HOW TO HIRE · HOME REPAIRS & HANDYMAN · CHECKED OCTOBER 2026
How to hire a handyman in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.
A handyman in Ireland costs €40–€80 per hour, typically around €55. Here is how to check that in a minute, what to ask before you book, and what you must be handed when the job is done.
- Search and compare — no account needed
- Nearest to you first
- One score from Google, Trustpilot and Locufy reviews
TWO WAYS TO BUY THIS
Which do you need?
An individual, by the hour
You book a person for a set number of hours and they do what you ask. There is no scope and no quote: you are buying time. Best where the work is routine, you can say what you want done, and you would rather pay for two hours than for a job.
A company, for the job
You describe the job and they price it. There is a scope, a written quote, a team and somebody supervising it. Best where the work is one big push, where it needs equipment, or where you want one party answerable for the result.
What changes between them
The rate per hour against a price for the job; one person against a team; your own instructions against a written scope; and VAT, which an individual under the registration threshold does not charge at all.
THE 60-SECOND VERSION
Hiring a handyman in five steps
- Are you on the Construction Industry Register Ireland, and what is your number?A number you can look up yourself before you agree a price — home Maintenance — regular home maintenance is crucial for preventing larger issues down the line.
- Will I get a Certificate of Compliance on Completion, and when?On the day the work is finished and tested, not posted on later — painting and Decorating — handyman services also cover painting and decorating tasks, from refreshing a single room to a full property makeover.
- How does factors include the nature of the tasks change the price?A clear answer here gets you a firmer quote. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does time required to complete them change the price?The length of the visit is agreed before the work starts. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does handyman's expertise change the price?A long track record is itself part of the price. — ask before the quote rather than after.
BEFORE YOU BOOK
Check before you book
By the hour
Construction Industry Register Ireland (CIRI)
CIRI is a VOLUNTARY register today. The Regulation of Providers of Building Works and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2022 was signed on 5 July 2022 and S.I. 429/2022 commenced parts of it on 29 August 2022; the Construction Industry Federation was appointed registration body on 16 January 2023. Registration is NOT yet mandatory: the divisions regulations had not been drafted as of a May 2025 Dáil answer, and CIRI itself projects mandatory registration from 2027. So being absent from CIRI breaks no law in 2026 — and being on it is still the only independent check of a builder that exists here.
Search the Construction Industry Register Ireland for the name or the registration number before you agree a price. ciri.ie →
a Certificate of Compliance on Completion
Issued by the assigned certifier and the builder, where the work needed a commencement notice on completion, before the building is occupied. It matters because it is lodged on the statutory register and is what a buyer's solicitor looks for; work done without one surfaces on sale.
Agree before the work starts that you will be handed a certificate of compliance on completion, and keep it with the house papers.
Trader or private seller
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 a trader must tell you they are a trader, and your consumer rights — work carried out with reasonable skill and care, and a cooling-off period on a contract agreed in your home or online — apply to traders and not to private sellers. On Locufy the trader status is shown on the profile.
Look for the trader badge on the Locufy profile, and ask anyone else for it in writing before you agree a price.
VAT
VAT at 13.5%, the reduced rate Revenue publishes for this service. Ask whether the price you were given includes it. A trader under the €42,500 registration threshold does not charge it; one over it must, and must show it separately.
Ask whether the figure you were given includes it, and for the VAT number if they are registered — Revenue publishes the rate for this service. revenue.ie →
Insurance
Expect public liability and, for anything structural, professional indemnity from whoever designed it. You are booking an individual for a set number of hours, so ask whether the ID has been checked and what the rating is from people who booked the same way — there is no company behind them to carry either.
A company
Construction Industry Register Ireland (CIRI)
CIRI is a VOLUNTARY register today. The Regulation of Providers of Building Works and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2022 was signed on 5 July 2022 and S.I. 429/2022 commenced parts of it on 29 August 2022; the Construction Industry Federation was appointed registration body on 16 January 2023. Registration is NOT yet mandatory: the divisions regulations had not been drafted as of a May 2025 Dáil answer, and CIRI itself projects mandatory registration from 2027. So being absent from CIRI breaks no law in 2026 — and being on it is still the only independent check of a builder that exists here.
Search the Construction Industry Register Ireland for the name or the registration number before you agree a price. ciri.ie →
a Certificate of Compliance on Completion
Issued by the assigned certifier and the builder, where the work needed a commencement notice on completion, before the building is occupied. It matters because it is lodged on the statutory register and is what a buyer's solicitor looks for; work done without one surfaces on sale.
Agree before the work starts that you will be handed a certificate of compliance on completion, and keep it with the house papers.
Trader or private seller
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 a trader must tell you they are a trader, and your consumer rights — work carried out with reasonable skill and care, and a cooling-off period on a contract agreed in your home or online — apply to traders and not to private sellers. On Locufy the trader status is shown on the profile.
Look for the trader badge on the Locufy profile, and ask anyone else for it in writing before you agree a price.
VAT
VAT at 13.5%, the reduced rate Revenue publishes for this service. Ask whether the price you were given includes it. A trader under the €42,500 registration threshold does not charge it; one over it must, and must show it separately.
Ask whether the figure you were given includes it, and for the VAT number if they are registered — Revenue publishes the rate for this service. revenue.ie →
Insurance
Expect public liability and, for anything structural, professional indemnity from whoever designed it. From a company, ask for the insurer, the limit and the VAT number, and ask who actually attends: the team that turns up may be employed, subcontracted or both, and only one of those is supervised by the firm you are paying.
