PLANNED RESIDENTIAL WORK · LONDON PRICE GUIDE
Plumbing and Heating Costs in London
Planned London plumbing work typically starts with a £150 minimum job charge excluding VAT. For broader budgeting, Growchance uses an indicative labour range of £60 – £95 per person per hour.
Fixed task or project pricing is normally more useful than an hourly calculation. The final cost depends on the installation, service routes, access, products, floor construction and required making good.
Indicative London planning guidance reviewed in September 2026. All prices exclude VAT. A site assessment and written quotation are required before the final scope and price can be confirmed.
QUICK COST OVERVIEW
Typical plumbing and heating prices in London.
The figures below provide an initial budgeting reference for planned residential work. They are not emergency callout rates or fixed quotations.
All prices exclude VAT. Unless stated otherwise, the main customer-facing product is separate, while ordinary connectors, fittings, fixings and installation materials are included.
| Planned work | Guide price ex VAT | Pricing basis |
|---|---|---|
| Replace WC in the same position | £150 – £250 | Labour and normal connection materials; WC product separate. |
| Install or relocate a basin | £180 – £360 | Includes short water-supply and waste alterations; basin and taps separate. |
| Install a bath in a prepared position | £225 – £360 | Bath, taps and panel separate; preparation and finishes priced independently where required. |
| Shower tray and waste installation | £270 – £540 | Tray product, waterproofing, tiling and enclosure installation are separate unless included in the quotation. |
| Relocate WC or form a new soil connection | £720 – £1,350 | Conventional house with a practical route; major soil-stack, structural or difficult-access work is separate. |
| New external soil-pipe route | £810 – £1,620 | Subject to route, height, access, scaffolding and the existing drainage arrangement. |
| Replace radiator in the same position | £90 – £180 | Labour guidance; radiator and decorative valves normally supplied separately. |
| Install a new radiator with nearby pipework | £225 – £405 | Labour and standard nearby pipework; radiator product separate. |
| Wet underfloor heating | £75 – £135/m² | Depends on open-floor versus retrofit construction. Manifold, controls, screed and floor finishes are assessed separately. |
| Straightforward combi boiler replacement | £1,900 – £2,850 | Indicative supplied-and-installed range for the same position, subject to survey and the Gas Safe specialist’s quotation. |
LABOUR AND MINIMUM CHARGES
How Growchance prices planned plumbing work.
A minimum charge covers the practical cost of arranging a planned visit, travelling across London, assessing the installation and completing the agreed work safely.
For clearly defined installations, a fixed task or project price normally takes precedence over multiplying an hourly rate.
The minimum normally applies when Growchance attends for one standalone planned plumbing task.
Per person, per hour. Used for budgeting where the duration cannot yet be defined reliably.
Per person. Suitable only where the agreed scope reasonably fits within a half-day visit.
Per person. Heating or regulated specialist work will normally sit toward the upper end or be quoted separately.
The preferred approach
Price the complete task rather than the visible fitting alone.
Replacing a WC, moving a basin or installing a radiator involves more than placing the final product. The quotation may need to allow for isolation, draining, new connections, testing, access and basic installation materials.
Where the route or existing services are uncertain, Growchance may provide a provisional allowance and confirm the final scope after inspection or opening-up.
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The fitting or system being installed Including product requirements and installation instructions.
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Existing supply, waste and heating routes Retained positions normally cost less than creating new routes.
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Access and floor construction Suspended timber floors and concrete floors create very different working conditions.
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Testing and required making good Finishing trades remain separate unless the quotation specifically includes them.
A washing-machine or dishwasher connection may use the lower task range when Growchance is already completing other plumbing work at the property.
Growchance would not travel across London solely for a £65 appliance connection. The minimum planned-job charge would apply before VAT and any project-specific expenses.
TOILETS, BASINS, SINKS AND TAPS
Sanitaryware installation costs.
Replacing a fitting in its existing position is normally more predictable than relocating it. Moving a WC, basin or sink can require new supply pipes, waste routes, floor access and additional making good.
The ranges below include labour and normal installation materials. The main WC, basin, sink or tap product is separate unless the quotation states otherwise.
