5 tips for choosing reliable contractors for landlords

From ensuring gas and electrical safety to meeting repair deadlines and maintaining habitable standards, landlords have a legal duty to keep their properties safe, compliant, and well-maintained. Poor workmanship or unqualified tradespeople don’t just risk damage or delays, they can lead to serious legal consequences, tenant complaints, and costly rework.

The right professionals can help you stay ahead of maintenance issues, respond quickly to emergencies, and ensure that all work carried out meets the required legal and safety standards. In contrast, choosing the wrong person for the job could result in more problems than it solves.

To help you make informed choices, we’ve outlined five key tips - covering where to find trusted professionals and how to check their qualifications.

If you're an experienced property professional, chances are you already have a reliable network of trusted tradespeople. But if you're new to the sector, or expanding into a completely new area, you may be starting from scratch when it comes to building those essential contacts.

The NRLA recommends turning to trusted websites as your first port of call when searching for contractors.

Checkatrade connects you with carefully vetted tradespeople for your rental property maintenance, backed by a workmanship guarantee of up to 12 months. They identify the best trades to fit your specific job, handle quotes, and schedule appointments for you making the process simple and hassle-free.

NRLA members can benefit from huge savings - 3 months free membership, then 9 months at £2.99 + VAT per property per month. (Usual price £8.99 +VAT per property per month).

When it comes to compliance-related services, like electrical safety checks, EPCs, or gas safety certificates, you can order these quickly and easily through Safe2, part of the NRLA family. All Safe2 engineers are fully vetted, so you know you’re getting qualified professionals every time. As well as ordering certificates on Safe2, you can also set up tracking so you never miss a due date.

One of the many benefits of the NRLA’s networking events is the option to network with fellow landlords in your area. If you’re searching for a particular trade, then chatting to landlords and getting a word-of-mouth recommendation can be a good call.

Similarly, community or landlord Facebook or WhatsApp groups can be great places to ask for experience-based recommendations from other landlords or property professionals.

With some trades, such as gas safety engineers, builders and electricians, you can ask if they are members of professional bodies.

• Gas safety engineers should be registered with the Gas Safe Register. You can ask them for their Gas Safe ID card when they visit your property.
• Electricians. You could check that the electrician is a member of one of the professional bodies NICEIC or NAPIT.
• Builders. The Federation of Master Builders is a leading trade association for builders.

It may seem obvious, but it’s worth remembering that some trades are in higher demand at certain times of the year. For instance, roofers are often busiest during the spring and summer, when dry weather makes external work more feasible. Reaching out early in the year can help you secure a booking before their schedules fill up.

Looking ahead, spring/summer 2025 is expected to be a particularly busy period for electricians, as it marks five years since the introduction of mandatory five-yearly electrical safety checks in England. If your properties are due for inspection, it’s wise to plan ahead and book early to avoid delays.

Remember, under the Tenant Fees Act (introduced in 2019), it is illegal to charge tenants for certain services in England. This includes fees for contractors during a tenancy, such as cleaners and gardeners. If you do charge tenants for these services, you could face a fine of up to £5,000.

As a landlord, you’ll need to cover the cost of these services yourself. One option could be to incorporate these costs into the monthly rent from the outset of the tenancy, ensuring transparency and compliance with the law.  

We’ve covered how to find a trusted trade, but what about gaining access to your property in the first place?

As a landlord, keep in mind that you must always give your tenant at least 24 hours written notice before you enter your property, with the only exception being in an emergency. 

Got an electrician coming next week for the annual check? Need to call in a plumber to fix that leaky bathroom tap someone reported? Remember you must give your tenants advance notice.

If you're arranging regular visits from a tradesperson, like a cleaner who comes weekly to tidy up communal areas in an HMO, it's best to inform tenants of this setup at the start of their tenancy. In that case, you won’t need to send a written notice every time. More advice on giving written notice, and exactly what to do if you’re struggling to gain access to your property, can be found in our complete guide for landlords.

Finding reliable contractors is so important, which is why personal recommendations and online reviews can be incredibly helpful.

In the event of an emergency, like a serious leak, exposed wiring, or storm-related roof damage, it’s beneficial to have trusted tradespeople you can count on to respond quickly and effectively.

It’s also a good idea to keep a list of these emergency contacts handy. That way, if you're ever away on holiday, you can share the list with your tenants to give them peace of mind and ensure any issues are dealt with promptly.

The NRLA recommends a variety of suppliers for landlords, offering discounts and partnerships on services like property maintenance, insurance, and more. Explore our recommended suppliers to save time and money.