Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Business
Jake Meeus-Jones & John Bett

'I rent hubby out to do odd jobs for women - he's booked up for weeks at £40 a pop'

A savvy woman has started renting out her husband to other women for £40 a pop - so he can do odd jobs for them. Mum -of-three Laura Young, 38, listened to a podcast about a man who made a living putting flat pack furniture together for people and had a Eureka moment.

She thought that her husband, James, could do the same thing too - so she started offering out his services for £40 a time, advertising his skills on Facebook and the Nextdoor app. Now James is booked up for weeks and the Young family are raking it in.

He performs DIY and odd jobs for people (James Linsell-Clark/ SWNS)

What do you think of Laura's money-making hack? Let us know in the comments...

Expecting she might get a few giggles, the 42-year-old had his first client in a day, and soon James was working six days a week from 9am to 8pm.

He's been forced to turn down jobs and' Rent My Handy Husband' is now fully booked until mid-November.

Jobs include helping with putting up a TV or curtains to rebuilding a wall, and he is available to hire by anyone who needs help; men and women.

While James handles the labour side of things, Laura works on running the social accounts and website.

The business has been more successful than the couple could've imagined.

Busines is booming, and now Laura has her hands full just managing James' bookings (James Linsell-Clark/ SWNS)

The savvy couple has added a new service for the Christmas period, offering installations of festive lights, both inside and outside.

Laura said: "I never expected it to take off as much as it has.

"We've only been going four months and it got to a point where there was so much work coming in that James was working six days a week.

"We've had to start turning jobs down and reduce our hours, so now we do Monday to Friday 9am-5pm.

"We had our own building plans that we've not even started as we've just been so busy.

He does gardening, painting, decorating - you name it (James Linsell-Clark/ SWNS)

"We booked our first job for January too."

James had to give up his job working in a warehouse to be a full-time carer alongside Laura, looking after their three children, two of which have autism.

James was also diagnosed as autistic himself four years ago and has always been able to focus on things like building and construction.

Laura said: "He's really good at building things and doesn't bother with the instructions.

"So I thought this would be something he could do.

James is handy with a sander (James Linsell-Clark/ SWNS)

"James doesn't come from a trade background but his grandad was a nuclear engineer, and they think he was also on the spectrum.

"He's got a very methodical mind and can think outside the box. He sees things differently."

Within days, Laura's Facebook messages were full of people enquiring about her husband's handiwork.

The couple from Milton Keynes, Bucks, even had requests for over 150 miles away.

Laura never imagined the business would do this well (James Linsell-Clark/ SWNS)

Laura said: "The first customer needed a door frame replacing and then from there I just had people enquiring on the Facebook page.

"It went from regular flatpack to so much more, like laying a carpet and rebuilding a wall.

"We even had requests as far as Manchester, to which we told them it may be more practical to find someone closer due to the extra costs, but of course we would have done it!"

He doesn't do any electrical and plumbing services.

They don't charge per job, instead, they work by the hour at a rate of £40, or a day rate of £250.

They also offer discounts to those working in the NHS and emergency services, as well as over-65's, disabled people, carers and people on universal credit.

Laura said: "We know what it's like to be parents of children with special needs and we've known what it's like to struggle for money or have to save."

Do you have a story to sell? Get in touch with us at yourmirror@mirror.co.uk

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.