Citizens Advice recommends checking traders through reliable sources and verifying membership claims with the organisation concerned. [1]
Establish who you are employing
Ask for the legal name, trading address and contact details that will appear on the contract and invoices. For a limited company, use Companies House to check its registered details, officers and filing history. That search establishes information about the company; it should not be treated as a certificate of construction quality. [2]
Match the business name on the quotation to the name on the insurance documents and any scheme listing. Where the names differ, request a written explanation before paying. This is a practical identity check, not a reason to assume that every trading name represents a separate legal business. [2] [1]
Check relevant experience
Request examples resembling the proposed work and ask previous clients about communication, changes, site management and completion. A useful reference discussion considers both the visible finish and how the contractor dealt with problems. Citizens Advice recommends references and checking previous work rather than relying solely on advertising. [3]
Ask who will actually supervise the site and who will undertake specialist work. England's building regulations require competence appropriate to the work, including organisational capability where a business is appointed. A general assurance that a team is “experienced” is not the same as evidence for the particular project. [4]
Verify accreditations rather than counting them
TrustMark provides a searchable register of businesses participating in its government-endorsed quality scheme. Check the current entry and relevant work categories rather than relying on an image of the logo. Membership is one part of due diligence, not a replacement for agreeing your own contract and scope. [5]
Similarly, ask what a claimed accreditation actually covers and whether a named subcontractor, rather than the main contractor, holds it. Keep the evidence with the quotation so that the business being checked is the business appointed. [1]
Check the offer and insurance together
Ask for the insurer, policy period, insured business and activities covered. For contractors with employees, employers' liability insurance is generally compulsory, subject to the statutory exceptions; the published minimum cover is £5 million. Other insurance questions depend on the work and contractual responsibilities. [6]
Before appointment, ask for every exclusion to be listed and each payment stage explained. Ask who approves design changes and extras. Place the answers beside the reference and insurance checks in your appointment record, so the final decision reflects the proposed working arrangements as well as past feedback.