MYWARMHOME • HOMEOWNER GUIDE
Choosing the right installer.
Good retrofit starts with the right people. Qualifications matter — but so do good design, clear communication, appropriate products and knowing exactly what you are paying for.
01
Check them
Check the installer holds the registrations and competence needed for the actual work being carried out.
02
Compare them
Get more than one quote. Compare the specification and scope — not simply the final price.
03
Understand it
Ask what is being installed, why it is suitable and what effect the work will have on your home.
04
Write it down
Specification, cost, making good, warranties and responsibilities should all be agreed in writing.
A badge isn’t the whole story.
Registration with a certification or competent-person scheme can be an important check, but it doesn’t mean every installation has been individually inspected. You should still understand who is doing the work, what is being installed and what documentation you will receive.
Depending on the work, relevant organisations may include Gas Safe Register, MCS, TrustMark, NICEIC and NAPIT. Different measures require different qualifications and registrations.
What should my installer have?
Choose the type of work you are considering. This gives you a starting point for the registrations, qualifications and competence you should ask about.
Before you sign anything.
Don’t be rushed. A reputable company should be able to explain what it proposes to do, what products it intends to use, how much it will cost and what happens if something goes wrong.
If you feel vulnerable or uncomfortable dealing with contractors, ask a relative, friend or neighbour to be present during surveys and quotation visits.
THE HOMEOWNER CHECKLIST
Nine things worth doing.
Ask for recommendations
Speak to people who have had similar work carried out. Ask what happened after the installer was paid as well as how the installation itself went.
Read reviews carefully
Online reviews can be useful, but don’t use them as your only check. Look for patterns and detailed reviews rather than simply a star rating.
Get multiple quotes
Compare the actual specification. A cheaper quote may contain a different product, less making-good work or a completely different design.
Check insurance
Ask about public liability insurance and any other insurance appropriate to the work.
Understand the guarantees
Separate the manufacturer’s product warranty from the installer’s workmanship guarantee. They aren’t necessarily the same thing.
Ask who is actually installing it
The company selling the job may not be the people carrying it out. Ask whether subcontractors are being used and who is responsible for the work.
Discuss disruption
Who moves furniture? Who removes radiators? Who replaces skirting, decorations, paving or other disturbed finishes?
Agree the paperwork
Ask what certificates, commissioning records, warranties, manuals and Building Regulations documentation you should receive.
Get it in writing
If something is important to you, don’t rely on a conversation. Put it into the written specification or contract.
What should I ask about my installation?
Every measure affects your home differently. Choose what you are having installed for some of the practical questions worth asking before work begins.
The cheapest quote isn’t necessarily the cheapest job.
A good installation should consider your home as well as the product being installed. Poor detailing, inadequate design or missing ventilation can cost considerably more to correct later.
Ask questions. Understand the specification. Keep the paperwork. And if something important has been promised — get it in writing.
Need independent consumer advice?
Citizens Advice — problems with home improvements →
MyWarmHome
Helping homeowners understand the retrofit puzzle — before, during and after the work.