Age Concern Scotland
Causewayside House
160 Causewayside
Edinburgh EH9 1PR
Tel: 0845 833 0200

Centre for Accessible Environments
70 South Lambeth Road
London SW8 1RL
Email: info@cae.org.uk
Tel: 020 7840 0125

Citizens Advice Bureau

Disabled Living Foundation
380-384 Harrow Road
London W9 2HU
Helpline: 0845 130 9177

Home Improvement Trust
7 Mansfield Road
Nottingham NG1 3FB
Tel: 0800 783 7569

The following list is a selection of the main trade associations in the UK. Inclusion in this list does not constitute a recommendation.

Federation of Master Builders

Call 020 7242 7583 if you live in England
Call 028 9068 4260 if you live in Northern Ireland
Call 0131 442 8830 if you live in Scotland
Call 029 2057 7711 if you live in Wales

The Federation of Master Builders can give you details of local members. They ask to see customer references before they allow a builder to become a member. They have a complaints procedure and arbitration scheme.

Decorators' associations

UK: The Painting and Decorating Association
Tel: 024 7635 3776
 
Scotland: Scottish Decorators Federation
Tel: 01786 448838

These decorators' associations can supply you with details of local members. They examine the quality of work before they allow a decorator to become a member. All members have to abide by a code of practice and if you have a complaint, there is an arbitration scheme.

Glass and Glazing Federation

For all UK countries call 0870 042 4255

The Glass and Glazing Federation can provide you with details of members in your area. They insist their members follow a code of ethical practice and offer a conciliation service and arbitration scheme if complaints are made against a member.

National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting (NICEIC)

For all UK countries call 0870 013 0382 

The NICEIC can give you details of local members. They set technical standards which must be met by their members. They regularly inspect members' work. They have a complaints resolution service and formal complaints procedure. If you find fault with the technical standard of work carried out by one of their members they will investigate, and if necessary will make sure it is put right.

Electrical Contractors Association

In England, Wales and Northern Ireland call 020 7313 4800
In Scotland call SELECT (Electrical Contractors' Association of Scotland) on 0131 445 5577

The Electrical Contractors' Association and SELECT both guarantee a minimum standard of work from their members. If you have a complaint against one of their members they will investigate.

Confederation of Registered Gas Installers (CORGI)

Tel: 0870 401 2311

If you are having any work done which involves moving or installing gas appliances, the builders you employ must be registered with CORGI. Check with CORGI that the builders you use have a current registration certificate. If you have a complaint about a CORGI member, CORGI will investigate and try to resolve the dispute within 28 days.

Confederation of Roofing Contractors

Tel: 01206 306600

The Confederation of Roofing Contractors provides lists of members in local areas. They inspect work before they allow contractors to become members and insist that all members follow a code of practice. All work carried out by members carries a 10-year guarantee back-up scheme to protect you should the contractor cease trading during the guarantee period.

Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering

Tel: 01708 472791

The Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering is not strictly a trade association - it is a professional body which aims to improve the standard of plumbing and heating engineering. They do have members, though, and can supply you with a directory. They check the qualifications and competence of plumbers before they give them membership and will consider complaints made against their members. They operate a code of professional standards.

Association of Plumbing and Heating Contractors

Tel: 024 7647 0626

The Association of Plumbing and Heating Contractors covers England and Wales and can provide details of local members. All members work is vetted before they are given membership and they have to abide by a code of fair trading. The Association operates an arbitration service and formal complaints procedure if you have a complaint against one of their members.

Scottish and Northern Ireland Plumbing Employer's Federation (SNIPEF)

Tel: 0131 225 2255

The Scottish and Northern Ireland Plumbing Employer's Federation can provide a directory of members. They check the qualifications of the owner or manager of the company applying for membership. They operate a code of fair trading as well as an arbitration scheme. In addition they operate a warranty scheme to ensure that work carried out by members is satisfactory.

HomePro
HomePro Ltd
Quadrant House
The Quadrant
Hoylake
Wirral
Merseyside CH47 2EE
Tel: 0870 7 34 43 44

HomePro is the largest multi-trade association in the UK. It has an extensive directory of quality-ranked home improvement professionals. You can use its 'Find a Contractor' service to find vetted professionals in your area and see references provided by previous customers.