Summary
- There are over 600,000 online searches each month across the UK for local trades — electricians, plumbers, builders — and London ranks among the most searched cities per 100,000 residents.
- Still, nearly 48% of UK homeowners say they find it hard to search for a sole trader.
- London homeowners are among those most affected: in 2021, over half of Londoners reported difficulty finding tradespeople with availability.
- Trust matters when you search for a sole trader: London homeowners frequently worry about credentials, bad reviews, and rogue traders. Bad windows, unfinished work or overcharging are common complaints.
- Our list below features the best trade directories in London where you can reliably search for a sole trader who’s been checked, rated, and locally vetted via the LBND Trust Score system.
For anyone living in London, there’s always a time you need a reliable tradesperson—be it a plumber, an electrician, or a decorator. But with so many trades and so many platforms to choose from, how do you actually find a sole trader in London you can trust?
It isn’t as simple as scrolling down a random list or even making a list of questions to ask each tradesperson.
Top Questions to ask a Tradesperson on a London Trade Directory
You’ll find endless advice online—often telling you to grill every sole trader with a long list of questions before hiring them, so we’ve compiled the most important questions to ask:
- Are you insured?
- Can I see your qualifications?
- How long have you been trading?
- Who will be doing the work?
- What’s your guarantee policy?
- Can I speak to past customers?
- How do you handle complaints?
- Is everything included in your quote?
- Do you have a written contract?
- Are you registered with any trade bodies?
At ClickDo Ltd., we set up some of the best business directories, like the UK Business List and London Business Directory – to make finding trusted tradespeople in the UK and specifically in every London borough simpler and more transparent.
We rigorously verify listings, showcase local businesses, and offer borough-level search so you can search for a sole trader easily.
In fact, there are now dozens of London trade directories—some cover every borough, others specialise in certain trades, and many seem almost identical on the surface.
Yet, these directories and rating platforms can differ hugely in how they check their tradespeople, what reviews actually mean, and whether badges or accreditations are genuine.
The stakes are real: choosing the wrong directory—or not knowing what questions to ask a sole trader—can mean wasted money, unreliable work, or worse.
To make things easier, we’ve reviewed the best trade directories for London.
Note: For transparency, we haven’t included ourselves in the list below, but do give us a try for free.
How We Rated London’s Top Trade Directories – Our LBND Trust Score
To help you choose with confidence, we use the LBND Trust Score.
We rate each platform on five key factors:
- Vetting & Verification Process (25%)
- User Reviews & Reputation (25%)
- London Coverage & Local Focus (20%)
- Badges & Accreditations (15%)
- Ease of Use & Innovation (15%)
Each factor is rated out of five, then weighted by importance and combined for a final score out of ten.
Top 6 London Trade Directories
1. Checkatrade – LBND Trust Score: 9.4/10
Checkatrade is one of the UK’s best-known platforms for finding reputable tradespeople, with an especially strong presence across all London boroughs. Its search tools let you filter by postcode, trade, and job type, making it easy to find local professionals near you in London.
- Year Launched: 1998
- How to Use: Search by trade/location on website or app; request quotes; view ratings
- Pricing/Fees: Free for consumers; trades pay an annual membership fee
- Reputation System: Verified customer reviews, star ratings, TV/online media campaigns
- Vetting: 12-point check (ID, address, insurance, criminal, trade, CCJ, etc.)
- Badges/Accreditation: Checkatrade Approved, TrustMark (if held), trade logos
- Special Features: Service guarantee, map search, customer service line, digital quotes
- Contact & Support: Online, phone, complaints process, and account manager for trades
2. Which? Trusted Traders – LBND Trust Score: 9.0/10
Which? Trusted Traders is the endorsement scheme from the UK’s leading consumer champion, offering a gold-standard vetting process. Users in London can search for a vendor by trade and postcode, which helps London homeowners quickly narrow down trusted local options. The “Which? Trusted Trader” badge is highly respected, and the site only lists businesses that meet their high bar for service and reliability.
- Year Launched: 2014 (officially)
- How to Use: Search by trade and postcode; view detailed profiles and review scores
- Pricing/Fees: Free to consumers; traders pay for endorsement/listing
- Reputation System: Reviews are moderated and trading standards-approved
- Vetting: Comprehensive interview, ID, insurance, trading standards check
- Badges/Accreditation: “Which? Trusted Trader” logo, Trader of the Month, TrustMark
- Special Features: Editorial content, monthly awards, direct support line
- Contact & Support: Dedicated consumer support; complaint escalation
3. TrustMark – LBND Trust Score: 8.5/10
TrustMark is the UK government’s only endorsed quality scheme for trades, recognised as the highest standard for vetting in home improvement. Listings are only for traders that belong to TrustMark-approved schemes. You can search by trade and postcode, ensuring your results are always relevant for your London borough.
