Checkatrade vs Trading Standards
What Do These Approvals Actually Mean?
If you’ve ever searched for a local builder, kitchen fitter or bathroom installer in Faversham, you’ve probably come across two logos more than any other — Checkatrade and Trading Standards. Both appear on websites, vans and business cards across Kent, and both are designed to give you confidence when hiring a tradesperson.
But what do they actually mean? Are they the same thing? And does it really matter whether your builder has them?
In this post we’ll break down exactly what each scheme involves, how they differ, and why we at LH Building and Maintenance are proud to hold both.
What Is Checkatrade?
Checkatrade is the UK’s leading online platform for finding and vetting local tradespeople. It was founded in 1998 and has grown to become one of the most trusted names in the home improvement sector.
To be listed on Checkatrade, every tradesperson must go through a vetting process before they are approved. This includes:
- Identity checks — confirming who the tradesperson actually is
- Insurance checks — verifying they hold valid public liability insurance
- Qualification checks — confirming relevant trade qualifications where applicable
- Reference checks — speaking to previous customers before approval is granted
Once approved, every job a Checkatrade member completes can be reviewed by the customer — publicly, on the tradesperson’s profile. Those reviews cannot be edited or removed by the tradesperson, which means the star rating you see is a genuine, unfiltered reflection of their work.
This is what makes Checkatrade so useful as a homeowner. Rather than relying on a website full of testimonials the business has chosen to display, you get honest, independently verified reviews from real customers.
What Checkatrade doesn’t do is inspect work on-site or carry out ongoing monitoring. Approval is based on the vetting process and the review system — so a builder with 50 five-star reviews has earned that rating job by job.
But what do they actually mean? Are they the same thing? And does it really matter whether your builder has them?
In this post we’ll break down exactly what each scheme involves, how they differ, and why we at LH Building and Maintenance are proud to hold both.
Checkatrade
Rated kitchen fitters in Faversham
Trading Standards
Buy with Confidence approved
Fully Insured Fitters
All kitchen work fully covered
Local Fitters
Faversham-based, covering Kent
What Is Trading Standards?
Trading Standards is a government-backed consumer protection service. Trading Standards officers are employed by local councils across the UK to enforce consumer law and protect the public from unfair trading, scams and rogue traders.
The Buy with Confidence scheme is the part of Trading Standards most relevant to tradespeople like builders, kitchen fitters and bathroom installers. It’s a vetted approval scheme run by Trading Standards officers that allows local businesses to display the Trading Standards Approved badge.
To be accepted onto the Buy with Confidence scheme, businesses must:
- Pass a thorough background check carried out by Trading Standards officers
- Demonstrate that they trade honestly and fairly
- Hold appropriate insurance
- Agree to a code of conduct and ongoing monitoring
- Submit to inspections and customer satisfaction checks
Unlike Checkatrade, Trading Standards approval involves direct oversight by a government body. If a Buy with Confidence member receives a legitimate complaint, Trading Standards will investigate and, where necessary, remove them from the scheme.
You can verify any business’s Trading Standards approval directly through the official Buy with Confidence website.
So What's the Difference?
Both schemes are designed to protect you as a consumer, but they work in different ways.
| Checkatrade | Trading Standards | |
|---|---|---|
| Who runs it? | Private company | Government / local councils |
| How are traders vetted? | Background & insurance checks | Background checks by Trading Standards officers |
| Are reviews included? | ✓ Yes — independently verified | ✗ No |
| Is ongoing monitoring in place? | Review-based | ✓ Yes — officers can inspect and investigate |
| What happens if something goes wrong? | Checkatrade mediation | Trading Standards investigation |
Checkatrade gives you verified reviews and a public track record. Trading Standards gives you government-backed vetting and ongoing accountability.
Having both means a tradesperson has been through two separate, independent approval processes — which is a meaningful signal of legitimacy and professionalism.
Why Does It Matter When Hiring a Builder in Faversham?
The building trade is one of the most common areas for consumer complaints in the UK. Rogue traders, incomplete work, disappearing deposits and inflated invoices are unfortunately still widespread problems — particularly for larger jobs like kitchen installations, bathroom renovations and home extensions.
Checking whether a builder holds Checkatrade and Trading Standards approval before hiring them is one of the simplest and most effective ways to protect yourself. It doesn’t guarantee perfection — no scheme can — but it significantly reduces the risk of hiring someone who will let you down.
When you’re comparing builders in Faversham or anywhere in Kent, we’d always recommend:
- Checking their Checkatrade profile and reading recent reviews in full
- Verifying their Trading Standards approval on the Buy with Confidence website
- Asking to see proof of their public liability insurance
- Getting at least two or three quotes before committing
- Never paying the full amount upfront
LH Building and Maintenance — Checkatrade Approved & Trading Standards Registered
At LH Building and Maintenance, we are proud to hold both approvals. You can find our Checkatrade profile here, where you’ll find independently verified reviews from customers across Faversham and Kent. We are also fully registered with Trading Standards through the Buy with Confidence scheme.
We believe that being fully transparent with our customers — about our credentials, our pricing and the work we carry out — is the only way to build a business worth trusting. Both of these approvals are a reflection of the standard we hold ourselves to on every job we take on, from a small maintenance job to a full kitchen installation or bathroom renovation in Faversham.
If you’re looking for a builder in Faversham and want to know more about us before getting in touch, you’re very welcome to check our Checkatrade profile, verify our Trading Standards registration, or simply give us a call on 07842 946 138 for a free, no-obligation chat about your project.
Ready to Get a Quote?
LH Building and Maintenance are trusted, fully approved builders based in Faversham, covering Sittingbourne, Canterbury, Herne Bay, Whitstable, Ashford and the wider Kent area.
We offer free, no-obligation quotes on all our services — from kitchen fitting and bathroom installation to building work and general maintenance.
📞 Call us on 07842 946 138
✉️ Email: [email protected]
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions from homeowners and clients looking for builders in Faversham and across Kent. Can’t find your answer? Call us on 07842 946 138.
Is Checkatrade the same as Trading Standards?
No. Checkatrade is a privately run vetting and review platform, while Trading Standards is a government-backed consumer protection service. Both vet tradespeople independently, but through different processes. Checkatrade focuses on verified customer reviews; Trading Standards focuses on ongoing compliance and accountability through local council officers.
Can any builder put a Checkatrade logo on their website?
No. To display the Checkatrade badge legitimately, a tradesperson must have passed Checkatrade’s vetting process, which includes identity, insurance and reference checks. You can verify any builder’s Checkatrade membership by searching their profile directly on the Checkatrade website.
Do I need to use a Checkatrade or Trading Standards approved builder by law?
No — there’s no legal requirement to use an approved tradesperson for most building work. However, using an approved builder significantly reduces your risk of poor workmanship, incomplete jobs and disputes. For certain work involving gas or electrics, separate legal certifications apply regardless of these schemes.
Should I use a local builder or a larger national company?
What should I look for when hiring a builder?
When hiring a builder look for independently verified reviews, proof of public liability insurance, and recognised approvals such as Checkatrade membership or Trading Standards registration. It’s also worth checking how long the builder has been established locally, whether they handle all trades in-house, and whether they provide clear, itemised quotes before any work begins. A trustworthy builder in Faversham will be happy to answer all of these questions before you commit to anything.