How to check a builder in Devon County before you pay
The short answer: no single register "approves" all builders — but every check below is free, official, and takes minutes. Check the company, check the person for regulated work (gas, electrics), check scheme membership for what it actually certifies, and put the deal in writing before any money moves.
REVIEWED BY: Sean McNamara on 2026-09-03
The official registers (the only checks that mean anything)
| Check | What it tells you | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Companies House | Company exists, age, directors, prior dissolved companies | find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk |
| TrustMark | Government-endorsed scheme membership (vetting + complaints route) | trustmark.org.uk/find-a-tradesman |
| FMB | Independently vetted builder; insurance-backed warranties available | fmb.org.uk find a builder |
| Gas Safe | Engineer legally registered for gas work (check the person, not the firm) | gassaferegister.co.uk |
| FENSA / CERTASS | Glazing certification you will need at sale time | forms.fensa.org.uk |
| RICS | Chartered surveyors (for snagging and dispute reports) | ricsfirms.com expert witness |
A membership is not insurance and not a guarantee of your specific job — it is a vetting signal and a complaints route. The contract protects you more than any logo: see how to check a builder and quote vs estimate.
The five questions that filter cowboys
1. "What is your company number?" — look it up on Companies House while they wait. No company, no track record. 2. "Can I see your Gas Safe / NICEIC card?" — for anyone touching gas or electrics. Check the card number online, not just the photo. 3. "Will you quote fixed-price against a written scope?" — hesitation here is the tell. See quote vs estimate. 4. "What deposit and payment stages?" — small deposit only, stages tied to completed work, 5–10% retention until snagging. 5. "Which building-control inspections will you book?" — a professional books them and gives you the certificates.
Red flags (walk away)
- Cash-only, "today's price", or "materials left over from another job".
- No written quote, no company number, no fixed address.
- Pressure to decide on the doorstep.
- Asking for most of the money up front.
If something goes wrong in this council area
Report it: the Citizens Advice consumer service passes complaints to Devon County Council Trading Standards — council Trading Standards page (verified 2026-09-04).
For your money, the civil route is separate: letter before action, then small claims if needed. Project-specific evidence guides: extensions, loft conversions, roofing, driveways.
Independent information directory — not affiliated with any register, council or trade body, and not legal advice. Listing a register is not an endorsement of any firm.
Register URLs verified 2026-09-03; council source: https://www.devon.gov.uk/accesstoinformation/request_type/trading-standards/page/8 (verified 2026-09-04).
Reviewed by Sean McNamara · 2026-09-03 · Independent information directory — not legal advice.