Replace a WC
£150 – £250 ex VATLabour and normal connection materials for a conventional replacement using the existing practical water and soil positions. The WC product is separate.
Install a new WC
£225 – £360 ex VATSuitable where practical water and soil connections already exist nearby. Longer drainage routes or changes to the soil system are priced separately.
Replace a basin
£110 – £200 ex VATFor a conventional replacement using suitable existing supply and waste positions. The basin, taps, waste fitting and furniture are separate unless specified.
Install or relocate a basin
£180 – £360 ex VATIncludes short water-supply and waste alterations where a suitable route is available. Significant floor, wall or drainage work is assessed separately.
Additional fitting costs
All figures exclude VAT| Planned work | Guide price | Typical basis |
|---|---|---|
| Replace kitchen sink | £145 – £250 | Sink and tap products are separate. Worktop alterations or cabinet changes are not included. |
| Replace basin or kitchen taps | £95 – £150 | Tap product separate. Restricted access, seized fittings or unsuitable pipework can increase the cost. |
| Local hot/cold supply alteration | £135 – £270 per point | For a practical local route. Floor access and subsequent finishes are separate where required. |
| New nearby hot/cold supply point | £120 – £225 | Subject to the existing supply, isolation and an accessible route to the intended fitting. |
BATHS, SHOWERS AND APPLIANCES
Installation costs depend on what is already prepared.
A fitting installed into prepared and correctly positioned services costs less than work requiring new supply pipes, waste routes, waterproofing or changes to the surrounding finishes.
The prices below cover the stated plumbing work and normal installation materials. The main products and finishing trades remain separate unless included in the quotation.
Bath installation
£225 – £360Installation into a prepared position. Bath, taps, panel, waterproofing and surrounding finishes are separate.
Shower mixer or controls
£135 – £315Mixer or control product separate. Concealed systems, restricted access and wall repairs can increase the scope.
Shower tray and waste
£270 – £540Tray product separate. Assumes a practical waste route and suitable prepared support beneath the tray.
New waste connection
£135 – £315For a basin, bath or shower where a suitable drainage route and fall can be achieved.
Smaller connection rates apply within a larger agreed project.
For connection to suitable existing services while Growchance is completing other agreed work at the property.
For connection to suitable existing services within a wider kitchen or plumbing project.
PIPEWORK, WASTE AND DRAINAGE
Route complexity matters more than pipe length alone.
Three metres of accessible pipework is materially different from three metres routed beneath finished flooring, through restricted voids or around structural joists.
Growchance therefore prices most work using the fixture or point, route complexity and required access rather than relying on a simple linear-metre calculation.
Principal pricing method
Fixture or point + route complexity + accessThe connection
What is being supplied or drained, its required pipe size and how it connects to the existing system.
The route
Distance, drainage fall, bends, obstacles and whether the route is internal, external or concealed.
The access
Floor construction, wall openings, working height and the amount of protection and reinstatement required.
Typical pipework and access costs
All figures exclude VAT| Planned work | Guide price | Pricing basis |
|---|---|---|
| Move hot/cold supplies locally | £135 – £270 per point | Practical local route to one fixture. |
| New nearby supply point | £120 – £225 | Subject to isolation and accessible existing supplies. |
| Accessible water pipe run | £18 – £32/lm | Used only where linear-metre pricing is appropriate. |
| Basin, bath or shower waste | £135 – £315 | One practical connection with a suitable drainage fall. |
| Accessible waste-pipe run | £25 – £45/lm | Accessible 32, 40 or 50 mm waste route where appropriate. |
| Local floorboard access | £90 – £225 per area | Lift and reinstate suitable local floorboards. |
| Larger floorboard access | £14 – £27/m² | Subject to flooring type and reinstatement condition. |
| Basic pipe boxing | £45 – £75/lm | Basic timber and board construction; final decoration separate. |
| Basic local making good | £60 – £180 per area | Small local service opening only; full finishes are separate. |
RADIATOR INSTALLATION COSTS
What does it cost to install or move a radiator?
Radiator costs depend on whether the existing pipe positions can be retained, whether new heating pipework is required and how readily the floor or wall construction can be accessed.
