What Can a Handyman Actually Do? A Perth Homeowner's Guide
- 2 days ago
- 5 min read
A good handyman is one of the most useful people a homeowner can have access to.
They handle the jobs that sit in an awkward middle ground: too involved for a Saturday afternoon DIY attempt, but not quite the right fit for a specialist trade. The problem is that most people aren't entirely sure what a handyman can and can't do, which leads to either calling someone unnecessarily expensive or attempting work that genuinely needs a licensed professional.
This guide covers what handyman services typically include in Perth, where the limits are and how to work out who to call for what.
What a handyman can do
Handyman work covers a wide range of general property maintenance, repair and minor improvement tasks. In Perth, a skilled handyman typically handles:
Carpentry and timber work
Doors that stick, won't latch or need adjustment
Replacing damaged or missing skirting boards and architraves
Repairing or replacing damaged timber cladding or weatherboards
Installing or repairing shelving
Fixing or replacing fence palings and timber fence rails
Decking repairs including replacing damaged boards and re-securing loose ones
Installing or repairing gates
General property repairs
Patching holes in walls and ceilings
Replacing cracked or broken tiles where the work is cosmetic rather than structural
Repairing damaged cornices
Caulking and sealing around windows, doors and wet areas
Replacing damaged fly screens
Fixing or replacing window locks and door hardware
Fixtures and fittings
Hanging shelves, mirrors, artwork and picture rails
Installing curtain rods, blinds and awnings
Assembling and installing flat-pack furniture
Installing towel rails, toilet roll holders and bathroom accessories
Mounting TVs and associated bracket work
Outdoor maintenance
Gutter cleaning and minor gutter repairs
Pressure washing driveways, paths and exterior surfaces
Minor concreting repairs such as filling cracks
Garden shed repairs and maintenance
Letterbox replacement or repair
Renovation support work
Preparing surfaces for painting
Minor demolition work as part of a larger renovation
Installing or adjusting cabinetry hardware
Fitting kickboards and finishing trim
What a handyman cannot do
This is where it's important to be clear, because the line between handyman work and licensed trade work matters both legally and practically in Western Australia.
Electrical work. Any electrical work beyond changing a lightbulb must be carried out by a licensed electrician registered with EnergySafety WA. This includes installing new power points, replacing light fittings that involve wiring, installing fans, and anything that involves touching the wiring in your home. DIY electrical work is illegal in WA and a leading cause of house fires.
Plumbing work. Any work on water supply lines, drainage, hot water systems or fixtures that involves connecting to the plumbing system must be carried out by a licensed plumber under the Plumbers Licensing Act 1995 (WA). A handyman can replace a showerhead or tap aerator in most cases, but anything beyond the most minor fixture change requires a licensed plumber.
Gas work. All gas fitting work must be carried out by a licensed gas fitter under the Gas Standards Act 1972 (WA). No exceptions.
Structural building work. Work that affects load-bearing walls, structural elements or the building's footprint must be carried out by or under the supervision of a registered building practitioner under the Building Services (Registration) Act 2011.
Waterproofing in wet areas. Waterproofing in bathrooms, laundries and other wet areas must comply with AS 3740 and is subject to mandatory building inspection under the Building Act 2011 (WA). This is not handyman work.
The Building and Energy division of DMIRS provides clear guidance on what work requires a licensed professional in WA. If you're unsure, it's worth checking before work starts rather than after.
The grey area: what about minor plumbing tasks?
This is a question that comes up often. The honest answer is that WA has a relatively strict approach to what requires a licensed plumber compared to some other states.
Under the Plumbers Licensing Act 1995 (WA), the definition of plumbing work that requires a licence is broad. Replacing a tap washer or a showerhead rose without touching any supply connections is generally considered minor maintenance. Replacing a toilet, connecting a new basin or doing anything that involves the supply or drainage pipework requires a licensed plumber.
If you have any doubt, call a licensed plumber. The cost of getting it wrong, either through damage caused by work done incorrectly or through insurance issues at the time of a claim or property sale, is significantly higher than the cost of doing it properly in the first place.
When to call a handyman vs when to call a specialist
A useful way to think about it:
Call a handyman for jobs that involve general repair, maintenance, carpentry, fixing things that are broken or worn, and minor improvement work that doesn't touch the licensed trade areas above.
Call a licensed specialist for anything involving electricity, plumbing, gas, structural building work or waterproofing in wet areas.
Call a renovation team for larger projects that involve multiple trades working in sequence, such as a kitchen, bathroom or laundry renovation, where coordination across plumbing, carpentry, tiling and finishing work is needed.
Many homeowners find it useful to have a handyman and a renovation team they trust and can call on for different things. The handyman handles the ongoing maintenance and minor repairs. The renovation team handles projects that need trades coordination and a more structured scope of works.
Handyman services for investment properties
Landlords in Perth often find handyman services particularly useful for maintaining investment properties between tenancies and addressing minor maintenance issues raised by tenants during a lease.
Under the Residential Tenancies Act 1987 (WA), landlords are required to maintain premises in a reasonable state of repair. The Consumer Protection division of DMIRS is clear that this obligation is ongoing, not just at the start of a tenancy. Staying on top of minor repairs through a reliable handyman is a practical way to meet this obligation without letting small issues become larger ones.
Common investment property handyman tasks include repairing doors and windows that tenants report as faulty, replacing damaged fly screens, fixing fence panels, patching walls between tenancies, and carrying out minor carpentry repairs that keep the property in good condition.
What makes a good handyman
The things worth looking for when choosing a handyman for your Perth property:
Genuine breadth of skills. A good handyman is competent across carpentry, general repairs, outdoor maintenance and minor renovation work. Someone who specialises in only one or two areas is more of a specialist than a handyman.
Clarity about what they won't do. A trustworthy handyman is clear about where their scope ends and where a licensed trade is needed. One who takes on electrical or plumbing work without the right licence is a risk to you as the property owner.
Reliable communication. Showing up when they say they will and letting you know if something changes is basic professionalism. It's also, unfortunately, not universal. References from other clients are the best way to assess this before you experience it yourself.
Transparent pricing. Whether they charge by the hour or by the job, the pricing should be clear upfront. Ask how variations are handled if additional work is identified once they're on site.
This & That provides handyman services across Perth alongside renovation, plumbing and property maintenance work. One team, one point of contact for everything your property needs. Visit thisandthat.com.au to find out more, request a quote here or call 0487 606 491 to talk through what you need done.
