- Anyone working on gas appliances or pipework must be on the Gas Safe Register, and you can check their card and number yourself.
- For notifiable electrical work and some other jobs in England and Wales, a competent person scheme member can self-certify the work and give you a certificate.
- A written quote should give a fixed total, a breakdown of the work and materials, whether VAT is included and how long the price is valid.
- The Consumer Rights Act 2015 says a trader must use reasonable care and skill, and you can ask them to put poor work right.
- Pressure to decide on the spot, cash-only payment and large upfront deposits are the classic signs of a rogue trader.
Start with the right register for the job
Most trades in the UK are not licensed, so anyone can call themselves a builder or a handyman. A few kinds of work are different, and for those the law or building regulations decide who can do them.
Gas is the clearest case. Under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, anyone working on a gas boiler, fire, cooker or gas pipe must be on the Gas Safe Register. Ask to see the engineer's Gas Safe ID card. The front has their photo and a licence number you can check on the Gas Safe Register website. The back lists the types of gas work they are qualified for, with expiry dates, so make sure your appliance is on it. If they cannot show a valid card, do not let them start.
Electrical work is the next one. In England and Wales, notifiable electrical work, such as a new circuit or a replacement consumer unit, must either be done by an electrician registered with a competent person scheme, such as NICEIC or NAPIT, or be checked by building control. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own systems.
What is a competent person scheme?
A competent person scheme lets a registered installer self-certify that certain building work meets building regulations, instead of you applying to building control yourself. Schemes cover electrical work, gas and oil heating, replacement windows and doors, replacement roof coverings, cavity wall insulation and more.
When a scheme member finishes the job, they tell building control on your behalf and you should receive a certificate within 8 weeks of completion. Keep it, as a buyer's solicitor will ask for it. You can check a trader's membership on the scheme's own website, not just from a logo on their van.
- Gas work: Gas Safe Register, by law
- Notifiable electrical work: a competent person scheme or building control (England and Wales)
- Replacement windows and doors: a scheme such as FENSA or Certass, or building control
- Home improvements in general: TrustMark is the government-endorsed quality scheme
- Trade association membership: check it on the association's own website
Ask about insurance before you accept a quote
Public liability insurance covers damage to your property, or injury to someone else, caused by the trader's work. It is not a legal requirement for most trades, but a careful tradesperson will have it and should be happy to show you the certificate. Check the name on it matches the business you are dealing with and that it has not expired.
For bigger jobs, such as an extension or a new roof, ask whether they have cover for the whole value of the work, and who is covered if they bring in subcontractors. If someone will be working in your home while you are out, or around children, you may also want to ask about a DBS check.
Get written quotes, not a figure on the doorstep
Citizens Advice suggests getting written quotes from at least three traders for anything more than a small job. Comparing them shows whether a price is fair.
Know the difference between a quote and an estimate. A quote is a fixed price, and the trader cannot charge more without a good reason. An estimate is a best guess, so the final bill can change, but it should still be reasonable.
- A fixed total price and whether VAT is included
- A breakdown of labour, materials and any skip or waste removal
- What is not included, such as making good or decorating
- How long the price is valid for
- How unexpected problems will be priced before extra work starts
Put the agreement in writing
A spoken agreement is still a contract, but a written one avoids arguments later. For anything beyond a small repair, agree in writing what will be done, the materials, the timings, who tidies up, who is responsible for permissions, and how and when you will pay.
Avoid large upfront payments. A deposit for materials that have to be ordered can be reasonable, but paying most of the price before work starts leaves you with little leverage if things go wrong. For long jobs, agree stage payments linked to finished stages. Pay by card or bank transfer rather than cash, so there is a record.
Know your consumer rights
The Consumer Rights Act 2015 says a trader providing a service must do it with reasonable care and skill. If no time was agreed, it must be done within a reasonable time, and if no price was fixed, the price must be reasonable.
If the work is poor, ask the trader in writing to put it right, within a reasonable time and at no extra cost. If they cannot or will not, you may be entitled to a price reduction or a refund. Citizens Advice can help with next steps.
If you agreed a contract in your home, or online or by phone, you usually have 14 days to cancel under the Consumer Contracts Regulations. If you asked for work to start inside those 14 days and then cancel, you may have to pay for what has been done. If the trader did not give you the cancellation information, the cancellation period is extended.
Red flags that suggest a rogue trader
Rogue traders often knock on the door, point to a problem on your roof or drive that you cannot see for yourself, and press you to decide straight away. Trading Standards teams across the UK give the same advice: do not agree to any work on the doorstep, and do not hand over cash. If you feel threatened, or someone will not leave, call the police.
You can report a doorstep trader to Trading Standards through the Citizens Advice consumer service. Note the vehicle registration, the business name and what they offered.
- Cold calling, often after a storm, with a problem that is 'urgent'
- A price that drops sharply when you hesitate
- Cash only, or a large payment before any work
- No written quote, no landline and no business address
- Refusing to show ID, insurance or registration
- Asking you to get permits or permissions in your own name for them
How AYS can help
Every pro on AYS passes a photo ID check and a review by our team before they can take bookings, and pros can show insurance, qualifications and registrations, which we review. You can request free quotes with no obligation, pay securely through AYS, and only share your address and phone number once a booking is confirmed. See our handyman, building and plumbing pages to get started.
Questions people also ask
How do I check if a gas engineer is registered?
Ask to see their Gas Safe ID card before any work starts. Enter the licence number from the front of the card on the Gas Safe Register website to confirm it is current. Then check the back lists the type of gas work you need and that it has not expired.
Should I pay a builder a deposit?
A small deposit can be fair if the builder needs to order materials made for your job. Be wary of being asked for a large share of the price upfront. For longer jobs, agree stage payments in writing, each one paid when a clear stage is finished, and pay by card or bank transfer so you have a record.
What can I do if a tradesperson does a bad job?
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, work must be done with reasonable care and skill. Tell the trader in writing what is wrong and ask them to fix it within a reasonable time at no extra cost. Keep photos and copies of messages. If they refuse, you may be entitled to a price reduction, and Citizens Advice can explain your options.
Can I cancel work I agreed to at home?
Usually yes. If you agreed the contract in your home, online or by phone, the Consumer Contracts Regulations normally give you 14 days to cancel. If you asked the trader to start within that time, you may have to pay for work already done. If they never gave you the cancellation information, your cancellation period is extended.
Is a quote legally binding?
A quote is a fixed price for the work described, and a trader cannot normally charge more unless there is a good reason, such as you asking for extra work. An estimate is only a guide, so the final price can change but should be reasonable. Ask for the quote in writing so it is clear what the price covers.
- Gas Safe Register: the Gas Safe ID card
- GOV.UK: Competent person schemes
- GOV.UK: Building regulations approval, use a competent person scheme
- Citizens Advice: Before you get work done on your home
- Citizens Advice: Problem with building work or home improvements
- Citizens Advice: Cancelling building or decorating work
Rules can change. Check the official pages above for the latest position.
