Why does the checklist have exactly 10 items?
The checklist has 10 items because that is the minimum number that filters out unregistered traders, uninsured operators and one-off cowboys without over-engineering the process for a homeowner.
Fewer than 10 items misses either insurance, certification or reviews. More than 10 turns into a legal audit that most homeowners will not complete. Ten is the sweet spot used by trade bodies, insurers and reputable trade directories.
Which checks are absolutely non-negotiable?
Items 1–4 — Companies House, public liability insurance, Gas Safe and SELECT or NICEIC registration — are absolutely non-negotiable and a fail on any one disqualifies the fitter regardless of price.
These four checks are legal and financial protections, not preferences. Skipping them transfers the risk of injury, property damage or defective work from the fitter to you. Even the most persuasive quote is not worth that exposure.
How do I run the Companies House and Gas Safe checks?
You run the Companies House check at find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk by searching the fitter's business name, and the Gas Safe check at gassaferegister.co.uk by entering the engineer's registration number.
Both databases are official government or industry-body resources and are free. Enter the exact business name shown on the quote — sole traders trading under a name should still appear in the Gas Safe register under the individual engineer's ID.
How do I use references without wasting the client's time?
You use references by phoning three named recent clients with four specific questions: was the fit finished on time, did the final invoice match the quote, were snags fixed promptly, would they hire the fitter again.
Four questions keep the call under five minutes and produce actionable answers. Open-ended "how was it?" questions get vague reassurance; specific questions surface real issues. Fitters who dodge the reference request are the fitters most likely to fail on the checklist.
The 10-point vetting checklist
| # | Check | Where to verify | Pass |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Companies House status | find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk | Active, 3+ years |
| 2 | Public liability insurance | Fitter's insurance certificate | £2m+, dated this year |
| 3 | Gas Safe registration | gassaferegister.co.uk | Registered engineer ID |
| 4 | SELECT / NICEIC | select.org.uk / niceic.com | Registered electrician |
| 5 | Fixed-price quote | Fitter's written document | Itemised, signed, dated |
| 6 | Independent reviews | Trustpilot, Google Business Profile | 20+, mostly recent |
| 7 | References | Three phone calls | All three confirm quality |
| 8 | Portfolio | Photos supplied by fitter | 5+ local Glasgow jobs |
| 9 | Deposit terms | Quote / contract | ≤25% up front |
| 10 | Workmanship warranty | Quote / contract | ≥12 months in writing |