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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

How much would you expect this plumbing job to cost?

13 replies

feedmefudge · 30/07/2026 03:11

I had a plumber round today, to sort a couple of things. Nice chap, young and just getting started on his own. A friend of a friend recommended him to me.
The issues were as follows:

  1. tightening up a toilet flush handle which was working perfectly, but had come loose.
  2. sorting a leaky bath tap, which had more of a gush than a drip. It needed only new washers and he said himself it was a simple job.
  3. replacing the washers on another tap, which just had an intermittent drip but nothing major.

He was here for well over an hour, and asked me at the end how long he’d been there for. So presumably I’ll be billed for his time. He spent a good while searching for my stopcock, which he then said he didn’t need anyway (I think it was a ‘just in case’). He was also quite chatty!
I don’t have tradesmen round often, so am a bit out of touch. At the end, I asked him how much it would be and how he’d like to be paid.
He said he’d invoice me.
So, let’s hear it. How much would you estimate this to cost? I have a feeling it won’t come cheap. I live in an expensive area.
I know you will say I should have asked upfront. But he originally said he was going to pop over to check out the job. In the end, he was able to stay and do it, which I hadn’t quite expected.

OP posts:
Pippa12 · 30/07/2026 03:34

I’m always way off with stuff like this. Maybe £100 if he needed minimal materials?

Maybe you could just message him and ask for a rough guide so you can move money to pay him promptly when the invoice arrives.

Edited as I saw well over an hour, £150?

feedmefudge · 30/07/2026 03:43

Thanks for your reply! I’m just not sure why he took so much time to do the job, but maybe I’m being naive.

OP posts:
hernameis · 30/07/2026 03:43

I'd expect a plumber call out charge to be in the region of 125-150 plus materials. I'm in Canada and just had a plumber over to replace the toilet fill valve, it took less than 10 mins and the call out charge with tax came to $210, so about 110 pounds. In fairness he did ask if there was anything else he could fix.

DarkLion · 30/07/2026 03:43

Erm well when I moved into my house my washing machine wouldn’t start, turned out there was like a plug stopper where the pipe is that I hadn’t noticed and he said he still had to charge me his hourly rate which was £60, I’m in Yorkshire if that helps 🙈 so maybe £90-£100

feedmefudge · 30/07/2026 03:46

Thanks everyone. I’ll report back 😬

OP posts:
Wajeehakamran · 30/07/2026 04:06

I'd probably expect somewhere around £100 to £200, depending on the call-out charge and local rates. It sounds like a fairly straightforward job, so hopefully it won't be anything too shocking. Let us know what the invoice comes to. I'm curious now!

Loulou4022 · 30/07/2026 07:59

Did you not get a quote from him beforehand?

Thewalrusandthecarpenter · 30/07/2026 08:27

I reckon £120.

earlyshirley · 30/07/2026 08:31

£150.

pilates · 30/07/2026 08:31

£100

feedmefudge · 30/07/2026 08:31

Loulou4022 · 30/07/2026 07:59

Did you not get a quote from him beforehand?

I have explained that in my OP.

OP posts:
Tel12 · 30/07/2026 08:34

£200. I'd never let anyone do a job without a price.

Bulldog01 · 30/07/2026 08:38

We have a regular Plummer,he charges £70.00 a hour.If it's a big job £200.00 to £300.00.

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