How to check a tradesperson's credentials in Wales

Verifying a tradesperson's credentials before hiring them is one of the most important steps you can take to protect your home and family. This guide covers every major trade and tells you exactly what to check and where.

Gas: Gas Safe Register

Legal requirement for all gas work.

Any engineer doing gas work must be on the Gas Safe Register. This covers boiler installation and repair, gas fires, gas cooker connections, and any work on gas pipework or flues.

How to check: Visit gassaferegister.co.uk, click "Check a business or engineer," and enter the engineer's registration number (on their ID card). You'll see their name, photo, and exactly which categories of gas work they're qualified for.

Never skip this check. Unregistered gas work is illegal, voids your home insurance, and creates carbon monoxide risk.

Electrical: competent person schemes

Strongly recommended for notifiable work.

For new circuits, consumer unit replacement, or electrical work in kitchens, bathrooms, and gardens (all "notifiable work" under Part P Building Regulations), use an electrician registered with one of these schemes:

• NICEIC — check at niceic.com
• NAPIT — check at napit.org.uk
• ELECSA — check at elecsa.co.uk

Registered electricians can self-certify their work and issue a certificate to you and Building Control. This is essential for insurance purposes and for any future property sale.

Building trades: FMB and TrustMark

Not legally required, but the best quality indicator.

For builders, renovators, and general contractors:

Federation of Master Builders (FMB) — members are independently inspected and credit-checked. Check at fmb.org.uk. The FMB has a strong presence in Wales.

TrustMark — government-endorsed quality scheme covering a wide range of trades. Check at trustmark.org.uk.

Which? Trusted Traders — consumer-focused; businesses are vetted and reviewed. Check at trustedtraders.which.co.uk.

For building work over £500, always check if the contractor is registered with one of these schemes.

Roofing: NFRC and CompetentRoofer

Not legally required, but the clearest quality indicator.

Roofing is unregulated in the UK — anyone can call themselves a roofer. The quality schemes that matter:

NFRC (National Federation of Roofing Contractors) — check at nfrc.co.uk. Members are vetted for quality and insurance.

CompetentRoofer — government-approved scheme; check at competentroofer.co.uk. Members can self-certify their work.

Never hire a roofer who cold-calls, has no traceable local presence, or can't produce an NFRC or CompetentRoofer registration.

General checks for any trade

Regardless of trade, always:

1. Check Companies House (companieshouse.gov.uk) — verify the company is registered and check who the directors are. Dissolved or dormant companies are a red flag.

2. Check public liability insurance — ask to see the certificate. Minimum £1 million for most trades; £2 million for builders and roofers.

3. Google the business name — look for reviews on Google Maps, Checkatrade, Rated People, and TrustATrader. A legitimate business will have a digital footprint.

4. Ask for VAT number if billing over £85,000 — businesses turning over more than £85,000/year must be VAT registered. A high-volume contractor without a VAT number is suspicious.

5. Get written quotes and contracts — verbal agreements are worth nothing when disputes arise. Any job over £500 should have a written quote or contract.

6. Staged payments — never pay more than 25–30% upfront for any job. Legitimate contractors don't need large deposits on domestic work.

7. Check local references — ask for references from jobs completed in your area in the last 12 months. Call them.

If a tradesperson refuses any of these checks, walk away. A professional tradesperson will welcome verification — it's the unqualified and dishonest ones who resist it.