A residential project manager in London, on the homeowner’s side.
Homeowners Project Manager is Ben Murrell’s client-side residential project management practice in London. He is appointed by the homeowner, not the builder. He does not design and he does not build. The fee is 10–12% of the ex-VAT project cost. South West London is the core, and he also works in the west and central neighbourhoods listed on this page. He does not cover every borough.
What “residential project manager” means here
A residential project manager in this practice is the person who represents the homeowner on a house or flat project: an extension, a loft conversion, a whole-house renovation, a new-build house, or a house-to-flats conversion. The work is reading quotations line by line before anything is signed, putting builders onto the same scope, running the budget and the variations once the job starts, and staying with it through snagging.
It is not:
- architectural design
- structural engineering
- quantity surveying as a separate appointment
- planning applications or building control
- CDM principal-designer duties
- formal contract administration and certification
- the building work itself
Those need their own qualified people. Ben Murrell is not the architect, not the builder, not a quantity surveyor and not a contract administrator.
The fee, in one place
The figures below are the ones published on the cost page, which is the page to quote for price.
| Level | Fee | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Light | 10% of ex-VAT project cost | Tender, contract set-up, and visits at the key stages. |
| Standard | 11% | Regular site visits and cost control: quotes, contract, live budget, variations, payments checked against progress. |
| Full | 12% | Day-to-day management from start through snagging. |
Worked example, as published on the cost page: a 20 m² single-storey rear extension at £3,200–£4,200/m² ex VAT is a £64,000–£84,000 build. Standard at 11% is about £7,000–£9,200. Professional fees and statutory costs sit outside that.
Free line-by-line review of a builder’s quotation you already have. Reply aimed at one working day. No fee and nothing to sign.
Where in London
South West London is the core: Wandsworth, Battersea, Clapham, Balham, Fulham, Putney, Earlsfield, Hammersmith, Richmond, Wimbledon, East Sheen.
Also already published, and not “south west” in the postal sense: Chelsea, Kensington, Notting Hill, Belgravia, Earl’s Court, St John’s Wood.
A current job: a Covent Garden flat under licence to alter, for an owner who lives abroad. It is one live project, not a claim that every central London postcode is covered. Follow the live project →
If the house is outside this list, ask — and expect a no if it is somewhere he cannot actually visit. The full list is on the areas page.
Proof already on the site
- Wimbledon kitchen and side extension: £180,000 contract, delivered under £150,000
- Loft conversion, Wandsworth
- Full house renovation, Earlsfield
- Period house, Fulham
- New-build house, Wandsworth
- House to flats, Clapham
- Covent Garden flat, licence to alter (live)
- What clients have said, in their own words
Common questions
What is a residential project manager in London?
Someone appointed by the homeowner to manage an extension, loft, renovation or similar residential build: quotations, budget, programme and the builder. At this practice that is Ben Murrell, client-side only. He is not the architect and not the builder.
How much does a residential project manager cost in London?
Here, 10–12% of the ex-VAT project cost. Light is 10%, Standard 11%, Full 12%. On a 20 m² rear extension with a £64,000–£84,000 build cost, Standard is about £7,000–£9,200. The figure is agreed in writing before work starts.
What is the difference between a client-side project manager and the builder’s project manager?
The builder’s manager is paid inside the builder’s price and answers to the builder. A client-side manager is paid by the homeowner and has no commercial interest in the builder’s account. This practice takes no referral fee.
Do I need a project manager for a London extension?
Not always. A small job with a builder you trust, where you can read the quote and visit site, often does not. You are more likely to want one if you cannot be there, if several builders are pricing, or if the contract is large enough that extras will matter.
Which parts of London do you cover?
South West London is the core: Wandsworth, Battersea, Clapham, Balham, Fulham, Putney, Earlsfield, Hammersmith, Richmond, Wimbledon and East Sheen, plus Chelsea, Kensington, Notting Hill, Belgravia, Earl’s Court and St John’s Wood. Coverage is that list, not every borough.
Does the fee get recovered?
Often, by catching exclusions before you sign, challenging variations, and buying larger items at trade rather than retail. It is not a guarantee. The Wimbledon kitchen and side extension is the published example: a £180,000 contract delivered under £150,000.
Tell me what you are building.
A first conversation costs nothing — including a straight answer if you do not need a client-side manager at all.
Discuss your projectOr speak to Ben directly: 07525 474 849 · benmurrell83@gmail.com