The posting
Location: Field-based across London Terms: Self-employed Pay: £150–£180 per day, depending on skills and experience Working hours: 8am–5pm or 9am–6pm, depending on the agreed schedule
Know your trade. Take pride in your finish.
Optimal Maintenance & Refurbishment is looking for an experienced trade professional with strong multi-trade skills who can diagnose problems, make sound decisions and deliver work to a consistently high standard.
You should bring depth in a core trade—such as carpentry or plumbing—alongside the ability to handle a wider range of property repairs. We’re interested in people who understand how things should be fitted, why faults happen and how to achieve a lasting repair.
Whether you’re hanging a door, repairing a window, tracing a leak or finishing a bathroom, you should know what a professional result looks like and take responsibility for achieving it.
A varied workload across London
You’ll work in occupied homes, vacant properties and refurbishment projects for property managers, estate agents, housing associations and private clients.
Some days may involve five to seven smaller jobs. Other days you could spend a full day on one assignment or two to three days completing more involved work. Schedules will reflect the complexity of the jobs and travel involved.
You’ll need to move confidently between fault-finding, repairs, installations and finishing work, while keeping clients and our office team informed.
What you’ll do
- Assess faults properly and identify their cause before starting repairs.
- Complete work to the agreed scope, with care and attention to the finished result.
- Select suitable materials and estimate realistic labour time and quantities.
- Provide clear information for further quotes, including the proposed solution, materials and time required.
- Recognise the limits of your competence and request specialist support when needed.
- Plan your day, source materials efficiently and attend agreed appointments reliably.
- Use Optimal’s platform to follow your calendar, submit daily updates and upload clear before-and-after photographs.
- Report unexpected issues promptly and obtain agreement before changing the scope.
- Protect the property, work safely and leave the area clean and tidy.
- Check your work before completion and take ownership of any workmanship issues
What you’ll bring
- Substantial hands-on experience in property maintenance, repairs or refurbishment.
- Strong skills in a core trade, supported by practical ability across other trades.
- Examples and references demonstrating work you personally completed.
- Relevant trade qualifications or evidence of equivalent practical experience, plus any specific qualifications required for your work.
- The ability to work independently, solve problems and explain your recommendations clearly.
- Your own suitable tools.
- A valid driving licence suitable for driving in the UK and confidence travelling across London.
- Good spoken and written English and a professional manner with clients and residents.
- Confidence using a smartphone for schedules, reports and photographs.
- A CSCS card, fire-door training and experience working in occupied properties are advantages.
Electrical, gas and other specialist work must only be undertaken where you hold the appropriate competence and qualifications.
Requirements
We don’t expect everyone to be a specialist in every trade. We do expect proven ability in your strongest trade and competent, professional delivery across several others.
Relevant experience includes:
- Carpentry and joinery: Accurately fitting and repairing doors, frames, locks, ironmongery, skirting, architraves and kitchen units.
- Fire doors: For candidates undertaking this work, demonstrable experience installing and maintaining fire-door assemblies, with an understanding of applicable requirements, manufacturer instructions, seals, closers and correct fitting.
- Windows: Diagnosing and repairing problems with hinges, handles, locks, seals and alignment, and recognising when specialist repair or replacement is required.
- Plumbing: Tracing leaks, repairing pipework, replacing taps, wastes and sanitary fittings, and checking completed work thoroughly.
- Kitchens and bathrooms: Fitting units and fixtures, completing repairs and coordinating the sequence of work to achieve a sound, tidy finish.
- Finishing trades: Tiling, patch plastering, decorating, sealing and making good with close attention to detail.
- General maintenance: Diagnosing faults and completing durable repairs across a range of property types.
Benefits
- £150–£180 per day, depending on skills and experience.
- Varied work that makes use of your trade knowledge and practical ability.
- Office support with bookings, access and client communication.
- Training on Optimal’s standards, platform and reporting processes.
- Opportunities to demonstrate your capabilities through more involved assignments.
- A team that values reliable professionals and takes workmanship seriously.
