COST-OF-LIVING: What to watch out for when hiring a tradesperson

According to a survey from the Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (CIPHE), 76 per cent of homeowners are concerned about unintentionally employing a rogue trader. Here, Kevin Wellman, CEO of the CIPHE outlines how to avoid this threat and what to look for when selecting a plumber or heating engineer.

Finding a reliable professional can be difficult, especially when unscrupulous tradespeople prey on those who believe they are paying for a professional service.

What does it mean to hire a rogue trader?

Rogue traders are people who don’t have the necessary qualifications or competence to do a high-quality job. Unfortunately, some individuals are scam-artists intent on taking money away from innocent victims. Others are the result of substandard training programmes – courses that claim to offer proper training but instead leave their students unprepared and unsafe. What makes matters worse is that these traders probably don’t know they’re incompetent.

What are the risks of hiring an incompetent tradesperson?

Hiring someone who does not hold the necessary qualifications or isn’t competent for the work at hand is extremely concerning when you consider the safety implications and financial cost of a poorly installed system. In many cases, once substandard work has been completed, it’s not long until it needs to be redone. On average, the cost of additional work required to remedy deficient installations or maintenance is almost £2,000.

In terms of safety, inadequately installed and maintained heating and hot water appliances increase burn and scald risk. There are other dangers too that can be harder to detect but pose a more serious threat. For example, if a system is set to the wrong temperature, the bacteria that causes Legionnaire’s disease can thrive. If inhaled, this can feel like a seasonal cold or, for vulnerable people, it can be far more severe. Just as serious is the risk of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. This can be difficult to detect as symptoms can appear mild or dismissible like a cold or stomach bug, but it can also be deadly.

How can I ensure I’m choosing a qualified, competent professional?

There are a couple of ways of being sure that the person you’re letting into your home is competent and will carry out work to a high standard. An easy way of doing this is by finding your plumber or heating engineers via the Find a Professional tool on the CIPHE’s website. All you need is the postcode of the property where the work will take place, and you’ll be shown a list of local CIPHE-registered engineers, including their area of expertise.

Because this tool only features plumbing and heating engineers who are registered with the CIPHE, you can be sure that you’ll find a trustworthy tradesperson. All CIPHE members have agreed to uphold the Code of Professional Standards, which means they comply with all relevant laws and regulations, as well as delivering quality work in a professional and responsible manner.

What qualifications should I ask for?

While a gas engineer must legally be Gas Safe registered, not all disciplines in the plumbing and heating profession have the same requirements. The easiest way to know that the plumbing or heating engineer that you hire is qualified, competent and professional is by confirming they are a member of the CIPHE. If you have been recommended a plumber, you can type their phone number, email address or CIPHE membership number into the Verify a Member part of the CIPHE website to confirm that they are qualified and competent.

It is important to check that the people working on your home are up to the task. For instance, a qualified engineer who is skilled at laying drains may not always be best for installing and maintaining pressurised hot water systems. When getting quotes for work, you can ask installers for their Continuing Professional Development (CPD) record. This ensures they are competent for the specific job.

To find a quality tradesperson in your area, visit CIPHE.org.uk.