Guide

How to check a handyman before you book

Short answer

Few handymen join a trade register, so check what you can. Search Companies House if the firm is a limited company. Search TrustMark, Which? Trusted Traders or the Guild of Master Craftsmen. Ask for proof of insurance and a written price. By law, the work must be done with reasonable care and skill.

Updated 15 October 2026 · 3 min read · 8 sources

Why checks are harder for handymen

No law makes a handyman join a register. Some firms join a scheme by choice, but most do not. So you need to check the firm in other ways.

We list a firm only when we can confirm it is trading. We show each register check we did, with its date. If we did not find a firm on a register, we show nothing, because a search can miss a firm.

Step 1: check Companies House

If the firm’s name ends in Ltd or Limited, search Companies House. It is free. Check that the company is active and that the name matches the invoice.

Sole traders are not on Companies House. For a sole trader, check that the website or advert gives a full name, a phone number and a home town.

Step 2: search the voluntary registers

Some handymen join these schemes. Each has a free search.

TrustMark: the government endorsed quality scheme for work in and around the home.
Which? Trusted Traders: traders that passed an assessment set by trading standards professionals.
Guild of Master Craftsmen: search members by trade and postcode on findacraftsman.com.

Step 3: ask these questions

Ask these questions before you agree to any work.

Do you have public liability insurance? Can I see the certificate?
Is this a fixed price or an estimate? Does it include VAT, parts and travel?
Is there a minimum charge? What does it cover?
Does any part of the job need a gas engineer, an electrician or consent?
When do you want payment? Do you need a deposit?

Step 4: get the price in writing

A written price avoids arguments later. A text or email is enough for a small job. It should say what the job is, the price and what the price covers.

If you agree no price, the law says you pay a reasonable price, and no more (Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 51). The trader must do the work with reasonable care and skill (section 49).

Your right to cancel

If you agree a contract in your home, you usually have 14 days to cancel it. If you want work to start sooner, the trader must ask you to request this. For an off-premises contract, the request must be on paper or email.

Warning signs

Take care if a trader does any of these things.

Knocks on your door and offers work you did not ask for.
Asks for full payment in cash before work starts.
Gives no full name, address or landline.
Pushes you to decide on the day.

Questions

Does a handyman need to be registered?

No. No law makes a handyman join a register. Some firms join TrustMark, Which? Trusted Traders or the Guild of Master Craftsmen by choice. Gas work always needs a Gas Safe registered engineer.

What if a handyman does a poor job?

The Consumer Rights Act 2015 says the trader must do the work with reasonable care and skill. If not, you can ask the trader to put it right, or ask for some money back.

Should I pay a deposit?

For small jobs, most handymen ask for payment when the job is done. For big jobs, a small deposit for materials is common. Avoid paying the full price before work starts.