Where are tradespeople averaging £47/hour?

The cost of hiring a tradesperson is highest in Berkshire, research from HaMuch.com has revealed.

The research looked at the hourly cost of a builder, plumber, heating engineer, electrician, carpenter, painter, gardener, cleaner and car mechanic and how this differs across each area of the UK.

The most expensive area is Newbury, Berkshire at £47 per hour. Other costly areas in the county are Reading at £43 and Bracknell Forest at £42.

These areas are well above the national average, which is £31 per hour.

Costs by profession
Locksmiths are the most expensive professional by hourly rate, charging £43. Heating engineers are second at £41, followed by plumbers at £40 – with painters costing £24 and gardeners £26.

London isn’t the most expensive
In London, the average cost of a tradesperson is £41 – higher than average but not the highest, despite the cost of housing in the city. It’s worth noting that many of those who work in the city commute from surrounding areas, while it may be that competition between tradespeople is particularly high in London, driving the price down.

The cheapest areas
The cheapest area is Carmarthenshire in southwest Wales at £21 per hour. Other lower-priced areas, where tradespeople typically cost £23, are North Lincolnshire, North East Lincolnshire, Dumfries & Galloway, and Kingston-upon-Hull.