UK
Tradespeople and home repair in the UK
Builders, plumbers, electricians, roofers and more. What to check in the UK, our guides for this section, and a quick way to get quotes.
What matters in the UK
Key points from our guides. Each card links to the full section.
Gas work: Gas Safe Register
Anyone working on gas appliances, boilers, gas fires or gas pipework in the UK must by law be on the Gas Safe Register . This is the one check you should never skip.
From: Hiring tradespeople and professionals in the UKElectrical work: NICEIC, NAPIT and Part P
In England and Wales, much electrical work in homes falls under Part P of the Building Regulations. Larger jobs, such as a new circuit or a consumer unit replacement, must either be notified to Building Control or carried out by an electrician registered with a competent person scheme .
From: Hiring tradespeople and professionals in the UKWindows and doors: FENSA and similar schemes
Replacing windows and external doors in England and Wales must meet Building Regulations. Installers registered with a competent person scheme such as FENSA can certify their own work. You should receive a certificate afterwards. As with electrics, keep it for when you sell.
From: Hiring tradespeople and professionals in the UKBuilding Control and planning
Two separate systems apply to building work, and they are often confused.
From: Hiring tradespeople and professionals in the UKTrustMark and trade bodies
TrustMark is a government-endorsed quality scheme for tradespeople working in and around the home. Registered businesses have been checked against standards covering technical skill, customer service and trading practices, and TrustMark offers a complaints process.
From: Hiring tradespeople and professionals in the UKRating and review sites
A number of UK websites list local trades with customer reviews and some level of vetting. They can be a useful starting point, but treat them as one source among several:
From: Hiring tradespeople and professionals in the UKQuotes, estimates and payment norms
In the UK, a quote is normally understood as a fixed price for the work described, while an estimate is a best guess that can change. If you want a fixed price, ask for a written quote and check it says so. Our guide to getting quotes explains how to compare them line by line.
From: Hiring tradespeople and professionals in the UKYour rights as a consumer
Under the Consumer Rights Act, when you pay a trader for a service, the work must be carried out with reasonable care and skill . If no price or timescale was agreed, it should be done for a reasonable price and within a reasonable time.
From: Hiring tradespeople and professionals in the UKChecks in the UK
There is no single licence for builders in the UK, so the work falls on you to check memberships and paperwork.
From: How to vet a builder or general contractor before you hireGet quotes from local tradespeople in the UK
Describe the job once and hear back from tradespeople near you. Then use the checks in our guides on whoever replies.