Read this first — customer due diligence is essential
NI Trades is an introduction service. The checks described on this page are carried out at application stage only — they are not ongoing or real-time. Insurance, credentials and business status can lapse, be revoked, or be cancelled at any time after our check without our knowledge. Before any work begins and before any money is paid, the customer must satisfy themselves directly with the tradesperson as to current insurance cover, current statutory credentials, identity, references, written quote and scope of work. NI Trades does not supervise, inspect, warrant or guarantee any work and accepts no responsibility for the conduct of any tradesperson introduced through the platform.
1. Photo ID checked at application
Every applicant must submit a current government-issued photo ID (passport or driving licence) at the point of application. The document is reviewed by an NI Trades administrator before a profile is allowed to go live. ID images are stored in an access-restricted location and used only for identity verification at application stage. We do not re-verify ID after onboarding.
2. Public liability insurance checked at application
Applicants must evidence a current public liability insurance policy of at least £1,000,000 cover at the point of application. Our check confirms the policy is in force on the date we review it — nothing more. We do not run ongoing or scheduled re-checks. A policy can lapse at any time after the application check (for example through non-payment by the tradesperson, mid-term cancellation by their insurer, or refusal to renew) without our knowledge. Customers must always ask the tradesperson for proof of current insurance immediately before any work begins or any money is paid — it is the customer's responsibility to verify cover is live at the point of hire.
3. Two contactable references — email or phone only
We ask each applicant to supply two contactable references and we contact them by email or phone. Important disclaimer: the references are nominated by the tradesperson themselves and we have no way of independently confirming who they are or what work was actually carried out. Our process is limited to email or phone contact only — we do not carry out site visits, we do not inspect any completed work, we do not see photographs or evidence of work, and we do not verify the relationship between the applicant and the referee beyond what they tell us. References are an indicative check at application stage only; they are not a substitute for the customer's own due diligence on a specific job.
4. Claimed trade credentials checked at application
If a tradesperson claims to hold a statutory or industry credential — for example Gas Safe for gas work, NICEIC / NAPIT for electrical, CSCS for site work, FENSA / Certass for windows, or any equivalent — we require evidence at application stage and check the registration number against the relevant public register on the day we review it. We do not require credentials a tradesperson is not claiming, so the absence of a credential on a profile does not mean we have refused or revoked it — it means it was not claimed. Credentials, like insurance, can be revoked, suspended, or allowed to lapse after our application check. Customers should re-check the displayed registration number on the relevant public register before commissioning any work that legally requires the credential.
5. Closed review system
Only homeowners who posted a job through NI Trades and recorded a hire can leave a review for that tradesperson. We do not allow open public review submissions. This makes review-bombing or fake-positive review campaigns considerably harder to execute. Reviews reflect individual customer experience only and are not a guarantee of the quality of any future work.
6. Warning system and suspensions
Substantiated complaints — verified by our trust & safety team — can result in formal warnings on the tradesperson's account. Repeated warnings can trigger suspension and a manual review of the account. Suspended accounts are not visible to homeowners and cannot accept new work via the platform until the review concludes. The warning system addresses platform behaviour only and is not a substitute for the customer's legal remedies in the event of a workmanship dispute.
What our vetting does not cover
- Our checks are carried out at application stage only. We do not run continuous, scheduled or real-time monitoring of insurance, credentials, identity, or business status after a profile goes live.
- A "Verified" badge or displayed credential confirms only that we received and reviewed a document at application stage on a specific date. It is not an endorsement, certification, accreditation or guarantee of competence, work quality, conduct, or current status.
- Insurance can lapse at any time after our application check — for example through non-payment by the tradesperson, mid-term cancellation by the insurer, refusal of renewal, or the tradesperson allowing cover to expire. We are not notified when this happens. Customers must always request and review proof of current public liability insurance directly from the tradesperson immediately before any work begins or any money is paid.
- References are nominated by the tradesperson and contacted by NI Trades only by email or phone. We do not visit sites, inspect completed work, photograph work, or independently verify the identity of references or the nature or quality of the work they describe. The process is an indicative check only.
- Trade credentials (Gas Safe, NICEIC, NAPIT, FENSA, etc.) are checked against the relevant public register on the day of application only. They can be revoked, suspended or lapsed afterwards without our knowledge. Always re-check on the relevant public register before commissioning legally regulated work.
- Reviews reflect individual customer experience and are not a quality guarantee of future work.
- NI Trades is an introduction service only. We are not a party to any contract for work between a homeowner and a tradesperson, we do not supervise or inspect any work, and we do not warrant the work itself, its workmanship, or its compliance with any building regulation, statute, or contract term.
- Customer due diligence is mandatory. Before any work begins and before any money changes hands the customer must satisfy themselves as to the tradesperson's identity, current insurance cover, current statutory credentials, business status, references, written quote, scope of work, payment terms, and dispute resolution. NI Trades has no part in that decision and accepts no responsibility for it.
Related policies
- Complaints policy — how to report concerns and what happens next.
- Editorial standards — how guides and category pages are written.
- Terms & conditions — vetting scope, our role and limits.