How to choose a plumber

Gas work needs a Gas Safe engineer

By law, anyone who works on a gas boiler, cooker, fire or pipework must be on the Gas Safe Register. Ask to see their Gas Safe ID card. The back lists the types of gas work they are qualified for. You can check the number on the Gas Safe Register website.

Plumbing that does not involve gas, such as taps, toilets, leaks and bathrooms, needs no registration. Membership of WaterSafe, CIPHE or APHC is still a good sign. For oil boilers, look for OFTEC registration.

New boilers and landlords

After a new boiler is fitted, ask for the completed Benchmark commissioning checklist and a Building Regulations notification certificate, and register the manufacturer’s warranty.

Landlords must have every gas appliance in a rented home safety-checked by a Gas Safe engineer every year.

Get quotes in writing

Ask two or three firms to quote for the same job, in writing. A quote is a fixed price. An estimate is only a best guess, and the final bill can be higher.

The quote should say what is included: materials, waste removal, making good, and any access equipment.

Check insurance and pay in stages

Ask to see their public liability insurance. Agree staged payments tied to finished work. A deposit for materials is normal on bigger jobs, but avoid paying the full price before the work starts.

Your rights

Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, a trader must do the work with reasonable care and skill, in a reasonable time, and for a reasonable price if no price was agreed.

If you agree the job in your own home, you usually have 14 days to cancel under the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013. If you ask for work to start sooner, you may have to pay for work already done.

For free advice on a problem with a trader, contact the Citizens Advice consumer helpline. In Northern Ireland, contact Consumerline.

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