How to Find a Registered Electrician in the UK
How to find an electrician you can trust in the UK, what registration schemes mean, how to check credentials and the warning signs to watch for.
Anyone can call themselves an electrician, but not everyone is registered with a scheme that checks their work. For fixed wiring and anything notifiable, registration matters. This guide explains what it means, how to check it and how to narrow down a shortlist without wasting time.
What "registered" actually means
In the UK, electricians who carry out notifiable work can join a competent person scheme. Joining involves assessment of their qualifications and periodic inspection of their work. In return, they can self-certify that work meets building regulations and notify it on your behalf, rather than you applying to building control separately.
Being registered does not mean the work is free of problems, and it is not the same as holding a particular qualification. It is, however, a useful first filter, particularly for rewires, consumer units, new circuits and bathroom work. Our guide on which electrical work needs a registered electrician explains where it applies.
Where to look
Useful starting points include:
- Recommendations from neighbours, friends, landlords or letting agents who have had similar work done.
- The public "find a member" search tools run by competent person schemes, where you can look up a business or individual.
- Online marketplaces, where you can compare profiles, offers and reviews from previous customers.
- Local trade associations and builders' merchants.
On Compito, you can describe the job, receive offers and read reviews left after completed bookings, and the trust page and safety page explain how the platform approaches confidence. Whichever route you use, still ask each electrician which scheme they belong to and check it yourself.
How to verify credentials
- Ask for the electrician's full name, business name and scheme registration number.
- Search for them on the scheme's own website rather than relying on a logo in an advert.
- Check that the name and address match the quote.
- Ask what the scheme covers, in particular whether it covers the type of work you need.
- Ask whether the electrician has public liability insurance and request evidence if it matters to you.
- Confirm who will notify the work and issue the certificate.
A genuine electrician will usually be relaxed about these questions.
Warning signs
- They will not name a scheme, or say "I don't need one".
- No written quote, or a figure that changes on the day.
- Pressure to pay cash upfront or to decide immediately.
- Surprise at the idea of a test certificate.
- No fixed business address or contact number.
- Offers to "skip the paperwork" to save money.
If something feels wrong, walk away. There are plenty of other electricians.
Match the electrician to the job
Not every electrician does every type of work. Some specialise in domestic rewires, others in commercial work, EV charging, solar or fire alarms. Ask about similar jobs they have completed recently and whether they carry out inspection and testing if you need a condition report.
Before you accept
Agree the scope, price, start date, how long it will take and what happens if extra work is needed. Questions to ask before hiring gives a ready-made list.
A worked example
A homeowner needs a new circuit for a shower. They collect three names: one from a neighbour, one from an online search and one through a marketplace request. For each they write down the business name and scheme number from the quote, then look up each on the scheme's website. The neighbour's electrician appears on the register with a matching address. The online result's name does not match the listed business, so they set it aside and ask for clarification. The third has a clear profile and matches. Ten minutes of checking removes one candidate before any money changes hands.
A verification checklist
| Check | What you are looking for |
|---|---|
| Name and business | Matches the quote and the register |
| Scheme number | Appears on the scheme's own search |
| Type of work | Domestic or the relevant category |
| Contact details | A real address and phone number |
| Certificate | Will be issued and who notifies |
Common mistakes
- Trusting a logo on a van or website without checking the register.
- Confusing a trade body membership with a competent person scheme.
- Not asking who will notify the work.
- Choosing on price alone for notifiable work.
Edge cases
- Landlords: ask for the electrician's details to keep on file with the certificate.
- Flats: some work needs permission from the freeholder, so ask early.
- Small repairs: a registered electrician is still worth using where fixed wiring is touched, even for small jobs.
- Specialist work: for solar, EV charging or alarms, ask about specific experience.
When to call a professional
If you are unsure whether a job is notifiable, ask a registered electrician. Do not allow work on a consumer unit or new circuit to be done by someone who cannot show registration or explain how it will be certified.
Frequently asked questions
Do all electricians need to be registered?
No. Some work can lawfully be carried out by competent people who are not scheme members, but notifiable work then needs to go through building control. Using a registered electrician is the simpler route.
Is a registered electrician the same as a qualified electrician?
Not exactly. Qualifications show training, while registration shows that a scheme assessed competence and monitors the work. A good electrician usually has both.
Can I check an electrician's work afterwards?
You can ask for the certificate and, if you have concerns, request an independent inspection from another registered electrician.
What should I do if I am unhappy with the work?
Raise it with the electrician in writing first, keep the certificate and photos, and ask for the issue to be put right. The scheme they belong to may have a complaints process you can use if it is not resolved.