Letting an unvetted contractor onto your property is the kind of decision that's invisible until something goes wrong, and then it's the only thing that matters. Insurance claim refused. Compliance certificate invalid. Liability landing with you. Reputation hit.

This is a practical checklist for vetting trade contractors in the UK. It applies whether you're a landlord with one rental flat, a managing agent with 200 properties, or an FM company building a network of subcontractors.

1. The right scheme registration for the trade

Trade-specific competency schemes are the baseline. Without these, you're guessing:

  • Gas work: must be Gas Safe registered. Verify by the engineer's ID card AND on the Gas Safe Register website (gassaferegister.co.uk).
  • Electrical work: NICEIC, NAPIT or another Competent Person Scheme. Verify on the relevant scheme's website.
  • F-Gas work: individual engineer F-Gas qualified, company REFCOM certified (or equivalent).
  • Fire alarms: BAFE SP203 for design, install, commissioning, maintenance.
  • Fire risk assessment: BAFE SP205 or equivalent assessor competency.
  • Water hygiene / Legionella: WMSoc training, LCA accreditation for risk assessors.

Always verify the ID number, don't take the certificate at face value. Old logos and expired memberships are common.

2. Public Liability Insurance

Ask for the current Public Liability certificate. Check:

  • Cover level: £5m minimum for commercial work, £10m+ for larger jobs or higher-risk work.
  • Validity date: not expired. Many checks miss this. Get the renewal date in your diary.
  • Named insured: matches the trading name you've contracted with.
  • Activities covered: includes the work you're commissioning.

For higher-risk work (hot works, working at height, confined spaces), ask if the policy specifically covers it.

3. Employer's Liability Insurance

If they have any employees, they must hold Employer's Liability cover (minimum £5m, legally required). Sole traders are exempt only if genuinely solo.

4. Professional Indemnity (where relevant)

For design work (fire engineers, M&E designers, energy assessors), Professional Indemnity insurance covers liability for design errors. £1-2m minimum for most commercial work.

5. Health and Safety paperwork

Ask for:

  • RAMS (Risk Assessments and Method Statements) for the work proposed
  • CSCS cards or equivalent for the engineers attending
  • SSIP certification (CHAS, Constructionline, SafeContractor, Acclaim): third-party verification of their H&S management
  • Specific competencies for work at height (IPAF, PASMA), confined spaces, hot works permits

For ongoing work, ask if they're Constructionline registered. It's the UK's largest pre-qualification system and saves you re-vetting on every job.

6. References from comparable jobs

Not "they did my kitchen last year". References for the actual type of work you're commissioning:

  • Same trade discipline
  • Similar property type
  • Recent (within 2 years)
  • Reachable: ask for a phone number, not just a logo

If they only do residential and you're asking them onto a commercial site, that's not the same work.

7. Companies House check

Free, takes 30 seconds. Check:

  • Company is active (not dissolved, in liquidation, etc.)
  • Director names match who you're dealing with
  • Trading address looks real
  • Accounts are filed (a company that hasn't filed for 2 years is a flag)
  • Recent name changes (occasionally a sign of trying to escape a bad track record)

8. VAT registration check (where relevant)

If the contractor is VAT registered (£85k+ turnover or voluntarily registered), they should give you a valid VAT number. Verify on the HMRC VAT number checker. Invoices need correct VAT detail for you to reclaim.

9. Quote format and detail

A good contractor's quote tells you a lot about how they work:

  • Scope clearly defined (specific items, not vague descriptions)
  • Parts and labour split
  • VAT shown separately
  • Validity period stated
  • Exclusions listed (what's NOT included)
  • Terms of payment clear

"£2,400 for the work" with no breakdown is not a quote. It's a number.

10. The reactive test

If you can, test their reactive response before committing to ongoing work. Call them about a small reactive job. Note:

  • How quickly they answer
  • How quickly they quote
  • How quickly they attend
  • How professionally they document
  • Whether the invoice matches the quote

This predicts everything about how they'll perform under pressure.

Red flags

  • Reluctance to share certificate copies in advance
  • Cash-only or "we'll sort the paperwork later" terms
  • Subcontracting to unnamed third parties without telling you
  • No fixed business address
  • Companies House issues (dormant, dissolved, recently renamed)
  • Insurance certificates that look photocopied or edited
  • "My mate does it" answers to scheme registration questions

Why Avero pre-vets the network

This vetting is exactly what we do for every contractor in the Avero FM Approved network. Scheme registrations, insurances, RAMS, references, Companies House, VAT and SSIP membership: all verified before any contractor takes a job through Avero FM Works. You don't repeat the vetting, we already did.

If you're managing your own subcontractor list and want help, get in touch. If you're a contractor looking to apply to join the network, this checklist is what you'll be evaluated against.