Guides 8 min read

How to Vet Contractors as a UK Landlord

A bad contractor costs you more than a botched repair. Liability for shoddy work, invalidated warranties, a refused insurance claim — using an unqualified or uninsured tradesperson can get expensive fast. Vetting properly takes ten minutes up front and saves you those headaches. Here is how to do it.

By , Founder, FixRoute · Published · Last reviewed

Part of: Landlord Repair Obligations in the UK: A Complete Guide

Minimum requirements for any contractor

Before you hand anyone a job, ask for two things. First, public liability insurance — typical tradesperson cover runs from £1m to £5m, and you'll usually want at least £2m. Second, proof they can actually do the work, which for gas, electrical and boiler jobs means a legally required qualification, not just a reassuring tone of voice. Ask for both before the first job. Asking after something has gone wrong is too late to help you.

Gas Safe Register

Any work on gas appliances, boilers or pipework must be carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer. This sits in law under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, and using an unregistered fitter is a criminal offence that also invalidates your landlord gas safety certificate. You can check any engineer's registration on the Gas Safe Register website before they start. It takes under a minute and there is no good reason to skip it.

Part P for electrical work

Electrical work in rented properties must comply with Part P of the Building Regulations. Separately, since the Electrical Safety Standards (England) Regulations 2020 — in force for new tenancies from July 2020 and all tenancies from April 2021 — you must hold a valid Electrical Installation Condition Report, renewed at least every five years. (Scotland and Wales run their own rules.) Any contractor doing electrical work should be registered with a competent person scheme such as NICEIC or NAPIT.

References and reviews

Ask for two references from other landlords or homeowners, then actually call them. Cross-check on Checkatrade, TrustATrader or Google Reviews. The star rating tells you less than the wording underneath it. A run of reviews that mention being slow to respond or needing to be chased is a fair preview of how your own repairs will go.

Put it in writing

Every job should have a written quote before work starts, even a small one. The quote needs the scope, the materials included, the price (with VAT noted where it applies) and an expected timeline. Keep it with your repair records — that paperwork is what protects you if the work is later disputed. FixRoute stores every contractor quote and completion note against the repair ticket, so the paper trail builds itself.

Frequently asked questions

What do I need to check before hiring a contractor for my rental property?
Ask for two things before the first job: public liability insurance (at least £2m is a common benchmark for tradespeople) and evidence they're qualified to do the work. For gas, that means Gas Safe Register membership. For electrical work, it means registration with a competent person scheme like NICEIC or NAPIT and compliance with Part P of the Building Regulations. Asking after something's gone wrong won't help you.
Does a plumber need to be Gas Safe registered to work on a boiler?
Yes. Any work on gas appliances, boilers or pipework must be carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. Using an unregistered fitter is a criminal offence and invalidates your Landlord Gas Safety Record. You can check any engineer's registration on the Gas Safe Register website before they start — it takes under a minute.
What electrical qualifications does a contractor need to work in a rented property?
Electrical work must comply with Part P of the Building Regulations, and contractors should be registered with a recognised competent person scheme such as NICEIC or NAPIT. Separately, under the Electrical Safety Standards (England) Regulations 2020, you must hold a valid EICR renewed at least every five years. Scotland and Wales run their own rules.
Do I need a written quote from a contractor?
Yes — every job should have one before work starts. The quote needs the scope, materials included, price (with VAT noted where applicable) and an expected timeline. That paperwork is what protects you if the work is later disputed. FixRoute stores every contractor quote and completion note against the repair ticket automatically, so the paper trail builds without extra effort.

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Sources

  1. Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1998/2451/contents
  2. Gas Safe Register https://www.gassaferegister.co.uk/
  3. Building Regulations Part P (electrical safety) — GOV.UK https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/electrical-safety-approved-document-p
  4. Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/312/contents
  5. Building Regulations competent person schemes — GOV.UK https://www.gov.uk/building-regulations-competent-person-schemes