charge | £80 | £90 | Flat fee |
| Handyman — hourly rate | £42/hr | £52/hr | Per hour |
| Painting & decoration — hourly rate | £38/hr | £46/hr | Per hour |
| Half-day (4 hours) | £170 | £200 | Fixed block |
| Full day (8 hours) | £330 | £380 | Fixed block |
| Emergency call-out | £85 | £85 | Emergency |
| ULEZ charge (if applicable) | £12.50 | £12.50 | Itemised |
| Congestion Charge (if applicable) | £15.00 | £15.00 | Itemised |
| Payment terms | Net 7 from invoice date — no upfront deposit required | Net 7 | |
"We publish our rates because transparency is non-negotiable in commercial property. Facilities managers have budgets to manage — they need to know the number before they say yes, not after the work is done."
— Gerard de la Torre, Director, 3COL Maintenance Services LtdPRICING BY ZONE
Commercial maintenance costs in Central London vary by postcode. The zones below reflect typical 3COL operative travel time and the additional costs (Congestion Charge, ULEZ, parking) that are itemised transparently on every invoice. All hourly rates are fixed regardless of zone — the zone premium applies only to itemised travel charges.
EC1
Clerkenwell / Old Street
£42–£95/hr by trade
Congestion Charge zone · ULEZ
EC2
City of London
£42–£95/hr by trade
Congestion Charge zone · ULEZ
W1
Mayfair / Soho
£42–£95/hr by trade
Congestion Charge zone · ULEZ
SW1
Victoria / Westminster
£42–£95/hr by trade
Congestion Charge zone · ULEZ
SW3
Chelsea
£42–£95/hr by trade
ULEZ zone
SE1
Southwark / London Bridge
£42–£95/hr by trade
ULEZ zone
WC2
Covent Garden / Strand
£42–£95/hr by trade
Congestion Charge zone · ULEZ
E14
Canary Wharf
£42–£95/hr by trade
ULEZ zone · DLR access
W8
Kensington
£42–£95/hr by trade
ULEZ zone
ANNUAL MAINTENANCE CONTRACTS
For commercial properties with recurring needs, an annual maintenance retainer provides fixed monthly costs, priority response, and full compliance documentation. 3COL retainers include planned preventative maintenance visits, reactive callouts during business hours, and a dedicated account manager.
Basic
£350
/month · billed monthly
Ideal for offices up to 1,500 sqft
- ✓ 1 planned preventative visit/month
- ✓ Priority response — same day
- ✓ Before/after photo report
- ✓ Waste Transfer Notes included
- ✓ Net 7 invoicing
Professional
£650
/month · billed monthly
Ideal for offices 1,500–4,000 sqft
- ✓ 2 planned preventative visits/month
- ✓ Emergency response included
- ✓ Multi-trade coverage
- ✓ Compliance documentation pack
- ✓ Dedicated account manager
Premium
£1,200
/month · billed monthly
Ideal for offices 4,000+ sqft
- ✓ Unlimited planned visits
- ✓ 4-hour emergency response SLA
- ✓ All trades included
- ✓ Annual compliance audit
- ✓ RAMS for all works
PLANNED vs REACTIVE COSTS
The single most important financial decision in commercial property maintenance is when to act. Planned, preventative maintenance is consistently 35–60% cheaper per unit of work than reactive or emergency maintenance — and it reduces downtime, regulatory risk, and dilapidations exposure.
| Work Type | Planned Cost | Reactive Cost | You Save |
|---|---|---|---|
| Office redecoration (2,000 sqft) | £6–£12/sqft · £12,000–£24,000 | £18–£30/sqft · £36,000–£60,000 | Up to 60% |
| Plumbing system annual service | £600–£900/yr (contract rate) | £1,800–£3,500 (emergency rates) | Up to 55% |
| Electrical EICR + remedials | £450–£800 (scheduled) | £1,200–£2,400 (fault-reactive) | Up to 50% |
| Partition reinstatement (dilapidations) | £45–£65/m² (planned) | £90–£140/m² (lease-end emergency) | Up to 53% |
| General repair & maintenance (annual) | £350–£650/mo (retainer) | £800–£1,600/mo (reactive) | Up to 57% |
Related services & guides
COMMON QUESTIONS
How much does a commercial handyman cost in London in 2026?
A commercial handyman in London costs £42 per hour on weekdays and £52 per hour at weekends in 2026. Day rates (8 hours) are £330 weekday and £380 weekend. Half-day (4 hours) is £170 weekday and £200 weekend. Emergency call-out is a flat £85, plus the applicable hourly rate. ULEZ and Congestion Charge are itemised separately when applicable.
How much does a commercial plumber cost in London?
A commercial plumber in London costs £65–£90 per hour in 2026. Emergency commercial plumbing in Central London commands a 20–40% premium. Call-out charges typically range from £80–£120. Annual commercial plumbing maintenance contracts for a 2,000 sqft office start from £600 per year covering two planned visits and priority emergency response.
How much does commercial office maintenance cost per year in London?
Annual commercial office maintenance costs in London range from £3,500 to £18,000 per year depending on office size and scope. A 1,000 sqft office in Central London with a planned preventative maintenance contract costs approximately £4,200–£6,500 per year. A 5,000 sqft office with full reactive cover and compliance testing typically costs £12,000–£18,000 annually.
What is the difference between planned and reactive maintenance costs?
Planned (preventative) maintenance is typically 35–60% cheaper per unit of work than reactive (emergency) maintenance. A planned office redecoration costs £6–£12 per sqft; the same work at lease-end emergency rates costs £18–£30 per sqft. Annual planned maintenance contracts in London start from £350 per month, providing predictable costs, priority response, and regulatory compliance documentation.
Do London maintenance contractors charge for ULEZ and Congestion Charge?
Yes — professional commercial maintenance contractors in London itemise ULEZ (£12.50/day) and Congestion Charge (£15/day) separately on quotations and invoices. These should never be hidden in the day rate. 3COL itemises all travel charges transparently on every invoice — there are no surprises on receipt.
How much does a commercial electrician cost in London?
A NICEIC-registered commercial electrician in London costs £70–£95 per hour in 2026. A full day (8 hours) costs £560–£760. Electrical Condition Reports (EICRs) for a 2,000 sqft commercial office cost £450–£650. Fixed wire testing is typically £12–£25 per circuit. PAT testing for office equipment is £2–£4 per device.
Is it cheaper to use a maintenance contractor or hire in-house for a London office?
For most London SME occupiers under 10,000 sqft, a maintenance contractor is significantly cheaper than an in-house maintenance operative. A full-time in-house handyman costs £32,000–£42,000 per year in salary alone, plus NI, pension, tools, and training. A commercial maintenance contract covering equivalent works costs £6,000–£14,000 per year — typically 60–70% less, with broader trade coverage and no recruitment risk.
How much does emergency commercial maintenance cost in London?
Emergency commercial maintenance in London costs a flat £85 call-out charge plus the applicable trade rate (£42–£95 per hour depending on trade). Out-of-hours emergency response commands a 20–30% premium on standard rates. Clients on a 3COL maintenance retainer receive emergency response included in their monthly fee, with no separate call-out charge during business hours.
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