Walk St Paul's from St Paul's Cathedral outwards and the post-war pattern is obvious: 98% of the 4,914 households in EC4 live in flats, 2% in houses.
Owner-occupation runs at 37% in St Paul's, so alongside the 48% rental churn there is steady planned work — refurbishments, downsizes and probate clearances booked weeks ahead.
Walls are dot-and-dab plasterboard over blockwork in St Paul's, with metal stud partitions between rooms — and with 48% of homes here privately rented, it sets the booking date as often as the job does, so the fixing that matters in St Paul's is chosen on site — the usual failure here is in EC4, short screws that grip only the board and slowly lever it off the dabs — which is why City of London Corporation kerb rules get settled before the van is loaded.
Two streets can behave very differently in St Paul's: cathedral precinct, One New Change shopping and the streets running down to the Millennium Bridge. The quote reflects the street the job is actually on. St Paul's sits inside the Congestion Charge zone as well as ULEZ, so both are itemised on the quote rather than absorbed into an hourly rate.
Getting to the door matters as much as the job: pedestrianised zones and camera-enforced streets; loading needs a permit from the Corporation. St Paul's (Central) is the nearest station, and one fitter for a typical multi-item visit; two where anything crosses 30kg or has to be carried up a shared stairwell.
