What to Check When Hiring a Decorator in London: The Complete Checklist

Why Choosing a Decorator Carefully Matters

London has thousands of painters and decorators operating across the capital, ranging from highly skilled craftspeople with decades of experience to individuals with a set of rollers and a listing on a comparison website. The finished quality, the reliability of the process, and the longevity of the result vary enormously between them.

The cost of getting this wrong is significant. A poor paint job on a London property — badly prepared surfaces, uneven coverage, paint on skirtings, no proper protection of floors and furniture — costs money to put right, and the disruption of having a job redone is often worse than the original inconvenience. This checklist is designed to help homeowners ask the right questions and spot the warning signs before work starts.

Insurance: The Non-Negotiable Starting Point

Any legitimate decorator working in a London home must hold Public Liability Insurance. This covers damage caused to your property during the works — a spilled tin of paint on an oak floor, a broken window, a ladder mark on a newly plastered wall. Without it, any claim for accidental damage comes out of the decorator's personal finances, and if they cannot or will not pay, you have very limited recourse.

Ask to see the insurance certificate before any work starts. It should be current (check the expiry date), should cover the type of work being undertaken, and should have an adequate level of cover — for most residential London properties, £1 million minimum public liability is standard; £2 million is better for higher-value properties.

Employers' Liability Insurance is required by law if the decorator employs other people. If a team of decorators is coming to your property and only the principal holds insurance in their own name, ask who covers the workers.

Checking References and Previous Work

A decorator who cannot provide references from previous clients in London should not be trusted with a significant job. Ask for:

• At least two or three references from recent projects
• Ideally, references from jobs of a similar type and scale to yours (a decorator who excels at commercial painting may not have the patience for a high-end residential finish, and vice versa)
• Permission to visit a completed project where possible, or at minimum to see photographs of finished work

When you speak to references, ask specifically about: the quality of the finish, whether the job ran to time and budget, how the decorator communicated during the project, how they handled any problems that arose, and whether they would use the same decorator again.

Online reviews (Google, Checkatrade, Rated People) are a useful additional data point but should not replace direct reference contact. Review profiles can be curated or, in worst cases, fabricated.

What a Good Quote Looks Like

A professional decorator's quote is not a number on a WhatsApp message. A properly structured quote should include:

A clear scope of works — specifying exactly which rooms, which surfaces, and what is included. "Paint the hall, stairs, and landing" tells you very little. "Two coats Dulux Trade Diamond Matt in client-supplied colour to hall, stairs, and landing walls; two coats Dulux Trade Satinwood in Timeless to all woodwork (skirtings, architraves, handrail, spindles); includes filling all cracks and holes, sanding woodwork, masking throughout" tells you a great deal.

Paint products specified by name — a quote that says "quality paint" without naming it is a red flag. The decorator should specify the brand and product they intend to use. This allows you to check the product's suitability and, if you wish, to compare quotes on a like-for-like basis.

Number of coats — this should be explicit. One coat on walls is usually insufficient for a quality result. Two coats is standard. Three coats on new plaster or major colour changes may be appropriate.

Preparation included — crack filling, sanding, knotting, priming, and making good should all be mentioned. If a quote covers only the painting and says nothing about preparation, assume the price does not include it and ask.

Payment terms — legitimate decorators do not typically require full payment upfront. A stage payment structure is normal: a deposit on agreement (typically 10 to 25%), a progress payment mid-project, and the balance on satisfactory completion.

VAT — if the decorator is VAT-registered (required above £90,000 annual turnover), the quote should state whether prices are inclusive or exclusive of VAT. A quote that is ambiguous on this point can lead to a nasty surprise.

Specification Questions to Ask

Beyond the quote itself, a brief conversation with the decorator before work starts reveals a great deal about their competence. Consider asking:

• What preparation do you intend to do before painting?
• What primer or undercoat will you use on the woodwork?
• How will you protect the floors and furniture?
• How long will the job take, and what are your working hours?
• How do you handle paint waste disposal?
• Are you a member of any trade body? (The Painting and Decorating Association is the main professional body in the UK)

A confident, knowledgeable decorator will answer these questions without hesitation. An evasive or vague response is informative in itself.

Red Flags: When to Walk Away

The following should all prompt serious caution:

• Cash only, no receipt — this typically indicates the trader is operating without insurance or VAT registration, and means you have no documentary record if a dispute arises
• Asking for full payment upfront — legitimate decorators do not need the entire job value before they start
• No written quote — if a decorator will not put the scope and price in writing, you have nothing to rely on if the finished product does not match expectations
• Unusually low price — a quote that is 40 to 50% below others for the same scope is almost always either missing something (preparation, primer coats, quality paint) or will result in corners being cut during the job
• Unable to provide references or insurance documents — there is no legitimate reason for a professional trader to be unable to produce either of these
• Pressure to start immediately — reputable decorators are typically booked four to six weeks out. A decorator who can start tomorrow and is pressing you to commit without time to consider is a warning sign

Getting the Start Right

Once you have selected a decorator, the most important thing is a clear written agreement before work starts. This does not need to be a lengthy contract — a quote accepted in writing via email, with the scope clearly defined, is sufficient for most residential projects. Define the expected completion date, the snagging process, and what happens if additional work is identified during the project.

The best decorator-client relationships are built on clear communication from the outset. A good decorator will welcome your questions and keep you informed throughout the project.

Belgravia Painters provides fully itemised written quotes, holds comprehensive public liability insurance, and is happy to provide references from previous clients across London. Contact us to arrange a free survey and quotation.