Register

Registers are how you check that the people working on your home really hold
the credentials they claim. Rather than taking a firm’s word for it, you
can look them up on the official, public registers — free of charge and
independent of the trader. Doing this before you commit is one of the simplest
ways to protect yourself, especially with
grant-funded energy work. This page explains the main
registers and how to use them.

The registers to check

• The TrustMark register – TrustMark is the
  government-endorsed quality scheme for work in and around the home. Its
  online register lets you confirm a business is currently registered and see
  the type of work it is approved for.
• The EPC register – every Energy Performance
  Certificate is lodged on the central register, published by the government
  on GOV.UK. You can find an existing EPC for a property, or locate an
  accredited assessor, through the ‘find an energy certificate’
  service.
• The MCS register – for low-carbon technology such as
  heat pumps and solar panels, the Microgeneration Certification Scheme
  publishes a register of certified installers and certified installations.

How to check

Ask the business for its registration or certificate number, then search for
it directly on the relevant register rather than following a link the trader
gives you. Confirm the name matches, the registration is current, and it
covers the specific type of work — a firm registered for one measure is
not automatically approved for another.

If a business cannot be found, or the details do not match, that is a genuine
warning sign worth acting on before any money changes hands. For related
guidance, see our energy and water section and
our pages on accredited installers and certification bodies within these
accreditations.