Are these platforms regulated?

Not by the Financial Conduct Authority or any specific home services regulator, but they are subject to ASA rules on advertising and consumer protection legislation. Trade-body accreditation (Gas Safe, NICEIC, BAFE) sits outside the platform.

Which platform has the best customer support if a job goes wrong?

Checkatrade has the most active resolution process. MyBuilder will mediate but leans on the public review system. Bark provides minimal post-booking support — disputes are between you and the professional.

Should I get quotes from more than one platform?

Yes for any job over £200. The 10 minutes spent comparing across two platforms typically saves more than the time cost.

Best platform for UK landlords 2026: Checkatrade vs MyBuilder vs Bark

Updated 2026-05-22 · 8 min read

Checkatrade, MyBuilder and Bark are the three largest UK home services platforms a landlord will use to find a Gas Safe engineer, an NICEIC electrician or an accredited Domestic Energy Assessor. Each one operates a different model, vets trades differently, and serves a different style of buyer. This guide cuts through the marketing and tells you which to use for which compliance certificate, why, and what to watch.

The three platforms in one line each

**Checkatrade** is a directory of vetted trades. You search a category and a location, get a ranked list of nearby trades with reviews, and contact them directly. Insurance and trade-body accreditations are verified by Checkatrade at signup.

**MyBuilder** is a job-posting marketplace. You describe what you need, post it once, and tradespeople in your area submit quotes back. You pick whichever quote and reviewer profile you prefer.

**Bark** is a lead-distribution marketplace. You answer a short form, Bark passes your details to up to five matching professionals in your area, and they all contact you. Best for when you want quotes fast and are happy fielding calls.

How they vet trades

**Checkatrade** verifies insurance, trade-body membership (NICEIC, Gas Safe, NAPIT, ELECSA) and identity at signup, then surfaces verified reviews. Trades pay an annual subscription to be listed. Strongest vetting of the three.

**MyBuilder** verifies identity and runs feedback-driven quality scoring on every job. No upfront verification of trade-body accreditations; the platform leans on the customer review feedback loop. Trades pay to bid on each job.

**Bark** verifies identity at signup; trade-body accreditation is self-declared by the professional. Quality varies more than the other two. Bark earns when a professional buys a lead.

Geographic coverage

All three cover the whole of mainland UK. Checkatrade and MyBuilder have the densest coverage in England; Bark has the broadest reach into Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland but with thinner per-postcode density. For Greater London, all three have strong density and you'll get five or more quotes within 24 hours on any compliance category.

When to use each one

**Use Checkatrade when** the trade-body accreditation matters most: any electrical work (NICEIC, NAPIT, ELECSA), Gas Safety (Gas Safe), Fire Risk Assessment (BAFE SP205, IFE, IFSM). The platform's verification reduces your due-diligence overhead.

**Use MyBuilder when** you want competitive quotes for a defined job and you have time to wait 24-72 hours for bids. The bid-based model often gives keener pricing than Checkatrade's direct contact route. Good for EICR remedial work where you have a clear scope.

**Use Bark when** you need quotes fast and you're prepared to handle five inbound calls. Good for last-minute Gas Safety inspections before a new tenancy starts and you've left it late.

Cost differences

On a like-for-like Gas Safety inspection for a typical two-bedroom flat in London, you should expect quotes in the £60 to £150 band across all three platforms. Checkatrade trades tend to quote at the higher end (annual subscription baked into pricing). MyBuilder quotes spread wider (£60 to £130). Bark quotes are similar to MyBuilder but with more variance — verify accreditations yourself before booking.

For an EICR in the same property, expect £150 to £375 on Checkatrade and MyBuilder, £140 to £400 on Bark.

Per-certificate recommendations

**EICR**: Checkatrade first for NICEIC verification. [Best platform to book an EICR →](/guides/best-platform-for-eicr-uk-2026)

**Gas Safety (CP12)**: Checkatrade for Gas Safe verification; MyBuilder if pricing matters more than verified accreditation (each engineer must legally display their Gas Safe number anyway). [Best platform to book Gas Safety →](/guides/best-platform-for-gas-safety-uk-2026)

**EPC**: All three work, but the accreditation pool is much smaller (Stroma, Elmhurst, Quidos). Checkatrade is the easiest place to filter for accredited assessors. [Best platform to book an EPC →](/guides/best-platform-for-epc-uk-2026)

**PAT testing**: MyBuilder typically cheapest because PAT is low-skill commodity work; Checkatrade if you want verified electrical accreditation. [Best platform to book PAT testing →](/guides/best-platform-for-pat-testing-uk-2026)

**Fire Risk Assessment**: Checkatrade for verified BAFE/IFE accreditation. [Best platform to book a Fire Risk Assessment →](/guides/best-platform-for-fire-risk-assessment-uk-2026)

What we don't recommend

Cold-calling a single trade from a Google ad. The £20 to £80 you save on the platform fee is far less than the cost of a non-compliant certificate from an unverified trade. Spend ten minutes on Checkatrade or MyBuilder, get three quotes, pick on price plus reviews. The total time is the same.

Common questions

Are these platforms regulated?: Not by the Financial Conduct Authority or any specific home services regulator, but they are subject to ASA rules on advertising and consumer protection legislation. Trade-body accreditation (Gas Safe, NICEIC, BAFE) sits outside the platform.
Which platform has the best customer support if a job goes wrong?: Checkatrade has the most active resolution process. MyBuilder will mediate but leans on the public review system. Bark provides minimal post-booking support — disputes are between you and the professional.
Should I get quotes from more than one platform?: Yes for any job over £200. The 10 minutes spent comparing across two platforms typically saves more than the time cost.