How to Choose a Compliance Provider: What to Look For

A compliance certificate is only as good as the professional behind it. An EICR from an unqualified electrician won't satisfy your council. A fire risk assessment from someone who spent 20 minutes with a clipboard won't protect you in court.

Yet the compliance market is unregulated in key areas. Anyone can call themselves a fire risk assessor. Template-based assessments and cut-price inspections are common.

This guide shows you exactly what qualifications to verify, red flags to avoid, and how to find providers who actually protect your interests.

Why Provider Quality Matters

Legal Protection

If something goes wrong—a fire, an electrical incident, a tenant injury—your certificates become evidence. Courts and insurers ask:

• Was the assessor qualified?
• Did they conduct a proper assessment?
• Would a competent professional have identified this risk?

A certificate from an unqualified provider is worse than useless. It creates false confidence while exposing you to liability.

Council Acceptance

Councils increasingly scrutinise compliance documentation. They're spotting:

• Generic, template-based assessments
• Assessors without proper credentials
• Missing details or obvious gaps

Rejected certificates mean paying twice and potential enforcement action in the meantime.

Insurance Validity

Insurers are tightening requirements. Many now specifically ask for:

• NICEIC-registered electricians for EICRs
• BAFE-registered fire risk assessors
• Gas Safe registration verification

Wrong provider, wrong registration, and your policy may not pay out.

Accreditation Guide by Certificate Type

Gas Safety: Gas Safe Register

What to look for:

• Gas Safe Register membership number
• Verification on the official Gas Safe Register website
• Specific competence for your appliance types

How to verify:

1. Go to gassaferegister.co.uk
2. Enter the engineer's registration number or business name
3. Check their listed competences cover your appliances

Red flags:

• Won't provide registration number
• Registration shows different business name
• Competences don't include your appliance type
• Asks to be paid in cash with no paperwork

EICR: NICEIC or ELECSA

What to look for:

• NICEIC (National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting) registration, or
• ELECSA (part of NICEIC group) registration, or
• Other competent person scheme membership

How to verify:

1. Go to niceic.com or elecsa.co.uk
2. Search for the contractor's registration
3. Check status is "Approved" and scope includes inspection and testing

Qualification details:

• Minimum Level 3 NVQ in Electrical Installations
• 18th Edition Wiring Regulations certification
• Professional indemnity insurance (ask for proof)

Red flags:

• No verifiable registration
• Registration expired or suspended
• Won't provide certificate of insurance
• Price significantly below market (often indicates shortcuts)
• Doesn't test all circuits (EICR requires testing every circuit)

Fire Risk Assessment: BAFE, IFE, or IFRAA

The problem: Unlike gas and electrical work, fire risk assessment isn't legally restricted to specific qualifications. This creates a Wild West of quality.

What to look for:

BAFE SP205 (best standard):

• Third-party certification specifically for fire risk assessment
• Regular audits of the assessor's work
• Proof of competence and ongoing professional development

Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE):

• Membership shows professional commitment
• Various grades from Technician to Fellow
• Fire engineering knowledge

IFRAA (International Fire Risk Assessment Accreditation Scheme):

• Specific accreditation for fire risk assessors
• Verified competence and insurance

Other acceptable credentials:

• Fire service background with relevant experience
• NEBOSH Fire Safety Certificate
• Fire engineering degree with practical experience

How to verify:

• BAFE: Check sp205.bafe.org.uk
• IFE: Check ife.org.uk membership directory
• Ask directly for proof of insurance and qualifications

Red flags:

• No verifiable qualifications
• No professional indemnity insurance
• Assessment conducted without site visit
• Generic report with no property-specific observations
• No photos or specific references to your building
• Takes less than 30 minutes for anything beyond a small flat

PAT Testing: Any Competent Person

PAT testing has lower qualification barriers, but quality still varies.

What to look for:

• Formal PAT testing training certificate
• Experience with rental properties
• Calibrated testing equipment
• Proper documentation

Red flags:

• No training evidence
• Doesn't provide detailed test results
• Testing done too quickly (comprehensive PAT takes time)

Red Flags: When to Walk Away

Pricing Red Flags

Too cheap:

• Fire risk assessment under £100 for an HMO
• EICR under £80 for a 2-bed property
• Gas safety under £40

These prices suggest shortcuts: no site visit, template reports, or unqualified staff.

Too expensive:

• EICR over £500 for a standard 2-bed flat
• Fire risk assessment over £600 for a small HMO

Some providers exploit landlord ignorance. Get multiple quotes.

Process Red Flags

No site visit promised: A proper fire risk assessment or EICR requires physical inspection. Remote assessments based on photos aren't valid for compliance.