A good answer: A number you can look up yourself before you agree a price — home Maintenance — regular home maintenance is crucial for preventing larger issues down the line.
A good answer: On the day the work is finished and tested, not posted on later — painting and Decorating — handyman services also cover painting and decorating tasks, from refreshing a single room to a full property makeover.
A good answer: A clear answer here gets you a firmer quote. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: The length of the visit is agreed before the work starts. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: A long track record is itself part of the price. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Furniture Assembly — many handymen specialise in assembling furniture, especially flat-pack items from popular retailers — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a handyman job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
A good answer: Expect public liability and, for anything structural, professional indemnity from whoever designed it — general Repairs — handyman services often include general repairs around the home or office.
Getting the quote right, or booking by the hour
By the hour
- The rate per hour, and whether it changes in the evening or at a weekend
- The minimum booking, and what happens if the job finishes early
- What they bring and what you supply
- Whether the ID has been checked, and the rating from people who booked the same way
- Insurance, where the work can damage something or somebody
- The hours and the list of what is to be done, agreed before the first one
- Time required to complete them — the length of the visit is agreed before the work starts.
- Handyman's expertise — a long track record is itself part of the price.
- Condition of the job — the condition decides whether this is a touch-up or a rebuild.
- In writing before anyone starts — a message on Locufy counts
- What is NOT included, named
A company
- Factors include the nature of the tasks — a clear answer here gets you a firmer quote.
- Time required to complete them — the length of the visit is agreed before the work starts.
- Handyman's expertise — a long track record is itself part of the price.
- Condition of the job — the condition decides whether this is a touch-up or a rebuild.
- In writing before anyone starts — a message on Locufy counts
- What is NOT included, named
- Who actually attends, and whether they are employed or subcontracted
- The VAT number, and whether it checks out on the Revenue register
Walk away if
- They are not on the Construction Industry Register Ireland, or the number does not resolve to the name on the quote
- No a Certificate of Compliance on Completion is offered, or you are told you do not need one for work of this kind
- They will not talk about it: factors include the nature of the tasks — a clear answer here gets you a firmer quote
- They will not talk about it: time required to complete them — the length of the visit is agreed before the work starts
- They will not talk about it: handyman's expertise — a long track record is itself part of the price
- A price for the handyman before anyone has asked the size, the access or the condition of what they are working on
What a handyman costs: €40–€80 per hour
Most handymans quote the job rather than the hour; the hourly rate is what the small jobs are priced from. Furniture assembly and Minor electrical repairs each carry their own band. Handyman price guide →
Guide prices compiled by the Locufy team from published Irish and UK provider price lists and 2026/27 cost guides. Updated 2026.
KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR? NOW FIND ONE
Handymans near you, with the badges that matter shown
ID checked, trader status and one score from every review — on the card, before you message anyone. Nearest first. No account needed to look.
Or post the job free and let them come to you, or book by the hour.
- Look firstFactors include the nature of the tasks — a clear answer here gets you a firmer quote — that is what the handyman is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
- Agree what is being doneTime required to complete them — the length of the visit is agreed before the work starts — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
- The work itselfHandyman's expertise — a long track record is itself part of the price — and anything found on the day that was not in that is priced before it is started.
- Check it togetherCondition of the job — the condition decides whether this is a touch-up or a rebuild — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the handyman is still there.
- What you are handedA Certificate of Compliance on Completion, the invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, materials required — better materials cost more and usually last longer.
- General Repairs
- Handyman services often include general repairs around the home or office.
- Furniture Assembly
- Many handymen specialise in assembling furniture, especially flat-pack items from popular retailers.
- Painting and Decorating
- Handyman services also cover painting and decorating tasks, from refreshing a single room to a full property makeover.
- Home Maintenance
- Regular home maintenance is crucial for preventing larger issues down the line.
- Minor Electrical Repairs
- This includes tasks like replacing light switches, fixing outlets, or changing light bulbs.
- Painting and Touch-Ups
- This includes interior and exterior painting, as well as touch-ups in high-traffic areas.
AFTER
When the job is done
Hiring a handyman: questions people ask
Handyman costs €40–€80 per hour in Ireland, typically around €55. Enter your town above for real prices from providers near you.
Factors include the nature of the tasks, the time required to complete them, and the handyman's expertise. Additional costs may arise for materials or specialised tools.
The duration of a handyman job can vary widely; simple tasks might take an hour, while more complex jobs can take several hours or even a full day. It's best to discuss estimated timeframes with your handyman before work begins.
For specific tasks such as electrical, gas, or structural work, you will need to hire a qualified specialist who is registered and certified. A handyman can handle general repairs but cannot perform regulated work.
Many handymen offer same-day or emergency services, but availability can vary. It's recommended to contact your handyman in advance to check if they can accommodate urgent requests.
Search the name or the registration number. If the number does not resolve to the name on the quote, stop there.
MORE GUIDES
More hiring guides in home repairs & handyman
Handymans near you
Sources — checked October 2026
- Regulation of Providers of Building Works and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2022
- S.I. 429/2022 — Commencement Order
- Construction Industry Register Ireland
- Department of Housing — Building Control
- Consumer Rights Act 2022
- Revenue — BUILDING and CONSTRUCTION SERVICES (Private dwellings and Non-residential immovable goods) — Reduced rate
- Revenue — current VAT rates (effective 1 January 2026)
- Revenue — VAT thresholds: €42,500 for a person supplying services only