London's housing stock is its own specialist subject
A Victorian conversion in Peckham, a leasehold flat in Vauxhall, a damp ground floor in Hackney. London's buildings are old and oddly converted, and a lot of them sit under a leasehold system that confuses people who've lived here for decades. Whoever you hire needs to understand this city's housing, not just housing in general.
And that's before you get to the part where you'd rather not explain your household to someone new every single time.
The bit estate agents don't mention
Freehold, leasehold, share of freehold, a managing agent who takes three weeks to reply. London property is more legally tangled than most cities, and you may need a solicitor who understands the system and doesn't treat a same-sex couple's joint purchase as unusual paperwork.
Word of mouth has always filled the gap. A name passed on over dinner in Soho or Vauxhall, or from a friend across the river. It works until you move boroughs, your usual person retires, or the boiler dies on a Sunday in February.
The unglamorous fantasy
Nobody needs to wave a flag. You want an electrician who glances at the framed photo in the hallway, says "nice picture" and gets on with the fuse box. A builder who asks whose side of the family the wedding's on the same way he'd ask about paint colour.
Before anyone picks up a tool
A few checks are worth doing in London whoever you hire.
- Gas work needs a Gas Safe registered engineer. That's the law for boilers, hobs and gas pipes. Ask for their Gas Safe ID card and check the number on the Gas Safe Register.
- Electrical work has its own registers. A new circuit or a rewire has to meet building regulations, so use an electrician registered with a competent person scheme such as NICEIC or NAPIT. You can search them on the Electrical Competent Person Register. They'll give you a certificate when the job is done. Keep it.
- Leaseholders, read your lease first. Many London leases need the freeholder's written consent before you change anything structural, and some before you change flooring. Ask your managing agent before work starts, not after.
- Shared walls mean party wall notices. Loft conversions, extensions and some work on a wall you share with next door come under the Party Wall Act, so your neighbours get notice first. The government guide explains when.
- Ask for proof of insurance. Public liability cover protects you if something goes wrong in your home. A good tradesperson will send a copy without fuss.
- Get it in writing. A written quote, what's included, and when payment is due. Be wary of anyone asking for most of the money up front.
Trade by trade
Plumbers. Victorian pipework and unpredictable water pressure don't wait for you to research someone properly. If you rent, remember the repair is usually your landlord's job, and your landlord has to have the gas safety checked every year and give you a copy of the record.
Electricians. Rewiring a period conversion is specialist work. Ask how many they've done, and ask to see the certificate from the last one. Renters in England can also ask their landlord for the electrical safety report, which has to be redone at least every five years.
Builders. Damp, subsidence, a loft conversion that needs planning permission from a borough with its own rules, and possibly a conservation area on top. London renovations run long. A builder who treats your household as ordinary from day one changes the tone of a project that might take months. For extra reassurance, TrustMark is the government-endorsed scheme for vetted trades.
Solicitors and accountants. Leasehold purchases, cohabitation agreements, wills for chosen family. Check a solicitor on the Solicitors Regulation Authority register before you sign anything, and ask whether they've handled a leasehold purchase for a couple like you.
What the directory does, and what it doesn't
The LGBTQ+ Professionals directory on Among Our People lists tradespeople and professional services across London. You're not relying on one dinner party's worth of recommendations every time you move.
Every professional chooses how much to have checked. Some have an ID Verified badge, which means they've passed an identity check with a photo ID and a selfie. Some also have a credential badge, which means they've uploaded a diploma or qualification and we've checked it matches their name and their trade. Many listings have neither, and that's their choice.
A badge tells you who someone is and that their paperwork is real. It can't tell you how good their work is, whether they're insured today, or whether they're on the registers above. So do those checks too, every time.
Nobody's asked to prove anything about who they are to use the directory. It's self-declaration, the same as everywhere on Among Our People.
Questions Londoners actually ask
Can I find a solicitor for a leasehold purchase?
Search professional services and look for property or conveyancing specialists. Then check them on the SRA register.
Is this useful if I'm renting, not buying?
Yes. Plumbers, electricians and builders are just as relevant when you rent, although for repairs your landlord should be your first call.
Does a badge mean you've vetted the work?
No. Badges confirm identity and, where shown, a qualification document. They aren't a review of anyone's workmanship.
Do I have to prove I'm LGBTQ+ to use this?
No. Self-declaration is enough for everyone, everywhere on Among Our People.
Find yours
Browse LGBTQ+-friendly tradespeople and professionals across London before the next leak makes the decision for you. ✦
Last reviewed: 17 October 2026