The Close · Chichester
How to Start a Handyman Business in The Close
What you need to know about the scope-of-competency boundaries, insurance and getting started -- specific to The Close and the wider Chichester area.
See what's inside the Handyman Business Launch Kit — £22The Close is as good a place as any to start a handyman business -- just make sure you know the four boundaries (gas, electrical, structural, asbestos) that apply everywhere in the UK, Chichester included.
What the rules say
Handyman work carries no general licence or protected title anywhere in the UK -- the real legal boundaries sit around four specific tasks. Gas work is Gas Safe registered engineers only, full stop. Notifiable electrical work needs a registered competent person or building control. Structural work like load-bearing walls needs Building Regulations approval. And suspected asbestos in pre-2000 properties should never be drilled, sanded or removed by a handyman. Outside those four lines, general repairs, assembly, carpentry and decorating are entirely unregulated.
Quick answers
How do I find my first handyman clients in The Close?
Many handymen in The Close start with flat-pack assembly and small repair jobs sourced through local referrals, community groups and word-of-mouth, building up to larger regular clients over time.
Do I need insurance to start a handyman business in The Close?
Public liability insurance isn't a legal requirement for a sole trader, but it's strongly recommended given the range of jobs involved, across The Close and Chichester. Employers' liability insurance is a legal requirement once you employ any staff.
Can a handyman in The Close remove a load-bearing wall?
No -- structural work such as removing or altering a load-bearing wall needs Building Regulations approval and typically a structural engineer's calculations, wherever you're working, including The Close. A handyman should refer this on rather than attempt it.
What should a handyman in The Close do if they suspect asbestos?
Treat any building built or refurbished before roughly 2000 as potentially containing asbestos. Never drill, sand, cut or remove suspected material -- stop work and advise the client to get a professional survey, whether you're in The Close or anywhere else.