Choosing a Tradesperson FAQs

Visit gassaferegister.co.uk and use the "Check a Register" tool with the engineer's registration number or name. A valid Gas Safe ID card shows the engineer's name, registration number, the types of work they are authorised to carry out (e.g. domestic natural gas, LPG), and the expiry date. Never allow gas work to proceed without verifying Gas Safe registration — it is a criminal offence to work on gas appliances without it.

For plumbers: CIPHE (Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering) or APHC. For electricians: NICEIC, NAPIT, or ECA approval (allows self-certification under Part P). For builders: FMB (Federation of Master Builders) or NHBC registration. For gas: Gas Safe (mandatory). For heating: Gas Safe + MCS certification for heat pumps. For roofers: NFRC (National Federation of Roofing Contractors).

Get three quotes for any job over £500. For major projects (£5,000+) get three detailed quotes with written scope of work. Significant variation between quotes usually means different assumptions about scope — clarify what is and is not included. The cheapest quote is not always the best value, particularly for period properties in NW London where corner-cutting can create larger problems later.

A professional quote should include: detailed scope of works, materials specification, start date and programme, payment schedule (not more than 30–40% upfront), VAT status, insurance confirmation, certificate obligations (Gas Safe, Part P, Building Regs), warranty or guarantee period, and variation clause. Avoid quotes that are vague about scope, insist on large deposits, or are verbal only.

Warning signs: requesting cash only or large upfront payment, cannot provide insurance documents, no verifiable online presence or reviews, no fixed address, offers a dramatically lower price than others, pressures you to decide immediately, does not mention certificates or approvals, or uses generic business cards with mobile-only contact. In NW London, check reviews on Checkatrade, Trustpilot, or Google — genuine tradespeople have verifiable histories.

No. All work is carried out by our in-house team — Hampstead Renovations for premium renovations and Hampstead Maintenance for day-to-day property services. Our specialists are fully insured, qualified, and employed by us. We provide a single point of contact and accountability for all work — you deal with us, not multiple separate contractors.