12k labour quote for bathroom - outer London

[TaleOfTheContinents]

A bit shocked by the 12k labour quote we've just received to completely redo our bathroom but:
a) our bathroom is a decent size (3.8 x 3.2m)
b) we're having some structural changes done (a non-structural wall moved to create space for built-in wardrobes next door) as well as completely gutting and replacing everything.
c) I know prices are higher at the moment due to Brexit, Covid and demand.
d) outer London premium (although this is a Kent-based business)
e) around 2k of the quote is for VAT

Quote is labour and materials only - no tiles, suite, taps, shower, etc. included.

Any Londoners who've had a bathroom done in the last few months, what did your pay for labour for yours? I'm so disappointed as I really like the guy who owns the company and I feel confident his team will do a great job.

And if anyone did get a good quote and lives near the Bromley area, would you be happy to share who you used?

If £2k is vat and it’s an upper scale bathroom o think that’s normal

I am near Bromley and had a quote for 14k last year. Told them politely to get stuffed. Instead we employed individual tradesmen (plasterer, plumber, tiler). Aside from materials it cost about 4k but took a lot longer.

I wouldn't say it's 'upper scale' - we weren't planning on particularly high-end fittings or tiles on top of that labour cost... possibly mid-range.

@Rrrob that sounds like a great workaround, thank you for the suggestion. Unfortunately, it's our only bathroom so we couldn't be without it for too long. This quote was for 3 weeks' work as it is.

I've been estimated £5-7k labour for an 8x4.5ft bathroom, sink staying in same place, moving toilet approx 18 inches and moving pipework for bath about 12 inches. Not including tiles, suite etc, & that was a cash price. Variation depending on things like tile sizes and patterns (small herringbone obviously more time consuming than large tiles in a straight line), it was just a rough estimate from someone currently quoting for our kitchen extension. We're outskirts of East London.

£12k including VAT, demolishing a wall, putting up a stud wall and making good, unfortunately doesn't sound high for the job (although appreciate its a lot!). Unfortunately materials have gone up a lot.

Had 2 bathrooms done last year in beckenham, guys did a great job, will dig out their details for you. Total labour cost for full tiling and all plumbing was about 8k if I remember right.
It did take them 6 months to fit us in though

Paid 4k ish for small bathroom complete refurbish labour

It’s probably very reasonable. We paid £6000 nearly 10-years-ago in the North East!

I live near Southampton. We got quoted the same last month. Going to have to postpone.

Sounds like a case of them charging because they can (high demand, customers with surplus holiday cash), and is objectively madness. That'd probably work out as £hundreds per hour for the individuals.

I paid similar for mine around the time of the first lockdown, before prices when crazy. I had mine tanked and turned into a wet room and soil pipe moved to the other side of the room.

We got a quote for two bathrooms last week. Labour and furniture + flooring was £12k for both, but adding on tiling was an extra £8k and most of that was labour. So if that's what's making your quote so high I'd suggest watching some YouTube videos and learn to tile yourself. That's what we are planning to do!

I've just had a much smaller shower room changed into a bathroom. The door had to be moved as well as all the plumbing. Labour was about 6-7k for plumber, tiler, builder and painting, the rest was materials coming to total of about £10k, inc VAT. SW London (zone 3).

That's ridiculous. Don't pay it. If people keep paying ridiculous prices they will keep charging them.

@CeibaTree

We got a quote for two bathrooms last week. Labour and furniture + flooring was £12k for both, but adding on tiling was an extra £8k and most of that was labour. So if that's what's making your quote so high I'd suggest watching some YouTube videos and learn to tile yourself. That's what we are planning to do!

We are outer London too by the way and this quote was from Wickes.

@Alexalee I am in same area, would love to know who you recommend.

Op, my quote was 16k for similar!

We’re just planning our main en suite. Fairly large room 4.5m x 4.5m, needs pulling apart, lots of moving of pipe work, room to be tanked, new electrics, under floor hearing and high end fitting with lots of fiddly tiling. Work will take 5 weeks (we’re told) and the cost of fitting is a few pounds over £10k (SE, near London).

We’re not using our normal fitter (based in Kent, who did our other bathrooms) as he doesn’t really do design work, but he’d be a similar price - perhaps slightly less.

That's in line with the labour costs we had in Home Counties.

Sounds about right!

Just had large bathroom, and en- suite, and new tank and new boiler, piping etc. All in £25k. That included lighting and electrician and tiler too, and removing a wall, replastering etc.

3 weeks work, nice fittings, digital pumped showers, very expensive tiles (part tiled).

Surrey. Got a local plumber to do it though. We designed. A design bathroom co came in at £30k without boiler etc.

Thanks so much everyone for all of your comments - looks like unfortunately, it's the going rate at the moment. I suppose we'll just need to save for a few more months to make up the difference but almost tempted to make do with our carpeted bathroom .

@Alexalee and @jaundicedoutlook would love the details of who you used please, if you're happy to DM them to me.

[quote Phrenologistsfinger]@Alexalee I am in same area, would love to know who you recommend.

Op, my quote was 16k for similar![/quote]
Me too also in the same area.

Bought a house that needed reno and had one bathroom completely gutted and refitted with new position of bath, sink and toilet plus new ensuite built (from scratch) in loft conversion so walls, plumbing, bath, shower, toilets, 2 x vanities and everything else. Underfloor heating in both. About 13k labour which I thought was fine. That was March this year and based in Chingford. Builder is from South London.

Had my bathroom completely redone in the summer - labour was just under £7k and really happy with the job ! I'm in same area as you

Sounds like a great price and job @Liverpoolarefab. I've sent you a message :)