The following figures are Growchance planning ranges for residential work in London. They exclude VAT and the cost of the radiator or decorative valves unless stated otherwise.
Replace in the same position
£90 – £180Labour for a straightforward like-for-like radiator replacement where the existing connections remain usable and no significant pipework alteration is required.
Add a new radiator nearby
£225 – £405Labour for adding a radiator where a suitable nearby heating circuit can be extended and the proposed position is reasonably accessible.
Relocate an existing radiator
£225 – £450Labour for moving a radiator and altering its connections. Longer routes, difficult floor access and additional making good can raise the final cost.
MULTIPLE-RADIATOR WORK
Several radiators can usually be planned as one coordinated job.
These are labour planning ranges for accessible, coordinated replacements. The radiators themselves are priced separately. Ordinary system balancing can be included where it forms part of a suitable multi-radiator or wider heating project.
Radiator and valve choice
Standard panel radiators, column radiators and designer models can require different brackets, valves, handling and pipe alignment.
Floor access
Suspended timber floors are often easier to access than tiled, concrete or finished floors where concealed routes must be planned carefully.
Heating pipework
Accessible heating pipe installation is typically allowed at approximately £18 – £32 per linear metre where linear-metre pricing is appropriate.
Making good
Local access and basic making good may be included or separately allowed. Full plastering, flooring repairs and decorating remain separate finishing work.
WET UNDERFLOOR HEATING COSTS
How much does wet underfloor heating cost?
Wet underfloor heating uses warm water circulating through pipework beneath the floor. It is most straightforward to install while a floor is already being constructed or substantially renovated.
Growchance prices wet systems only. Electric underfloor heating is outside this plumbing and heating cost guide, although electrical coordination may still be required.
Open floor or extension installation
£75 – £100/m²A planning range for installation within a suitable open-floor or extension build-up where the system can be coordinated with insulation, pipe fixing and the proposed screed construction.
Retrofit or low-profile system
£90 – £135/m²Retrofit systems usually require more detailed planning around finished floor height, door clearances, existing substrates and connections to the wider heating system.
MANIFOLD AND CONTROLS
The distribution and control system is priced separately.
Small existing-manifold project
For a suitable small project using an existing manifold, Growchance would normally apply a minimum planning allowance of approximately £900.
New manifold or control zone
Projects requiring a new manifold or dedicated control zone typically start from approximately £1,350 before additional building or floor-construction work.
Larger installations
For larger or more involved areas, an early planning allowance of approximately £90 – £125/m² may be more realistic once system components and coordination are considered.
System design
Pipe spacing, circuit lengths, room heat loss, water temperature and finished-floor resistance must suit the property and the selected heating system.
SCOPE CHECK
What the underfloor-heating allowance includes — and what remains separate.
Normally included
- Specified heating pipework
- Normal pipe-fixing components
- Connection to the agreed manifold arrangement
- Specified actuators and heating controls
- Pressure testing before the floor is closed
- System balancing and commissioning
Normally priced separately
- Removal of existing finished floors
- Structural floor alterations
- Insulation upgrades
- Screed, levelling and drying time
- New finished flooring
- Boiler or heat-pump replacement
- Substantial electrical work
BOILER INSTALLATION COSTS
How much does boiler installation cost in London?
Boiler installation cost depends on whether the appliance remains in the same position, whether the existing system type changes and how much new gas, water, heating, condensate or flue work is required.
The following are supply-and-install planning ranges for suitable residential projects. The final specification must be based on the property, system demand and selected boiler.
| Boiler project | Guide price ex VAT | Typical scope |
|---|---|---|
| Straightforward combi replacement | £1,900 – £2,850 | Replacement combi boiler in the same general position where the existing routes and installation conditions remain suitable. |
| Combi boiler relocation | £2,700 – £4,050 | Relocation requiring alterations to the gas, heating, water, condensate and flue arrangements. |
| New boiler with significant new routes | £2,700 – £4,500 | Installation involving substantial new service routes or more involved access and coordination. |
| Regular or system boiler converted to combi | £3,150 – £4,500 | Conversion involving removal or alteration of the former cylinder-related arrangement and changes to system pipework. |
SUPPORTING ITEMS
Additional work depends on the selected boiler and existing installation.