Instant certificates: If they promise same-day certificates without visiting, you're buying a template, not an assessment.

Payment before inspection: Reputable providers inspect first, then invoice. Be wary of upfront payment demands.

No written report: Verbal assurances aren't compliance. You need documented evidence.

Professionalism Red Flags

Won't answer questions: A qualified professional explains what they're doing and why. Evasiveness suggests insecurity about competence.

No insurance: Always ask for proof of professional indemnity insurance. Minimum £1 million cover.

Pushy upselling: Some providers manufacture problems to sell remedial work. Get second opinions on expensive recommended work.

No contact details: Mobile-only contact, no business address, no website—these suggest fly-by-night operators.

The Verification Checklist

Before hiring any compliance provider, check:

• [ ] Qualifications appropriate for the certificate type
• [ ] Registration verifiable on official websites
• [ ] Professional indemnity insurance in place
• [ ] Experience with rental properties specifically
• [ ] Clear pricing with no hidden fees
• [ ] Written report included in price
• [ ] Physical site visit promised
• [ ] Timeline for report delivery
• [ ] Complaints procedure explained
• [ ] References or reviews available

Price vs. Quality: Finding Balance

Cheapest isn't best. But most expensive isn't necessarily highest quality either.

Fair price ranges for quality work:

| Service | Fair Price Range | Too Cheap | Too Expensive | |---------|-----------------|-----------|---------------| | Gas Safety | £60-120 | Under £40 | Over £150 | | EICR (2-3 bed) | £150-250 | Under £100 | Over £400 | | Fire Risk (HMO) | £200-400 | Under £120 | Over £600 | | EPC | £60-100 | Under £40 | Over £150 |

Why quality matters more than saving £20:

A landlord chose a £90 EICR over a £180 quote. The cheap provider missed a dangerous wiring fault. Six months later, there was an electrical fire. The insurer refused the claim because the EICR provider wasn't NICEIC registered. Cost: £45,000 in repairs.

The £90 "saving" cost £45,000.

Why BoroughReady Verifies Providers

BoroughReady exists because we got tired of seeing landlords burned by poor compliance providers.

Our verification process:

1. Qualification check: We verify every registration number with NICEIC, Gas Safe, BAFE, etc.
2. Insurance validation: We confirm professional indemnity cover is current.
3. Experience review: We prioritise providers with rental property expertise.
4. Quality monitoring: We track feedback and remove poorly-performing providers.
5. Price transparency: We show clear pricing without hidden extras.

What this means for you:

You don't need to become an expert in Gas Safe registration numbers or BAFE certification schemes. We've done the verification. Every provider in our network meets professional standards.

Questions to Ask Prospective Providers

For Gas Engineers:

1. What's your Gas Safe registration number?
2. Which appliance types are you qualified to work on?
3. Do you provide the certificate on the day?
4. What's included if appliances need adjustment?

For Electricians:

1. Are you NICEIC or ELECSA registered? Can I verify this?
2. How many circuits will you test?
3. What's your process if you find C1 or C2 codes?
4. Do you also carry out remedial work?

For Fire Risk Assessors:

1. What fire safety qualifications do you hold?
2. Are you BAFE SP205 registered?
3. How long will the site visit take?
4. Will the report include photos and specific recommendations?
5. Do you have professional indemnity insurance?

Building Long-Term Relationships

The best compliance strategy is finding good providers and sticking with them.

Benefits of ongoing relationships:

• Familiarity with your properties
• Faster booking and priority service
• Consistent reporting format
• Better pricing for repeat business
• Trust and accountability

How to build relationships:

• Pay promptly
• Provide easy access and clear information
• Give feedback on their service
• Recommend them to other landlords
• Book renewals early through them

The DIY Trap

Some landlords consider self-assessment for fire safety or using unqualified handymen for electrical work.

Why this fails:

Fire risk assessment: The law requires competence. Courts ask whether the person had appropriate knowledge and experience. Unless you're a fire safety professional, you likely don't.

Electrical work: Strictly regulated. Only qualified persons can issue EICRs. DIY electrical work can invalidate insurance and is illegal for certain tasks.

Gas work: Illegal unless Gas Safe registered. Period.

The money "saved" isn't saved. It's risk transferred to you with massive potential downside.

The Bottom Line

Choosing compliance providers isn't about finding the cheapest option. It's about finding qualified professionals who protect you legally and practically.

Verify qualifications. Check registrations. Demand insurance. Accept that proper work costs proper money.

The £50 you save on a cut-price assessment could cost you £30,000 in fines or your entire property portfolio in a liability claim.

BoroughReady's verified provider network removes the guesswork. We've checked credentials so you don't have to.

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Last updated: February 2026. Always verify current credentials directly with accreditation bodies before engaging providers.