Home care & seasonal
Insurance and certificates: what homeowners should actually check
Paperwork is dull until a claim, a dispute or a buyer’s solicitor makes it urgent. A short checklist for your own insurance and for anyone who works on the house prevents most of the expensive surprises.
By the Tickover team · Published 22 May 2026 · 2 min read
Your policy, once a year
Buildings and contents sanity check
- Rebuild cost still realistic (not just market value)
- Accidental damage and escape of water — understand excesses
- Outbuildings, conservatories and rented rooms declared if needed
- High-value items listed separately if required
- Claims history and joint policies accurate after a move
Under-insurance is common and painful: insurers can reduce payouts proportionally if the rebuild sum is wildly low. Review after extensions, loft conversions or a kitchen that cost more than a small car.
When a trade works in your home
| Check | Who it applies to | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Public liability insurance | Most trades | Damage or injury cover |
| Gas Safe registration | Gas work | Legal competence |
| Competent person scheme | Electrics, windows, etc. | Self-cert building regs |
| Written quote and scope | Everyone | Stops “while I am here” drift |
| Waste and making-good | Messy jobs | Who leaves what behind |
Gas work: only a Gas Safe registered engineer — verify the card or the Gas Safe Register online. Electrics: notifiable work needs a registered electrician under the competent person schemes; the electrics guide draws the DIY line. Keep certificates in the house file.
Want a professional on it?
Find someone lists local trades Tickover has scored. You skip the review-hunting and contact them yourself.
Quick answers
Should I check a tradesperson’s insurance?
Yes. Ask for evidence of public liability cover before work starts, and for Gas Safe or electrical competent-person registration when the job involves gas or notifiable electrics. Reputable trades expect the question.
What certificate should I get after a boiler service?
A record of the service from a Gas Safe registered engineer, kept with the boiler’s install paperwork. Some engineers provide a checklist or report; keep whatever is issued with the date and engineer details for warranty and resale.
This guide is general information for UK homes, not advice about your specific property. Anything involving gas must be done by a Gas Safe registered engineer, and notifiable electrical work by a qualified electrician. If you smell gas, call the National Gas Emergency line on 0800 111 999. If you’re ever unsure, stop and get a professional in — that’s exactly what Tickover is for.
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