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Vetted North

How we check specialists

Four checks before we recommend anyone

Every specialist we recommend has passed the same four checks. We show you the evidence and the date the checks were last confirmed, so you can see for yourself.

Our standard was last reviewed: October 2026

Example Glazing Ltd

Windows & Doors · Conservatory Roofs

DEMO DATA
Vetted specialist
  • Registered company: passedCompanies House no. 00000001
  • Insurance-backed guarantee: passedProvider: Example IBG
  • Trade scheme registration: passedScheme: Example scheme
  • 4.7 ★ Google rating: passed4.7 from 212 reviews
Checks last confirmed: September 2026

How the checks appear when we introduce a specialist. This company is fictional.

  1. Check 1: Registered company

    We check that businesses are properly registered.

    What we check
    That the business is a limited company registered at Companies House, that it's active, and that the details match the business you'll deal with. We may also look at its filed accounts for signs of financial difficulty.
    Why it matters
    You know exactly who you're contracting with, and that the company has a public, traceable record.
    Worth knowing
    Being on the Companies House register isn't an endorsement by Companies House. It confirms the company exists and files information as required.

  2. Check 2: Insurance-backed guarantee

    We check that appropriate insurance-backed protection is available for qualifying work.

    What we check
    That the business offers an insurance-backed guarantee for qualifying work, and who provides it.
    Why it matters
    An insurance-backed guarantee is designed to protect the installer's workmanship guarantee if the company stops trading during the guarantee period.
    Worth knowing
    What's covered, for how long and for which work varies between policies. Ask your specialist for the policy details before work starts, and check you receive the certificate afterwards.

  3. Check 3: Trade scheme registration

    We check registration with the right trade scheme for the work, including those the law requires.

    What we check
    That the business is registered with the scheme its work needs. Some are legal requirements: anyone doing gas work must be on the Gas Safe Register, and businesses handling refrigerant gas, for example fitting air conditioning, need F gas certification. Others let the business certify that its work meets Building Regulations, such as FENSA or Certass for windows, NICEIC or NAPIT for electrical work, and MCS for solar panels and heat pumps. Extensions are approved by building control rather than a scheme, so for builders who only do extensions we show this check as not applicable.
    Why it matters
    Registration shows the business is qualified for that kind of work. Where a registered business certifies its own work, you get a compliance certificate without arranging a separate council inspection, and you'll need that certificate when you sell.
    Worth knowing
    Scheme registration is about competence and meeting regulations. It isn't a rating of overall quality, and we don't rank one scheme above another. The full list for each service is further down this page.

  4. Check 4: Google rating

    We look for businesses with a Google rating above four stars.

    What we check
    That the business's Google rating is above four stars when we confirm its checks. We also note how many reviews it has.
    Why it matters
    Ratings give a picture of how other local customers found the experience.
    Worth knowing
    Ratings change over time and a high score from a handful of reviews tells you less than one from hundreds. It's worth reading a few recent reviews yourself.

Trade schemes, service by service

Some work can only legally be done by a registered business. For example, anyone working on gas appliances or pipes must be on the Gas Safe Register. For other work, registration lets the business certify that it meets Building Regulations. Here's what we check for each kind of work.

  • Required by law
  • We require
  • Where the job needs it

  • Windows & Doors

    • We require: FENSA, Certass or Assure Certification

      Replacement windows and doors, so the installer can certify the work meets Building Regulations.

  • Conservatory Roofs

    • Where the job needs it: FENSA, Certass or Assure Certification

      Glazed roofs.

    Replacing a glazed roof with a solid one usually needs Building Regulations approval from building control instead.

  • Extensions & New Builds

    • Required by law: Gas Safe Register

      Any gas work, such as fitting or moving a gas hob, boiler or pipework.

    Building work like this is approved by your council's building control or a registered building control approver, not a trade scheme. Any gas or electrical work in the project still needs a Gas Safe registered engineer or a registered electrician.

  • Roof Replacement

    • Where the job needs it: Competent Roofer

      Re-roofing that needs Building Regulations approval. Otherwise building control approves the work.

  • Solar & Battery

  • Heat Pumps & Air Conditioning

  • EV Charging

  • Insulation

    • Where the job needs it: Installation Assurance Authority (formerly CIGA)

      Cavity wall insulation, which should come with an independent guarantee.

    • Where the job needs it: TrustMark

      Work paid for through a government-funded scheme.

  • Loft Conversions

    • Required by law: Gas Safe Register

      Any gas work, such as fitting or moving a gas hob, boiler or pipework.

    Building work like this is approved by your council's building control or a registered building control approver, not a trade scheme. Any gas or electrical work in the project still needs a Gas Safe registered engineer or a registered electrician.

  • Architects & Planning

    • Required by law: Architects Registration Board

      Anyone calling themselves an architect. Architectural technologists and planning consultants don't need to be registered.

  • Kitchens

  • Bathrooms

  • Gardens, Driveways & Landscaping

    No trade scheme applies. A new driveway in a front garden usually needs to drain into the garden or use a permeable surface to avoid needing planning permission.

  • Flooring

    No trade scheme applies to fitting floors.

  • Plumbing & Heating

    • Required by law: Gas Safe Register

      Gas boilers, gas fires, and any work on gas pipes or appliances.

    • Where the job needs it: OFTEC

      Oil boilers and tanks.

    • Where the job needs it: HETAS

      Wood burners and other solid fuel appliances.

    • Where the job needs it: APHC

      Plumbing and heating work that must meet Building Regulations.

  • Electrical

  • Security Systems

Links go to each scheme's own website, where you can check a business is registered. We show scheme names rather than logos: the logos belong to the schemes, and using them without permission could suggest an endorsement we don't have.

Keeping checks up to date

  • We reconfirm every specialist's checks at least every 12 months. When we introduce them, we show Checks last confirmed: [date].
  • If a specialist's checks lapse, or they no longer meet one of them, we stop recommending them.
  • We review the standard itself and may add checks over time. When we do, we'll update this page.

Checks are a good starting point

Our checks tell you a business is properly set up. They can't guarantee how a particular job will go, so it's still worth doing a few things yourself:

Find a specialist How it works

Run a home-improvement business? See how to be considered for introductions.