I put up Christmas lights for other people — business is booming for my holiday side hustle

An electrician is keeping busy this festive season with a new side hustle — putting up other people’s Christmas lights.

Josh Thornton, 28, came up with the business idea last year after he helped a family decorate their house for Diwali.

They said the dad usually put the lights up himself but was ill and it would have been dangerous for him to try to get on the roof.

So Josh, from Selsdon, south London, stepped in — and quickly realized he had found a niche.

Encouraged by his wife Courtney, 26, Josh decided to post on social media to see if anyone else in the area wanted him to put their Christmas lights up — and things quickly took off.

This year he’s already booked in to do nearly 50 houses — and the appointments “keep coming in.”

Josh, who has been an electrician for 10 years, typically charges £100 ($127) per house — and offers to take the lights down for an extra £50 ($63) in the New Year.

He says lots of his customers are families who don’t want their dads going up on the roof in case something happens to them — or people who have always wanted to decorate their houses but never managed to get around to it.

Josh said: “It’s a good side hustle as Courtney and I have been saving for a house for a while — so it’s going towards that.

“But the most special thing is seeing the looks on these kids’ faces when their houses light up for the first time.

“I think a lot of people want to have their houses decorated but are just thinking it’s better to have a qualified professional sorting the electrics. So I’m happy to offer that.

“I just want to put a smile on people’s faces over the holiday period.

“It’s all about spreading joy one light at a time.”

Josh has been so touched by the community reaction that he is hoping to find some ways to give back soon.

He said: “We’re looking to do some competitions on social media so some people can get their lights put up for free.

“I’ll admit, my weekends are filling up so fast that I’m having to do some of the bookings before or after work — but I’ll be sure to make time.

“I don’t like to say no when it comes to Christmas. I just want to do this for as many people as possible.”

Josh is currently taking bookings on his Facebook page “The Christmas Light Guy.”