These items should only be added where the installation genuinely requires them. A project-specific quotation should identify the agreed boiler, controls, flue arrangement and system preparation.
Simple flue work
£225 – £540Where an additional straightforward flue allowance is required beyond the agreed standard installation arrangement.
Wired or wireless controls
£135 – £225Standard compatible heating controls, subject to the selected boiler and the electrical requirements of the installation.
Smart thermostat
£180 – £315Supply and installation of a suitable smart-control arrangement where it is compatible with the boiler and heating system.
Associated chemical clean
£225 – £405A system-cleaning allowance where required as part of the agreed boiler or heating installation.
Important scope boundary: Growchance does not offer boiler servicing, boiler-repair call-outs or a separate Gas Safe sign-off service. Boiler installation is undertaken as an agreed installation project. Unvented-cylinder work is not included in the service or pricing on this page.
UNDERSTANDING THE GUIDE PRICES
What is included in these plumbing and heating costs?
A useful cost guide must make the boundary between installation, products and surrounding building work clear. Otherwise, two prices that appear similar may cover very different scopes.
Unless a section states otherwise, the figures on this page exclude VAT and should be treated as initial London planning ranges rather than fixed quotations.
Normally included in a fixture-installation price
- Installation labour for the agreed task
- Normal connectors and small plumbing fittings
- Normal fixings appropriate to the installation
- Isolation valves where required for the agreed connection
- Ordinary sealants and sanitary silicone
- Connection and basic operational checks
- Normal small quantities of installation waste
Normally supplied or priced separately
- Main products such as toilets, basins, baths, showers, taps and radiators
- Designer or specialist valves and visible accessories
- Boiler or underfloor-heating equipment unless stated otherwise
- Large-item removal and disposal
- Extensive new pipe or waste routes
- Structural alterations and joist work
- Waterproofing, tiling, flooring and full plastering
- Decorating and specialist finishing work
PRICING PRINCIPLES
The agreed scope matters more than a headline rate.
Growchance normally uses a fixed task or project price once the required work, access conditions and product responsibilities are understood.
Minimum job charge
A minimum planned plumbing charge of £150 can apply where a small standalone task would not reasonably cover travel, setup and attendance through hourly pricing alone.
Product responsibility
The quotation should confirm whether Growchance or the client is supplying each main product and who is responsible for checking its specification before installation.
Access and parking
Parking and Congestion Charge costs may be added where genuinely incurred. A ULEZ charge is only added if an actual project-related charge arises.
Waste and disposal
Normal small installation waste may be included. Disposal of sanitaryware, radiators, rubble or other substantial waste should be identified separately.
ACCESS, MAKING GOOD AND FINISHES
What additional work can affect the final cost?
Plumbing and heating installations often require access through floors, walls or boxed areas. The pipework may be only one part of the overall project cost.
Where surrounding building work is required, it should be identified separately so the quotation clearly explains what will be opened, altered and reinstated.
Local floorboard access
£90 – £225 per areaA planning allowance for carefully lifting and reinstating a limited accessible area of suitable floorboards to reach services below. Finished-floor repairs remain separate.
Larger floorboard access
£14 – £27/m²An area-based allowance may be appropriate where a larger accessible section must be opened. Board condition and the existing floor covering can change the required method.
Basic pipe boxing
£45 – £75/lmA simple boxing allowance for suitable exposed service routes. Detailed joinery, access panels, tiling and decorative finishes can require separate pricing.
Basic local making good
£60 – £180 per areaA limited allowance for ordinary local making good after agreed access work. It does not represent complete plastering, decorating or invisible restoration of every finish.
Waste-pipe installation
£25 – £45/lmWhere linear-metre pricing is suitable for an accessible waste route. Connections, changes of direction, falls and difficult access may require task-based pricing instead.
Water or heating pipework
£18 – £32/lmA planning range for suitable accessible pipe runs. Concealed, unusually complex or extensively routed services should be assessed as part of the complete project.
SEPARATE WORKSTREAMS
Some work should not be hidden inside a plumbing allowance.
