James Hartley, founder of Home Renovation Manchester

James Hartley — Founder & Managing Director On site in Chorlton, where he completed his first full renovation in 2010

Our Story

Started With One Rule: Quote It Honestly or Don't Quote It

James Hartley started working in construction at 18, serving a four-year carpentry apprenticeship with a Manchester building firm before moving into site management on residential projects across South Manchester. By 2008, managing projects for other companies, he noticed a consistent pattern: clients given estimates that grew significantly once work was underway, tradespeople subcontracted to whoever was available rather than whoever was skilled, and a general approach that treated the quote as a door-opener rather than a commitment.

In 2010 — in the middle of a recession — James set up Home Renovation Manchester with a single operating rule: quote what you genuinely intend to charge, use directly employed tradespeople you'd trust to work in your own home, and never start a job you can't finish to the standard you originally sold. The first project was a kitchen and bathroom renovation in Chorlton for a teacher who'd had two other contractors walk off the job. It came in on time and on the quoted price. She's referred seven families to us since.

Fifteen years later that rule hasn't changed. We've grown from James and two tradespeople to a team of 22 directly employed staff covering every trade needed for a complete home renovation. Every project still gets a fixed written quote before a single tool is lifted. Every client still gets James's mobile number.

James Hartley

Founder & Managing Director · Home Renovation Manchester

Our History

15 Years Building Manchester

From a one-man band with a van to Greater Manchester's most reviewed home renovation company.

2010

Founded in Chorlton

James Hartley registers Home Renovation Manchester. First project: full kitchen and bathroom renovation in Chorlton. The first directly employed tradesperson joins the same year.

2012

Growing the Team

The team expands with additional directly employed tradespeople across joinery, plastering and plumbing, allowing larger whole-house projects to be taken on in-house.

2013

Full In-House Trade Set

Two plumbers join directly — ending the practice of subcontracting plumbing on kitchen and bathroom projects. For the first time: carpentry, plumbing, tiling, plastering and decoration all employed directly under one roof.

2015

100th Project & Part P Electricians

Centenary project: a full house renovation including loft conversion in Didsbury. An electrician joins as head of electrical works, completing the in-house trade set. Team grows to 12 directly employed staff.

2019

10-Year Guarantee Introduced

Coverage expanded to all Greater Manchester boroughs. The 10-year workmanship guarantee introduced — replacing the previous 5-year standard — reflecting the confidence we now have in both our tradespeople and our materials specification.

2022

500 Projects Milestone

500th project completed — a wrap-around extension and full house renovation in Sale.

2025

Team of 22 — Still Growing

22 directly employed staff. Six service specialisms: kitchens, bathrooms, loft conversions, house extensions, plastering & rendering and full house renovations. Still based in Manchester. Still the same fixed-price rule from day one.

How We Work

The Principles We Don't Compromise On

These aren't marketing statements — they're the operating rules the whole team is held to on every project, every day.

📝

Fixed Prices in Writing

Every project is quoted with a fixed, itemised price agreed in writing before work starts. If something genuinely unforeseen changes the scope, we discuss it and get written agreement before proceeding — never a surprise invoice at the end.

👮

No Subcontracting Without Permission

Every trade we quote is carried out by directly employed staff. If a specific scope element requires a specialist we don't employ in-house, we tell you in advance, manage them directly and include them in your fixed quote.

🕑

Programme Issued Before We Start

Every project gets a written programme before the first day on site — who is working, what they're doing and when each stage is expected to complete. If the programme changes, you're told the same day.

🏆

Snagging Before Final Payment

We walk through every completed project with you before requesting final payment. Every snag identified is addressed before we leave — not added to a list of items that never get done. Final payment is only due when you're satisfied.

📋

Documented Complaints Process

If something goes wrong, complaints are acknowledged within 24 hours and a resolution proposed within 48 hours, with every step confirmed in writing until it's resolved.

🏠

Manchester Is Our Only Area

We don't travel to Liverpool or Leeds chasing work. Greater Manchester is our patch — we know its housing stock, its council planning teams, its material suppliers and its weather patterns. That local depth produces better decisions on site.

Our Promise to You

What Every Client Can Expect

These commitments apply to every project we take on — from plastering a single room to building a double storey extension.

🔒 Your Quote Won't Change Without Your Sign-Off

The price in your written quote is the price you pay. If unforeseen work is discovered outside the agreed scope, we stop, explain what we've found, quote it separately and get your written approval before proceeding. No retrospective invoices, no end-of-job surprises.

🏛 Daily Tidy-Up — Every Day on Site

Every working day ends with the site tidied, tools stored and access to your home restored. Renovation in a lived-in home is stressful enough without living in a building site. Daily tidy-up is non-negotiable for our team and is part of every project brief from day one.

📋 Building Regs Certificates on Handover Day

Where your project requires Building Regulations sign-off, your Completion Certificate is provided on the day of handover — not chased for weeks afterwards. Your 10-year workmanship guarantee certificate is also issued in writing on completion.

📷 Weekly Progress Photos Throughout

For any project of two weeks or more, we provide weekly progress photos — particularly useful for recording what's behind walls and under floors before they're closed. These photos are yours to keep and are invaluable for future works. We've sent these since 2014.

⏰ We Finish What We Start

We manage our schedule to ensure every active project gets the team time it needs to finish to standard and on programme. We do not take on more projects than our team can deliver. A contractor who starts strong and tails off has simply over-committed — we don't.

The People Behind Home Renovation Manchester