Guide

How to check a handyman in Oxfordshire

Short answer

Most handymen are on no trade register, so use the checks that exist. Look up a limited company on Companies House. Search TrustMark, Which? Trusted Traders, the Guild of Master Craftsmen and Buy With Confidence, the scheme Oxfordshire Trading Standards promotes. Ask for proof of insurance and a written price before work starts.

Updated 15 October 2026 · 3 min read · 13 sources

Why there is no single register

The law does not require a handyman to join a register. Some join a scheme by choice. So you check a handyman with several small checks, not one big one.

On this site, each listing shows the checks we made and their dates. If we found no record on a register, we show nothing for it. A search can miss a firm that trades under a different name.

Check 1: Companies House

A firm whose name ends in Ltd or Limited is on Companies House. Searching costs nothing. Confirm the company shows as active, with the same name as on the quote.

Sole traders do not appear there. For one, expect a full name, phone number and base town on the website or quote.

Check 2: the voluntary schemes

Each of these schemes has a free online search. A firm can choose to join one, several or none.

TrustMark: a quality scheme for home improvement work, endorsed by the government.
Which? Trusted Traders: firms assessed against standards that trading standards professionals set.
Guild of Master Craftsmen: members, searched by trade and postcode.
Buy With Confidence: a scheme of local traders on Oxfordshire County Council’s trading standards pages. The council says it lists over 100 traders.

Check 3: questions to ask

Ask every firm the same questions, and note the answers.

Do you hold public liability insurance, and will you send the certificate?
Is this price fixed, or an estimate? Does it include VAT, materials and travel?
What is your minimum charge, and what does it cover?
Will part of the job need gas or electrical certificates, or council consent?
When do you expect payment, and do you take a deposit?

Check 4: a price in writing

A short email or text that states the job and the price is enough for a small job. It prevents arguments when the bill arrives.

Without an agreed price, you owe a reasonable price under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 51. Section 49 requires reasonable care and skill.

A contract agreed in your home usually gives you 14 days to cancel. If you want work to start inside those 14 days, the trader must get your request on paper or by email.

Doorstep callers in Oxfordshire

Oxfordshire Trading Standards warns about uninvited callers who offer garden, roof or gutter work. It says an honest trader will never pressure you to buy or sign on the spot.

Ask any caller for ID, and do not agree work at the door. If a caller will not leave, or you feel threatened, call the police on 999.

To report a rogue trader, call the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 0808 223 1133. It passes reports to Trading Standards.

Questions

What is Buy With Confidence in Oxfordshire?

It is a scheme of local traders that Oxfordshire County Council’s trading standards pages promote. The council says it lists over 100 local traders, mostly in home improvement. Search it as one of your checks.

How do I report a rogue trader in Oxfordshire?

Call the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 0808 223 1133. It is the partner of Oxfordshire Trading Standards for consumer complaints. Call 999 if the trader is at your door and you feel threatened.

Can I stop cold callers at my door?

Cold calling is legal, but you can refuse it. Oxfordshire County Council says a No cold calling notice on your door helps, and you can report anyone who ignores it.