The single biggest protection a UK homeowner has is the accreditation register that covers the specific work. Each trade has a body whose membership you can check online, and each register proves a different thing. This guide explains which register matters for which job, how to verify the actual person turning up, and the checks that come before you pay a deposit.
Match the register to the work
- Gas work (boilers, gas hobs, gas safety checks): the engineer must be on the Gas Safe Register. It is a legal requirement, not a nice-to-have.
- Electrical work (rewires, consumer units, EICR): look for a registered competent person scheme such as NICEIC, which lets the work be self-certified under Part P.
- Heat pumps and solar PV: MCS certification is required to access the Boiler Upgrade Scheme and the Smart Export Guarantee, and proves the install meets the standard.
- EV chargers: an OZEV-authorised installer is required to claim the chargepoint grant.
- Damp, timber and waterproofing: the Property Care Association (PCA) lists members who follow its codes of practice.
- Across schemes: TrustMark is a government-endorsed quality mark that sits over many of the above and is often a condition of grant-funded work.
Verify the actual person, not just the company
Registration is held by individuals and businesses, and the two are not the same. Use the body's own find-a-member tool to confirm the specific engineer or firm is current, and ask to see the Gas Safe ID card on the day, which names the individual and the categories of gas work they are qualified for. A company being a member does not mean the person sent to your home is qualified for your job.
Get the quote in writing and itemised
A trustworthy quote is itemised: labour, materials, any survey, VAT treatment and what is excluded. For energy-saving materials, the 0% VAT relief should be reflected in the price (see the energy grants guide). Be wary of a single round number with no breakdown, of pressure to pay a large deposit, and of prices quoted only over the phone. Get more than one quote so you can compare like for like.
Confirm grants and surveys before the deposit
If a grant applies, confirm your eligibility and the installer's accreditation before you commit, because most grants require an accredited installer and a valid EPC. For specialist property issues such as damp, knotweed or external wall systems, a survey by an accredited professional should come before any remedial quote, so you are paying for a diagnosis rather than a sales pitch. Send an enquiry and we read it and reply by email; we do not sell your number to cold-callers.
Common questions
How do I check a gas engineer is qualified?
Search the Gas Safe Register online and ask to see the engineer's Gas Safe ID card on the day. The card names the individual and lists the specific categories of gas work they are signed off for, which is what makes gas work legal.
What does MCS certification prove?
MCS certification shows a heat pump or solar installer meets the scheme standard, and it is required to access the Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant and the Smart Export Guarantee. You can check an installer on the MCS find-an-installer tool.
Is TrustMark the same as Gas Safe or NICEIC?
No. TrustMark is a government-endorsed quality mark that sits across many trades and is often a condition of grant-funded work. Gas Safe and NICEIC are the specific competent-person registers for gas and electrical work. Check the one that matches your job.
Should I pay a deposit before a survey?
For specialist issues such as damp, knotweed or external wall systems, get an independent survey from an accredited professional first, so you are paying for a diagnosis rather than a sales pitch. Confirm grant eligibility and the installer's accreditation before any deposit.
Sources
Where to go next
More home improvement guides
VettedHome is an independent home information site, not a lender or installer.
Editor, VettedHome
Adam leads VettedHome's editorial coverage of UK home services. He is the founder and managing director of Muswell Rose, the commercial strategy and modern systems business behind a portfolio of UK information sites, and he researches and writes the plain-English guides that help homeowners choose between installers and trades, drawing on the standards set by the relevant bodies for each job, such as Gas Safe Register, NICEIC, MCS, TrustMark and the Property Care Association. He is clear about what to check before any work starts.
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