How to Find a Trusted Tradesperson in the UK (Without Getting Ripped Off)
Tradesperson scams cost UK homeowners £55+ million per year, and the bad actors are getting better at looking legitimate. The good news: a tight 30-minute vetting routine catches almost all of them. Here's the playbook.
Where to find legitimate tradespeople in 2026
- Real-time bidding marketplaces like AllSorted — verified pros bid live, you compare in minutes, all credentials pre-checked.
- Established directories like Checkatrade, MyBuilder, Rated People, TrustATrader — older review history, slower quotes.
- Trade body member finders — Gas Safe Register, NICEIC, Federation of Master Builders, Guild of Master Craftsmen.
- Word of mouth — neighbours and friends are still the highest-conversion lead source for trades.
- Local Facebook recommendation groups — useful, but verify everything yourself; recommendations there are rarely vetted.
Credentials to verify (every job, every time)
Different jobs need different certifications. The basics every tradesperson should have:
- Public liability insurance — minimum £2 million for general work, £5 million for larger projects. Ask to see the certificate.
- ID and verifiable business address — not just a mobile number.
- VAT registration for businesses over £90,000 turnover (the threshold from April 2024).
Trade-specific must-haves:
| Trade | Certification to check |
|---|---|
| Gas / boiler / cooker | Gas Safe Register ID card (not 'CORGI' — that scheme ended in 2009) |
| Electrical work | NICEIC, NAPIT, ELECSA or STROMA registration |
| Oil heating | OFTEC registration |
| Refrigeration / air-con / heat pumps | F-Gas certification |
| Solar PV | MCS certification (required for grants) |
| Roofing / structural | FMB or Guild of Master Craftsmen ideally |
| Plastering / general building | CITB card or CSCS card |
| Asbestos | HSE-licensed contractor for licensed asbestos work |
Reviews: how to read them properly
Three signals matter more than star count:
- Photos with reviews. Fake reviews almost never have photos. Genuine completed work usually does.
- Specific job details. 'Great service, recommended' is meaningless. 'Replaced our 2008 Worcester combi with a Vaillant ecoTEC, sorted the magnetic filter situation our last engineer botched, finished by 4pm' is real.
- Pattern of recent reviews. Six 5-star reviews from 2019, none since? That's a former good pro who's possibly stopped trading.
Also check whether the platform verifies reviews against actual completed bookings. Marketplace reviews (AllSorted, MyBuilder, Checkatrade) are tied to real jobs. Open Google reviews can include anyone — including the tradesperson's family.
Always get three quotes (and how to compare them)
For any job over £200, three quotes is the gold standard. Two is the absolute minimum. One is asking to be overcharged. Use a real-time bidding marketplace like AllSorted and you can usually get 3–6 in under an hour without making a phone call.
When comparing, look at the breakdown, not just the total. A £2,400 boiler quote that includes the boiler, flue, magnetic filter, system flush and a 10-year warranty is not the same as a £2,200 quote that excludes the filter and flush — those add £400 separately.
Questions to ask before you commit
- Can I see the certificate for [relevant qualification]?
- Can I see your public liability insurance certificate?
- Is the quote inclusive of VAT?
- What's your typical lead time, and when can you start?
- What payment terms do you require? (Avoid large deposits.)
- What warranty do you offer on the work, and is it written?
- Can you give me two recent customer references?
- Will you provide a written contract for jobs over £1,000?
Payment terms that protect you
- Jobs under £500: Pay on completion, never up front.
- Jobs £500–£2,000: A deposit of 10–20% on day one is reasonable; remainder on completion.
- Jobs £2,000–£10,000: Stage payments — typically 25% deposit, 25% mid-way, 40% on practical completion, 10% retention for 30 days for snagging.
- Jobs over £10,000: Always with a written contract, ideally a JCT minor works contract or similar. Stage payments aligned to milestones, never to dates.
Red flags that should stop the conversation
- Refusing to give a written quote
- Wanting cash up front for materials they 'have to buy today'
- No verifiable business address — only a mobile
- Pressure to start immediately ('special price if you decide right now')
- No public liability insurance, or 'don't worry, I won't damage anything'
- Quotes wildly below others (40%+ cheaper) — usually means corners cut
- Reluctance to provide references
More on this in our dedicated guide: 10 red flags when hiring a tradesperson.
After the work is done
- Don't sign off until you've checked. Walk through the work; test everything that should work; flag any issues in writing before final payment.
- Get all certificates. Gas Safety Certificate, EIC for electrical, building control sign-off, manufacturer warranty registration. Keep them in one folder for the property.
- Pay the final invoice promptly. Honest pros remember which homeowners pay on time and which don't — it affects future pricing.
- Leave a real review. Specific, honest feedback (with photos) helps every other homeowner who comes after you.
Ready to find a verified pro? Post your job on AllSorted — UK tradespeople bid live, all credentials pre-verified, and you can compare quotes, profiles and reviews in one place.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check if a tradesperson is legitimate in the UK?
Verify on the official register for their trade — Gas Safe Register for gas, Electrical Competent Person Register for electrical, OFTEC for oil, F-Gas for refrigeration. Check current public liability insurance (£2M minimum), verifiable business address, and post-job reviews with photos. Real-time bidding marketplaces like AllSorted automate these checks.
Is Gas Safe the same as CORGI?
No — CORGI was replaced by the Gas Safe Register in April 2009. Anyone working on gas in Great Britain must be on the Gas Safe Register; CORGI ID is no longer valid. Always check the engineer's Gas Safe ID card and verify online.
Should I pay a tradesperson a deposit?
For jobs under £500, no deposit. For £500–£2,000, a 10–20% deposit is reasonable on the day work starts. For larger jobs, stage payments tied to milestones (not dates) protect both sides. Never pay a large deposit before any work has begun.
How many quotes should I get for a tradesperson job?
Three written quotes is the gold standard for any UK home job over £200. Two is the minimum. Real-time bidding marketplaces typically deliver 3–6 quotes within an hour without you having to make individual phone calls.
What insurance should a tradesperson have?
Public liability insurance of at least £2 million for general work, £5 million+ for larger projects. Always ask to see the current certificate and check the expiry date. Many trades also carry employer's liability if they have employees, and product liability if they supply parts.
Are cheap quotes ever worth taking?
A quote that's 40%+ below the next nearest is almost always missing something — usually materials quality, certification fees, VAT, or warranty cover. Always ask for itemised breakdowns. The cheapest legitimate quote is rarely the cheapest headline number.
About the author
AllSorted Editorial Team
Home services research & UK trades industry analysis
The AllSorted Editorial Team works with verified UK tradespeople, plumbers, electricians and home services professionals to publish accurate, up-to-date guidance for British homeowners. Editorial standards are reviewed against guidance from the Federation of Master Builders, NICEIC, Gas Safe Register and Trading Standards.