- Year Launched: 2005
- How to Use: Search by trade and location; view TrustMark-accredited businesses
- Pricing/Fees: Free for consumers; traders join via scheme provider
- Reputation System: No review system, but TrustMark status is a major quality signal
- Vetting: Strict background, insurance, qualifications, and standards checks
- Badges/Accreditation: Government TrustMark logo, scheme badges
- Special Features: Grant scheme links, umbrella for multiple associations
- Contact & Support: Helpline for complaints, trader support via the scheme provider
4. TrustATrader – LBND Trust Score: 8.0/10
TrustATrader combines review-driven selection with mandatory association membership for key trades. The site lets you search by London postcode and trade. Every trader is verified for at least two years’ experience and relevant accreditations.
- Year Launched: 2005
- How to Use: Search by postcode/trade, browse vetted profiles, and contact directly
- Pricing/Fees: Free to search; trades pay an annual fee to list
- Reputation System: Customer reviews, visible star ratings, TrustATrader approval
- Vetting: All traders checked for experience, trade membership, references, and insurance
- Badges/Accreditation: TrustATrader stamp of approval; Customer Guarantee
- Special Features: Limited members per area, SMS “Text-a-Trader,” insurance offers
- Contact & Support: Telephone support, complaints resolution, trader dashboard
5. MyBuilder – LBND Trust Score: 7.7/10
MyBuilder stands out for its direct approach: homeowners post a job, and only interested, available tradespeople from your local London area can respond. Trades profiles include detailed histories, star ratings, and qualifications, but the vetting is less strict than for the top scorers.
- Year Launched: ~2006
- How to Use: Post a job, receive responses from vetted trades; browse profiles; contact via site/app
- Pricing/Fees: Free for users; trades pay only if shortlisted for a job (pay-per-lead)
- Reputation System: Verified job reviews, star ratings, and job history on each profile
- Vetting: Initial checks for insurance and identity, but not ongoing or deep
- Badges/Accreditation: “Verified” banner for profile completion; self-reported badges
- Special Features: Job matching, Q&A advice forum, direct tradesperson search
- Contact & Support: Online help centre, email support, messaging within the site
6. Yell – LBND Trust Score: 7.6/10
The digital successor to Yellow Pages, Yell is a huge directory covering all London trades and locations. Businesses can self-list and pay for premium placement. Reviews are integrated, but vetting is minimal, so users need to do extra checks themselves.
- Year Launched: 1996 (digital)
- How to Use: Search by category/location, view business details, and direct contact
- Pricing/Fees: Free to search; businesses pay for enhanced or sponsored listings
- Reputation System: Third-party review integration (Yell Collect, Google Reviews)
- Vetting: Basic; listings not formally vetted by Yell
- Badges/Accreditation: “Recommended by Yell” for premium listings, trade badges if supplied
- Special Features: Map search, click-to-call, website integration, quote forms
- Contact & Support: Customer helpline, business support, direct contact options
Armed with this vetted shortlist and the LBND Trust Scores, you can cut through uncertainty and hire reliably. Keep your eyes peeled for proper accreditation, real reviews, and transparent pricing.
FAQs
1. How do I find a sole trader in London if I don’t know anyone locally?
The safest way is to use established London trade directories we have reviewed and listed here. These platforms list vetted sole traders with verified reviews like we do. You can filter by trade, postcode, and see credentials before you contact anyone. Always check their LBND Trust Score for added peace of mind or check in our directory for specific London boroughs.
2. What are the most important questions to ask a tradesperson before hiring?
The questions to ask tradespersons in London should primarily be about:
- Proof of insurance and qualifications
- Trade body memberships (like NICEIC or Gas Safe)
- References from recent jobs
- Written quotes and timescales
- Who exactly will carry out the work
These checks help you spot red flags and set clear expectations from the start.
3. How can I tell if a tradesperson or directory is trustworthy?
Look for directories that vet listings like the ones we recommend. Genuine platforms show real reviews, transparent ratings, and visible trade badges. If the platform has an LBND Trust Score above 8, you’re in safer hands.
Marketer, blogger, content creator and digital nomad based in London always curious about London business news, stories, events and developments.
