Find a trusted handyman in Melbourne

The odd jobs Melbourne homes keep producing

Seasonal soil movement is a fact of life in many Melbourne suburbs, and older homes on stumps feel it most. That keeps handymen busy: doors that bind in one season and rattle in the next, hairline cracks in plaster and cornices, and gaps opening up along skirting boards. A handyman can plane and rehang a door, patch and sand the cracks, and tell you when the movement looks big enough to have a builder or engineer check it.

Winter brings its own list. Draughty doors and windows in period homes let a lot of heat out, and new door seals, weatherstrips and gap filling are quick, cheap fixes. In autumn, plane trees, elms and backyard gums fill gutters fast across the inner and eastern suburbs.

Rentals, apartments and owners corporations

Plenty of Melburnians rent, and Victorian rentals let since 29 March 2021 have to meet minimum standards, covering things like window coverings in bedrooms and living areas and locks on external entry doors. Landlords and property managers often book a handyman to work through those items, along with patching, adjustments and touch-ups between tenants. Ask for an itemised invoice so each repair is on record when the next condition report is done.

In apartments, check with your owners corporation before drilling into external walls, balconies or anything else that may be common property. Mounting a TV or shelves on an internal plasterboard wall is usually straightforward, while concrete walls take longer and need the right fixings.

Where a handyman’s work stops in Victoria

Victoria has no handyman licence, but the law still draws lines. Any electrical work, including swapping a power point, needs a licensed electrician, and plumbing and gas work need a licensed plumber. Once a mixed-trade job goes over $10,000, the person running it needs BPC registration as a builder. A good handyman will say so when your list crosses one of those lines.

With no licence to look up, check the business on ABN Lookup and ask for proof of public liability insurance. Our Victorian licence checks explain which trades do need one.

Handyman rates in Melbourne

Rates here are similar to Sydney’s. Most Melbourne handymen charge around $60–$110 an hour, usually with a minimum charge of $80–$150 for the first visit. A half day typically costs $250–$500 and a full day $450–$900, which is the best value when you have a list. Mounting a TV is usually $100–$250 plus the bracket, and patching small areas of cracked plaster $150–$500.

The handyman price guide covers more small jobs and what pushes the price up.

One handyman, matched to your list

Write down the jobs and tell us the suburb. We’ll line up one local handyman, with insurance, ABN and reviews checked before the match. If part of the list needs a licensed trade, we can match that too.

Outside Melbourne? See handymen across Australia, or browse all Melbourne trades. Then get a free quote.