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Upper and lower colony flats in Abbeyhill

North of London Road, Abbeyhill's 'rows' are colony houses split into upper and lower homes, each with its own front door. That layout matters when a leak or blockage affects one of them.

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Editorial illustration: Upper and lower colony flats in Abbeyhill
Illustrative scene

How colony homes are arranged

In a colony, the lower flat is entered from one side and the upper flat, by an outside stair, from the other. The two homes often share a drain and sometimes a supply pipe, even though they have different addresses.

A leak in the upper flat's bathroom will usually show in the lower flat first. If you live downstairs and see water, contact the upstairs neighbour, who may be on the next street.

Tenements on the main streets

Most of the rest of Abbeyhill is Victorian and Edwardian tenements, where a shared stair and soil stack serve several flats. Tell us which kind of building you are in when you call.

Further reading and sources

General guidance for homeowners. Diagnosis and work requirements depend on your property and equipment.

RELEVANT SERVICES

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Abbeyhill area guide →

The area guide connects this article with local repair information, nearby locations and booking questions.

START WITH YOUR BUILDING

Guidance for this property layout.

Choose a guide if its layout matches your property. A neighbourhood name does not establish a home’s age, connections or repair needs.

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TRANSPARENT PRICING — CLEAR FROM THE START

Transparent plumbing prices before your visit

We’re proud to be clear about our prices. Published guide charges, a clear breakdown of what is included, and your agreement before work starts. Callout, labour, parts and materials are explained separately so you can make an informed choice.

Standard hours are 7am–7pm, Monday to Friday, excluding bank holidays. Evenings, nights, weekends and bank holidays are out of hours. All times are Edinburgh local time.

These figures are not a total job price.

Callout charges cover attendance and diagnosis only and are separate from repair labour. The service prices shown are labour charges only. Parts and materials are charged separately. No VAT is charged.

Service labour figures below are guides for standard-hours work. Out-of-hours labour is quoted separately. Where a callout applies, for urgent attendance, it is payable for attendance and diagnosis even if you decide not to proceed with a repair; confirm the applicable fee before agreeing to attendance.

Prices correct as of . Published prices are subject to change without notice for future enquiries. This does not change an accepted quotation or an agreed contract price; any additional work or price variation requires your agreement before proceeding. Read our pricing policy →

Booked a planned visit online or on WhatsApp? No callout charge. You pay only for the work you agree to, plus parts.

Callout charges and standard-hours service labour guide
ServiceGuide chargeWhat it covers
Standard-hours calloutFrom £75Attendance and diagnosis only
Out-of-hours callout£100–£180Attendance and diagnosis only
Leak detection£100–£225Detection labour only; repair separate
Burst pipe repair£125–£250Labour only
Drain unblocking£70–£180Labour only
Blocked toilet£70–£135Labour only

Ask for the callout charge, labour and any other known costs before agreeing to a visit. We will agree the total price, or how it will be calculated, before you commit; any repair, parts or additional work needs your agreement before it starts.

Leak detection does not include the repair. Boiler work requires an appropriately qualified engineer; the boiler service price does not include a separate landlord gas safety certificate. Jobs outside the listed ranges or services without a published guide require an individual quote.

Full price guide and charging details → · Call 0131 210 0505 to discuss your job

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YOUR QUESTIONS, ANSWERED

Helpful answers before you call.

Who is responsible for a shared colony drain?

Usually both owners, until it joins the public sewer. Check your title deeds.

Do I need my neighbour at home for the repair?

If the fault is in their flat, yes. Agree a time with them before we arrive.

Which local page should I use next?

Use the Abbeyhill area page and the service links below. Call with your full postcode to confirm coverage and arrival time.

DAYTIME BOOKING REQUESTS · 7AM–7PM

Prefer to book on WhatsApp?

WhatsApp booking requests are for weekday daytime visits, Monday to Friday within 7am–7pm, Edinburgh local time. One same-day slot is offered each weekday, at least 3 hours ahead; for a same-day booking, call 0131 210 0505 to confirm.

Choose an available date and then a two-hour time window in the chat. Bookings are provisional until the plumber confirms. The work and price must be discussed and agreed before work starts. Online and WhatsApp bookings are not available at weekends: for a weekend or bank holiday visit, call 0131 210 0505 (out-of-hours pricing applies). Standard rates apply Monday to Friday, excluding bank holidays. Callout, labour, parts and materials are separate charges: agree all applicable charges before committing to a visit.

LET’S TAKE THE NEXT STEP

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