How to hire a tradesperson in Scotland

Before you contact anyone

Five minutes of prep makes every conversation faster and stops you accepting a quote that's missing things.

• Describe the job in one paragraph. What's the problem, where in the property, when did it start. A few photos help.
• Decide your rough budget. Honest range, not a target. Three quotes will tell you if it's realistic.
• Know how urgent it is. Burst pipe is now; bathroom refurb can wait three weeks for a good trade.
• Shortlist two or three. The shortlist feature on this site is built for exactly this — save businesses you want to hear from, then call them in order.

Questions to ask when you call

Treat the first call like an interview. A good tradesperson expects these questions; one who bristles at them is a red flag.

• "Are you insured?" Public liability cover of at least £1 million is standard. Some larger jobs need £2-5m.
• "Are you registered with the relevant body?" Gas Safe for any gas work (it's a legal requirement). NICEIC, SELECT or NAPIT for electrical. OFTEC for oil. RECC for renewables. No registration, no job — especially for gas.
• "How long have you been trading and at this address?" Five-plus years at a fixed address is reassuring. New trades aren't automatically worse but the safety net is smaller.
• "Can I see examples of similar work or speak to a recent customer?" A reputable trade will have both.
• "When can you start and how long will it take?" Vague answers ("a couple of weeks", "shouldn't take long") leave you exposed. Push for specifics.
• "What guarantee or warranty do you offer?" Workmanship guarantees of 1-12 months are typical; longer is better.

What a proper written quote includes

A verbal "around £2,000" isn't a quote — it's a guess. Get every quote in writing (email is fine) before any money changes hands. It should cover:

• Scope of work, in plain English — what they're doing and what they're not
• Itemised cost — labour vs materials, ideally with daily rate visible
• VAT shown separately (legal requirement if they're VAT-registered)
• Start date and target completion date
• Payment schedule — what's due when
• What happens to waste / making good after
• Warranty length and what it covers
• Quote validity period (most are 30 days)

Be wary if one quote is dramatically lower than the others. It usually means they've skipped something — materials, scaffolding, waste removal, second visits to finish. Ask what's not included.

Deposits and payment

• A deposit for materials is reasonable — typically 10-30% if the trade is buying expensive items (boilers, kitchens, slates). Over 50% upfront is a flag.
• Never pay 100% upfront. Once they have the money, your leverage is gone.
• Stage payments on bigger jobs. Pay after each visible milestone: materials delivered, first fix complete, second fix complete, snagging signed off.
• Pay by bank transfer or card, not cash. Cash leaves no paper trail and is sometimes a sign of off-the-books work (no warranty, no recourse).
• Get a receipt for every payment. Email confirmation is fine.

Red flags — walk away

• Cash only / refuses to give a written quote / no email address
• Pressure to decide today, sign now, pay now
• No fixed business address — just a mobile number
• Quote dramatically lower than competitors with no explanation
• Cannot provide proof of insurance or registration
• Reluctant to share recent customer references
• Showed up unannounced and "noticed your roof needs work" — classic doorstep approach
• For gas work: not on the Gas Safe Register. Stop the conversation — it's illegal for them to do gas work in your home.

After the work is done

• Walk through with the trade. Open every door, run every tap, switch every light. Snag anything off.
• Get the paperwork. Gas Safety Certificate for any gas work. Electrical installation certificate (EIC) for new wiring. Roofing warranty cards. Boiler registration.
• Pay the final balance only after you're satisfied. If there are snags, withhold the proportionate balance until they're fixed.
• Leave an honest Google review. Detailed, specific feedback (job done, timeline, cost, quality) helps the next person — and helps us refresh the rankings.

If something goes wrong

1. Talk to the trade first, in writing. Most reputable trades will come back and put it right. Email is better than phone because it creates a record.
2. If they won't engage, your route depends on the issue:
   • Gas: report to the Gas Safe Register (gassaferegister.co.uk). They investigate unregistered work and bad practice.
   • Electrical: contact NICEIC, SELECT or NAPIT depending on who certified them.
   • General workmanship / contract dispute: Trading Standards Scotland (advice.scot) and the Consumer Rights Act 2015 — work must be of satisfactory quality, carried out with reasonable care and skill, and finished within a reasonable time.
   • Card / finance disputes: if you paid by credit card and the bill is between £100 and £30,000, Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act gives you a route to claim back from your card provider.
3. Small Claims Court (Simple Procedure in Scotland) handles disputes up to £5,000. The forms are user-friendly and don't usually need a solicitor.