Most jobs around the home go perfectly well. The ones that go wrong usually have something in common: nobody checked the basics first. Whether you need a boiler serviced in Worthing or a rewire in Horsham, the checks below take an evening at most and can save you a lot of money and stress.
Start with the right person for the job
Be clear about what you need before you ring round. “Sort out the bathroom” can mean a plumber, an electrician, a tiler and a plasterer. A short written description of the job, with a few photos, helps every tradesperson quote for the same thing, and makes the quotes easy to compare.
Ask friends and neighbours who they have used, read reviews on more than one site, and look at how a business describes itself. A listing with real photos of finished work, a clear list of services and the areas covered is a good sign. Be wary of anyone who can’t tell you their full business name and a landline or address.
Check the registrations that matter
Some work is regulated, and for that work a registration is not optional.
- Gas work. By law, anyone working on gas appliances or pipework in your home — boilers, gas fires, hobs — must be on the Gas Safe Register. Search the register on the Gas Safe Register website, and ask to see the engineer’s Gas Safe ID card. The back of the card lists the types of gas work they are qualified to do, so check it covers your job.
- Electrical work. Electrical work in homes in England must meet the Building Regulations (Part P), and bigger jobs — such as a new circuit or a replacement fuse box (consumer unit) — must be notified to building control. Electricians registered with a competent person scheme such as NICEIC or NAPIT can certify that work themselves; if yours isn’t registered, it may need to be inspected by your council’s building control instead. Either way, you should receive an electrical certificate when the job is finished. Keep it, as you may need it when you sell the house.
- Oil boilers are usually fitted by engineers registered with OFTEC, and replacement windows and doors by installers registered with a scheme such as FENSA or Certass, so that the work is certified as meeting the Building Regulations.
- TrustMark is the government-endorsed quality scheme for trades working in and around the home. Businesses have to meet its standards to join, and you can search for registered businesses on the TrustMark website.
Trade association logos on a van or website are easy to copy, so always check the scheme’s own online register rather than taking the logo on trust.
Ask about insurance
A reputable business will carry public liability insurance, which covers damage or injury caused while they work. Ask to see the certificate and check that it is current and in the business’s name. For larger projects, ask whether the work comes with a guarantee, and whether that guarantee is insurance-backed so it still stands if the business stops trading.
Get written quotes — and compare like with like
For anything beyond a small repair, get at least three written quotes. Be aware of the difference between a quote, which is a fixed price for the work described, and an estimate, which is a best guess that can change.
A good quote sets out:
- exactly what work is included, and what isn’t
- materials, and who supplies them
- the total price, and whether VAT is included
- a likely start date and how long the work will take
- how changes or extra work will be priced and agreed
- who clears away and disposes of the waste
If the cheapest quote is far below the others, ask why — it may leave out something the others included.
Householders also have a legal duty to make sure their waste goes to someone authorised to take it, so if a tradesperson is removing rubble or old fittings, check they are a registered waste carrier on the Environment Agency’s public register.
Agree fair payment stages
Be cautious about paying a large sum before any work starts. A deposit towards materials can be reasonable on bigger jobs, but the rest should follow progress:
- agree the stages in writing before work begins
- pay for each stage when it is finished to your satisfaction
- hold back the final payment until the job is complete and any certificates have been handed over
- pay by bank transfer or card so there is a record, and get an invoice or receipt
Paying at least part of the cost by credit card can give you extra protection under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act, for purchases costing between £100 and £30,000.
Be careful with doorstep offers
If someone knocks unannounced to say your roof or drive needs urgent work, take their details and say you’ll think about it. Genuine businesses don’t pressure you into deciding on the spot. If you do agree a contract in your home, you normally have 14 days to cancel it.
If something goes wrong
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, a trader must carry out a service with reasonable care and skill. If you’re unhappy, raise it with the business in writing first and give them a fair chance to put it right. If that doesn’t work, the Citizens Advice consumer helpline can advise you and pass the case to Trading Standards. In Sussex, Trading Standards is run by East Sussex County Council, West Sussex County Council or Brighton & Hove City Council, depending on where you live.
Using Go Sussex to find a trade
Businesses on Go Sussex write their own listings, and you deal with them directly — we don’t take a cut. We check each listing before it goes live, but we don’t verify qualifications or insurance, so please make the checks above whoever you hire. Found a good one? A short, honest review helps the next person.