01
Know who they are
- Business identity & trading history
- Relevant previous work
PLUMBER GUIDE
How to check a plumberbefore you hire.
Practical guidance on identity, relevant experience, water-regulations evidence and the project details worth agreeing before work begins.
Check a plumberAt a glance
For plumbing work, pay particular attention to:
02
Check the evidence that fits the work
- Approvals & qualifications relevant to the work
- Insurance
03
Agree the plumbing scope
- Scope, fittings & making good
- Payment structure
04
Get completion clear
- Testing & handover
- Written agreement
What to verify
The essentials at a glance.
Open any area to see the detailed checks, questions to ask and what good looks like.
Practical conversations
Questions worth asking
Resolve the responsibilities, assumptions and practical details that matter before work begins.
Have you done this type of work recently?
Look for recent experience that matches the actual plumbing work required.
What approvals or qualifications are relevant to this job?
Different jobs call for different evidence; ask what is meaningful for yours.
Will you use subcontractors?
Know who will attend and who is responsible for any specialist work.
Who supplies the fittings?
Clarify product supply so price and warranty responsibilities are understood.
What access / making good is included?
Agree access, finishes and making good before work begins.
Could hidden pipework create extra work?
Record how unforeseen pipework or additional work will be approved and priced.
Look for a coherent pattern
Evidence that supports confidence
Look for several consistent signals rather than relying on any one claim or profile.
- Consistent identity
- Relevant previous work
- Appropriate qualifications / approvals
- Current insurance
Resolve uncertainty
Things worth investigating
Prompts to clarify rather than automatic failures.
- Claims of approval not confirmed
- Scope unclear around fittings / making good
- Gas work without appropriate registration
- Large unexplained upfront payment
Protect the project
Before you agree the work
Make the practical responsibilities explicit.
Who supplies each item and which product choices are included in the price.
Who opens up, restores and disposes of affected finishes and materials.
What any deposit covers and when the final balance is due.
How the installation will be tested and which documents or warranties will be supplied.
Useful answers
Plumber hiring FAQs
Straightforward answers to common questions about hiring a plumber.
Does a plumber have to be WaterSafe approved?
No. WaterSafe states that customers are not legally required to use a WaterSafe-approved plumbing business. Approval can still provide useful evidence of qualifications, Water Fittings Regulations knowledge, insurance and auditing.
What if the plumber will also work on gas?
Anyone carrying out gas work must be appropriately Gas Safe registered for that work.
Check before you commit
Ready to check this plumber?
Check the plumber's details and get a clearer view of the evidence before you commit.