Separating these items makes it easier to understand responsibility, sequence the trades correctly and compare the scope of different quotations.
Structural or joist alterations
Structural timber work, significant notching or drilling, and alterations requiring professional design must be assessed separately.
Waterproofing and tiling
Tanking, tile preparation, tile supply and installation remain separate from the plumbing connection price.
Plastering and decorating
Complete wall or ceiling repairs, skimming, preparation and final painting should be priced under the relevant finishing scope.
Flooring and specialist finishes
Finished-floor removal, matching, replacement and specialist surface repairs are not assumed within plumbing installation rates.
PROPERTY TYPE AND EXISTING CONDITIONS
How does the property affect plumbing and heating costs?
The same visible plumbing task can require very different work in different properties. Pipe routes, floor construction, communal restrictions and the condition of existing services all influence the final price.
Property type should therefore be used to understand access and technical risk — not as an automatic percentage added to every quotation.
Victorian and Edwardian houses
Older London houses may contain several generations of pipework, altered floorboards and historic service routes. Suspended timber floors can provide useful access, but previous notching, mixed pipe materials and fragile finishes may increase investigation and making good.
London flats and apartments
Flats can involve concrete floors, limited vertical routes, neighbouring properties and restrictions on working hours or isolating shared services. Leasehold or management approval may also be required before some alterations proceed.
Modern houses and developments
Modern construction can offer more predictable service layouts, but concealed distribution systems, proprietary components and lightweight walls still require careful identification before drilling, cutting or altering connections.
Extensions and major renovations
Plumbing and heating work is often most efficient when coordinated before floors, walls and ceilings are closed. New kitchens, bathrooms, utility spaces and wet underfloor heating can then be planned as part of one construction sequence.
COST-SENSITIVE CONDITIONS
Four conditions commonly change the required scope.
These conditions do not always make a project expensive, but they should be identified before a fixed quotation is prepared.
Concealed routes
Pipework hidden beneath tiled floors, inside finished walls or behind fitted units can require more careful access and reinstatement.
Distance to services
Moving a fitting further from suitable water, heating, waste or soil connections increases the amount of routing and coordination.
Existing system condition
Corroded valves, unsuitable pipe sizes, poor previous alterations or unreliable isolation points can change what is required for a dependable installation.
Occupied-property protection
Working around residents, retained finishes and furnished rooms can require additional protection, sequencing and daily reinstatement.
TYPICAL WORKING PROGRAMMES
How long does plumbing and heating work take?
Straightforward replacements may be completed within one visit, while altered service routes, several fixtures or a heating-system change can require a coordinated programme over several days.
The following are working-time guides. They do not automatically include drying periods, separate finishing trades, product lead times or approvals.
WHAT CHANGES THE PROGRAMME?
Installation time depends on more than the visible fitting.
Access, testing, product compatibility and coordination with other trades can be as important as the physical connection work.
Service isolation
Existing valves and isolation points must operate reliably. Wider draining or temporary shutdowns can extend the working period.
Product readiness
Incorrect, damaged or incomplete products can stop installation. Dimensions and connection requirements should be checked in advance.
Access and making good
Opening floors or walls, forming routes and reinstating finishes can require more time than a straightforward exposed connection.
Trade coordination
Waterproofing, screeding, tiling, electrical work, plastering and decorating must be sequenced around the plumbing installation.
Completed Growchance project
REAL PROJECT — CAMDEN, LONDON
A complete new bathroom created within an existing home.
Growchance transformed a small first-floor cupboard and part of an adjoining bedroom into a new bathroom. This required more than connecting sanitaryware to existing points.
The completed work included a revised internal layout, new plumbing and drainage, an external soil-pipe route, ventilation, electrical work, waterproofing, tiling and final installation.
It demonstrates why the cost of creating a bathroom in a new position must be assessed as a coordinated building project, rather than priced as a simple WC, basin or bath replacement.
The £8,900 figure covers the complete bathroom project. It is not a plumbing-only cost and should not be used as a fixed allowance for another property. Building Control fees were not included in the recorded project price.
CONNECTED SERVICES AND GUIDES
Continue planning your plumbing or renovation project.
