How we check trades

What we check

The business exists. For a limited company we look it up at Companies House: that it is active, when it was incorporated and where it is registered. For a sole trader we look for a consistent trading name, address and web presence.

Memberships and registrations. If a business lists a scheme or register, such as the Gas Safe Register, NICEIC, NAPIT, TrustMark, the Federation of Master Builders or MCS, we only show it on the profile once we have found the business on that scheme’s own public register. Anything we have not confirmed is described as the business’s own claim, or left out.

Public reviews. We link to the review platforms where a business has a public profile, so you can read what customers say in their own words.

Listings we cannot confirm are kept off the site.

What we do not check

We do not inspect a business’s work, check its insurance documents, or confirm individual qualifications that are not on a public register. We do not guarantee the work. Some quote requests are passed to partner networks, and their own checks then apply.

What to check yourself before you hire

Ask for written quotes on the same specification from more than one business. Ask to see public liability insurance and check the dates. For gas work, check the engineer on the Gas Safe Register and look at the back of their ID card for the work they are qualified to do. For electrical work, ask how the job will be certified and notified under Building Regulations. Agree staged payments rather than paying everything up front.

Spotted something wrong?

If a profile says something that is not true, tell us through the contact page. We check it, and we correct or remove what we cannot confirm.

For trades

A free profile on BestBuilders shows the facts we can confirm about your business. Adding your company number, your scheme registration numbers and links to your review profiles from your portal helps us confirm them faster. See also our methodology and how we get paid.