How to Find a Trustworthy Bathroom Fitter in the UK

Like kitchen fitting, bathroom fitting is not a legally regulated trade on its own. Look for membership of the KBSA or BiKBBI, or a fitter approved under TrustMark.

Ask to see photos of finished bathrooms, ideally including a shower or wet room if that is what you want.

UK wiring rules treat a room with a bath or shower as higher risk. Lights, sockets and fans must suit the zone they are in.

New electrical work in a bathroom is usually notifiable. Ask whether it will be done or signed off by an electrician on a competent person scheme.

Shower areas need a waterproofing layer, often called tanking, under the tiles. Building rules also expect an extractor fan in a bathroom.

Much of the important work ends up hidden behind tiles and boards. Ask the fitter to share photos of pipework and tanking before it is covered, and keep them with your property records.

If you are adapting a bathroom because of a disability, such as fitting a level-access shower, the work may be zero-rated for VAT. You usually need to sign an eligibility declaration.

Your local council may also offer a Disabled Facilities Grant towards the cost. Check before you sign a quote.

On Propvio, a review only appears once a homeowner has logged the job and the fitter has confirmed it. It reflects a real piece of work rather than an anonymous rating.

A steady history of confirmed jobs is a stronger signal than one high rating with nothing behind it.

Ask for a written quote covering fitting, materials, tanking and tiling, with plumbing and electrical work listed separately.

Our wider checklist, What to Ask a Tradesperson Before Work Starts, covers questions for any job.