Use this page for broad plumbing and heating budget research. The connected pages below explain complete service delivery, wider renovation costs and a real completed Growchance project.
Each page retains a distinct purpose so that service, cost and project evidence remain clear.
PLANNED INSTALLATION SERVICE
Plumbing and Heating Services in London
Explore Growchance’s planned residential plumbing and heating service for sanitaryware, pipework, drainage alterations, radiators, wet underfloor heating and coordinated boiler installation.
Bathroom Renovation London
Complete bathroom delivery involving plumbing, waterproofing, tiling, electrical coordination, sanitaryware installation and finishing.
Kitchen Renovation London
Coordinated kitchen renovation including altered plumbing, appliance connections, electrical work, installation and finishing.
Bathroom Renovation Cost Guide
Plan the complete cost of a London bathroom renovation rather than treating plumbing fixtures as the whole project budget.
Camden Additional Bathroom Project
See how Growchance coordinated new plumbing, drainage, ventilation, waterproofing, tiling and installation within an existing London home.
PLUMBING AND HEATING QUESTIONS
Useful answers before you request a quotation.
These answers explain how Growchance approaches planned residential plumbing and heating work, guide prices, products, VAT and connected building work.
Discuss Your Project01 How much does a plumber cost per hour in London?
Growchance uses a planning range of approximately £60 – £95 per person per hour, excluding VAT. Fixed task or project pricing is normally clearer once the required work and access conditions are understood. A minimum planned plumbing charge of £150 may apply to small standalone jobs.
02 Are sanitaryware and radiators included in the guide prices?
Unless a section specifically says otherwise, the main product is priced separately. Installation prices can include normal connectors, small fittings, fixings, isolation valves, sealants and silicone needed for the agreed task.
03 Are the prices on this page inclusive of VAT?
No. The guide prices on this page exclude VAT unless a specific project example expressly states otherwise. VAT should be added at the applicable rate.
04 Why can moving a toilet cost more than replacing one?
Moving a toilet can require a new soil connection, suitable falls, floor or wall access, ventilation consideration and additional making good. A same-position replacement does not usually require this wider alteration work.
05 Does Growchance provide emergency plumbing or boiler repairs?
No. Growchance focuses on planned residential installation and alteration work. The service does not include 24-hour emergency plumbing, isolated boiler-repair call-outs, boiler servicing, specialist leak detection or drain jetting.
06 Who completes regulated gas work?
Regulated gas work forming part of a Growchance project is carried out, commissioned and certified by a suitably qualified Gas Safe registered subcontractor. The registered installer handles the required Building Regulations notification for the boiler installation.
07 Can Growchance install wet underfloor heating?
Yes, where the floor construction, heating source and controls are suitable. The system must be coordinated with insulation, floor height, screed or overlay construction and the final floor finish. Growchance prices wet systems only.
08 Is plastering, tiling or decorating included after alterations?
Basic local making good may be allowed where agreed, but complete plastering, waterproofing, tiling, flooring and decorating are separate workstreams. The quotation should describe exactly what will be reinstated.
09 Can Growchance quote from photographs?
Photographs and product details can help with an initial review. Work involving concealed routes, relocation, heating changes or several trades may require a site assessment before a reliable fixed quotation is prepared.
10 Where can I see Growchance’s plumbing and heating service?
Visit the Plumbing and Heating Services London page for the service scope, project approach, exclusions and enquiry information.
DISCUSS YOUR PROJECT
Planning plumbing or heating work in London?
Tell us about the property and the planned installation or alteration. Growchance can review the available information and discuss the appropriate next step for your residential project.
- Your property
- Share the London postcode, property type and any access or parking restrictions we should consider.
- The work required
- Tell us whether the enquiry concerns sanitaryware, pipework, drainage, radiators, wet underfloor heating or a boiler installation.
- Useful details
- Include photographs, product links, room plans and the proposed positions of any new or relocated fittings.
- Your timing
- Let us know your intended programme and whether the products have already been selected, ordered or delivered.
Growchance focuses on planned residential installation and alteration work. We do not provide 24-hour emergency plumbing, boiler servicing, isolated boiler-repair call-outs, drain jetting or specialist leak detection.