Before you hire a tradesperson in the UK, confirm any scheme membership they claim on the scheme's own website, check that anyone doing gas work is on the Gas Safe Register, and get written quotes from at least three traders. Agree a written contract, avoid paying in cash or everything upfront, and remember the law says the work must be done with reasonable care and skill.
Where should I look for a trustworthy tradesperson?
Citizens Advice suggests starting with your local council. Search the council's website for "approved traders" or "Trading Standards"; some councils list approved traders directly or link to a local trusted trader scheme.
Next, try recommendation schemes. Citizens Advice names several, including TrustMark, the Consumer Codes Approval Scheme, Buy with Confidence and Which? Trusted Trader. Each may cover different areas or trades, so it is worth checking more than one.
TrustMark describes itself as the Government Endorsed Quality Scheme for work in and around the home. Businesses are vetted before they register and monitored afterwards on technical competence, customer service and trading practices. TrustMark also offers a dispute resolution process if something goes wrong.
If none of those turn anyone up, look for a trade association for the type of work you need. Many associations set standards for their members and publish member lists online.
How do I check a gas engineer is Gas Safe registered?
This is the one check that is not optional. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) says anyone employed to work on gas appliances in a home must be Gas Safe registered and competent in that area of gas work.
Every registered engineer carries a Gas Safe ID card showing their photo, a licence number and the types of gas work they are qualified to do. To check it:
- Online: enter the licence number from the card into the "Check an Engineer" service on the Gas Safe Register website. You can see the engineer's photo and qualifications.
- By text: the HSE says you can text "Gas" followed by the engineer's seven-digit licence number to 85080 to confirm whether the number is registered.
- Check the work type: look at what the card says they are qualified for. An engineer registered for boilers is not automatically qualified for, say, gas fires.
Always check the card the engineer shows you on the day, rather than relying on a number from an old invoice or a logo on a website.
What is a competent person scheme and why does it matter?
Lots of common home jobs fall under building regulations, including most electrical, plumbing and heating work. Normally that work has to be checked by a building control body, either your council or a private approver.
Installers who belong to a government-authorised competent person scheme can self-certify that their work meets building regulations. GOV.UK says this means members do not need a council or private inspector to check their work, and customers avoid building control fees. Installers are assessed before they are approved, then inspected regularly.
Competent person schemes cover work such as:
- Electrical installations in homes
- Heating and hot water systems, including boilers
- Combustion appliances (oil and solid fuel)
- Replacement windows, doors and rooflights
- Replacement roof coverings
- Cavity and solid wall insulation
- Plumbing and water supply
- Microgeneration and renewable technologies
Gas work is handled by the Gas Safe Register, which GOV.UK notes is not technically a competent person scheme but carries the same responsibilities. For electrical work, GOV.UK points householders to the electrical competent person register as a single place to find registered electricians.
If your trader is not in a scheme, the work can still be legal, but you will usually need building control approval yourself. Ask before work starts which route they are using.
Quote or estimate: what is the difference?
Citizens Advice draws a clear line between the two, and it matters when the bill arrives.
| Quote | Estimate | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A fixed price for the agreed work | The trader's best guess at the cost |
| Can the price go up? | Only if you ask for extra work, agree to pay for extra work they say is needed, or there was a genuine pricing mistake | Yes, but the final bill should still be reasonable |
| Best for | Most jobs, so you know where you stand | Jobs where the extent of the work is genuinely unknown |
Citizens Advice recommends getting written quotes from at least three traders. A good quote should give a fixed total price, a breakdown of labour and materials, how long the price is valid, whether VAT is included and when the price could change. Be wary of:
- A trader who will not put a quote in writing
- A price far lower than everyone else's, which may mean they lack the skills, are not being honest or are not quoting for the same job
- A daily rate instead of a fixed total, which can encourage a job to drag on
Some traders charge for quotes, so ask first.
What should be in the contract, and how should I pay?
A contract exists as soon as you ask a trader to do the work, even if nothing is written down. Getting it in writing first makes disputes far easier. It does not need legal language, but Citizens Advice suggests it covers start and finish dates, what happens if there are delays, who removes rubbish and pays for any skip, who buys materials, whether subcontractors will be used, and how and when you will pay.
On payment, Citizens Advice advises:
- Pay by debit or credit card or bank transfer where possible, and avoid cash.
- Pay in stages rather than everything upfront.
- Do not agree to a deposit of more than 25%. If a deposit is for materials, consider buying them yourself.
- Keep receipts for deposits and materials.
Paying by credit card can add protection. For purchases between £100.01 and £30,000, you may be able to make a section 75 claim against the card provider if things go wrong. Cash and bank transfers do not qualify for chargeback or section 75.
Also check the trader's insurance, especially public liability cover, and make sure it will not run out before the job finishes. It is sensible to tell your own buildings insurer about larger jobs before they start.
What are my rights if the work is poor?
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, a trader must carry out a service with reasonable care and skill. If the work is not done as agreed, Citizens Advice says you can ask them to redo it at their own cost. If that does not fix the problem, you can ask for some or all of your money back.
You may also be able to cancel within 14 days of agreeing the work or signing a written contract. If you asked for work to start within those 14 days, you may have to pay for what has been done.
If you cannot reach an agreement, the Citizens Advice consumer service can advise you, and alternative dispute resolution can help you avoid court. Report dangerous or unsafe work through Citizens Advice, which passes reports to Trading Standards.
Frequently asked questions
Is it a legal requirement for a gas engineer to be Gas Safe registered?
Yes. The HSE says anyone employed to work on gas appliances in a home must be on the Gas Safe Register and competent in that type of gas work. Check their ID card and licence number before they start.
How many quotes should I get?
Citizens Advice recommends written quotes from at least three different traders. Comparing them helps you judge whether a price is fair and spot one that is suspiciously low.
How much deposit is reasonable?
Citizens Advice suggests not agreeing to a deposit of more than 25%, paying in stages and avoiding cash.
Sources
- Citizens Advice: Before you get work done on your home
- Citizens Advice: Find a trader and check you can trust them
- HSE: Check an engineer is Gas Safe registered
- GOV.UK: Competent person schemes
- TrustMark: Information for homeowners
General information only, based on official guidance available in October 2026. Consumer rules can differ in Scotland and Northern Ireland, so check the linked sources or get advice for your situation.