How Do I Know a Builder Is Legitimate?
Check that the business is real, reachable and consistent. A legitimate builder gives you details you can verify and doesn't mind you verifying them.
The short answer
Check the details are real and consistent. A genuine builder makes that easy.
You can tell a builder is legitimate when the details you're given check out: a full business name you can verify, a phone number and email that are answered, a written quote on their own paperwork, insurance they can show you, and reviews or references that point to real jobs. None of this proves a builder will do good work, but together it shows you're dealing with a genuine business that can be held to what it agrees.
Most of these checks are free and can be done online, and none of them needs any technical knowledge of building. A legitimate builder expects them, has the answers to hand and won't be put out when you ask.
The checks
Six ways to confirm a builder is genuine
Get their full details
Their full name or business name, whether they're a sole trader or a limited company, a landline or mobile, an email address and somewhere letters can reach them. Knowing which kind of business they are tells you which public records you can check.
Look up a limited company
Companies House lets you search any UK limited company free on GOV.UK. Check the name matches, the company is active, and look at the registered office and directors. Our answer on checking a builder on Companies House walks through it.
Check a VAT number if they charge VAT
If the quote adds VAT, it should show a VAT number. GOV.UK has a free service to check that a UK VAT number is valid and see the business name it's registered to.
Ask to see their insurance
Public liability insurance, in the same name as the quote, and in date for when your work will happen. Our answer on checking a builder's insurance shows what to look for.
Read reviews in more than one place
Look for a spread of reviews over time, with detail about the actual work. Ask for a reference or two from recent customers as well. Our answer on whether online reviews are reliable explains how to weigh them.
Check any scheme they mention
If they say they're a member of a scheme or trade body, look them up on that scheme's own site rather than relying on a logo. Our answer on what TrustMark is is a useful example.
The same name should appear on the quote, the insurance certificate, any company record and the bank details you're asked to pay. When you set up a bank transfer, many UK banks now tell you whether the account name matches the name you've entered. If a separate company administers payments on the contractor's behalf, your paperwork should say so clearly.
Reading the signals
Signs of a genuine business, and reasons to pause
One item in the right-hand column isn't proof of anything. Several together are worth taking seriously.
Signs of a genuine business
- Gives full details without being asked twice
- Puts the quote in writing on their own paperwork
- Happy for you to see their insurance
- Reviews spread over months or years
- Answers questions clearly and patiently
Reasons to pause
- Only a first name and a mobile number
- Cash only, or a push to decide today
- Nothing in writing
- An unprompted offer to start straight away
- Details that don't match from one document to the next
Keeping it in proportion
Legitimate is the starting point, not the finish line
A builder can be completely legitimate and still not be right for your job. These checks tell you the business is real and accountable. Whether they're good at the kind of work you need is a separate question, answered by previous work, references and the quality of the quote itself.
It's also worth keeping in mind that a sole trader isn't less legitimate than a limited company. They're a different kind of business, with different public records. Our answer on whether a sole trader builder is riskier covers the practical differences.
If something doesn't add up, ask about it before assuming the worst. There are often ordinary explanations: a company that changed its name last year, an insurance policy renewed under a new insurer, a trading name that differs from the registered one. A legitimate builder will explain without fuss and, where it helps, show you the document. What you're looking for is an answer that makes the details line up, not one that asks you to stop checking.
Where Mortaro fits
Checking us, and checking your contractor
If you've received a quotation through Mortaro, the same principle applies to us. Our company details are set out on who you're dealing with, and your quotation names the independent main contractor who will carry out the work, so you can check them too before you commit.
Before introducing a contractor to customers, we check their public liability insurance, their reviews and references, the warranties they provide, their trade experience and work history, and their ability to meet our standards. Our contractor network explains those checks and their limits.
Straight answers
Questions about legitimate builders
Does a professional-looking online presence prove anything?
Not much on its own. Anyone can set up a smart page or profile. What counts is whether the details behind it check out.
Can a new business be legitimate?
Yes. Every business starts somewhere. A new builder will have fewer reviews, so the other checks, such as insurance, a written quote and clear company details, carry more weight.
Should a legitimate builder have a business address?
They should be identifiable and reachable, but a public trading address isn't essential. See should a builder have a business address?
Start here
Tell us about the work you have in mind
We will confirm we cover your postcode, arrange a site visit with a contractor from our network and send you a written quotation. No charge, no obligation.