7 Checkatrade alternatives for UK landlords
Checkatrade isn't the only way to find a trade. Here are the main alternatives for rental maintenance — directories, marketplaces, lead sellers, your agent, and managed sourcing — with an honest note on who each suits.
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The short answer
- If you want reviews and choice, the closest direct alternatives are MyBuilder and TrustATrader.
- If you want trades to come to you, Rated People and Bark sell your job as a lead — expect several calls.
- If you want the legwork and comparison done for you, a managed sourcing service like FixQuotes gets you three quotes for the same job without you searching or chasing.
- Your letting agent can arrange it too — but often with a markup, which is exactly why many landlords look for alternatives.
The alternatives at a glance
| Model | Cost to landlord | Quotes comparable? | |
|---|---|---|---|
| MyBuilder | Job-posting marketplace | Free to post | No — you compare them |
| Rated People | Lead marketplace | Free to post | No — separate calls |
| TrustATrader | Trade directory | Free to search | No — you compare them |
| Bark | Broad lead marketplace | Free to post | No — separate contacts |
| Local search (Google) | DIY | Free | No — you do everything |
| Your letting agent | Managed (often marked up) | Often a markup/fee | Sometimes |
| FixQuotes | Managed sourcing | Free for landlords | Yes: same written job for every trade |
Reflects each option's published model as of May 2026. All product names are trademarks of their respective owners; this page is independent.
Why look beyond Checkatrade?
Checkatrade is excellent for what it is — a large directory with deep reviews. But for a landlord it leaves you doing the work: searching, contacting several firms, arranging tenant access, and reconciling quotes that don't line up. Depending on what you value — reviews, speed, or having it done for you — another option may fit better.
1. MyBuilder — closest marketplace alternative
Post a job and interested trades respond; you shortlist from their profiles and feedback. Good for one-off jobs where you want a few firms to choose from. You still manage the messaging and compare the quotes yourself. See FixQuotes vs MyBuilder.
2. Rated People — fast first contact
A lead marketplace: post a job and trades buy it as a lead, then call you. Expect quick first contact but also several calls, since your enquiry is sold to multiple firms. See FixQuotes vs Rated People.
3. TrustATrader — another vetted directory
Similar in spirit to Checkatrade: a directory of vetted traders with reviews, where you search and contact firms yourself. A solid alternative if you specifically want a directory but want to compare beyond one brand.
4. Bark — broad services marketplace
Bark covers far more than trades. You post a request and professionals pay to contact you. Wider reach, but the breadth means less trade specialisation and, like other lead models, several inbound contacts.
5. Local search and Google — the DIY route
Searching Google Maps and local listings is free and direct, and good for finding a nearby independent. But you do all of it — vetting credentials, checking insurance, getting and comparing quotes — with no platform safety net. At minimum, verify gas engineers on the Gas Safe Register and check fixed electrical work is handled under Part P of the Building Regulations by a scheme-registered electrician.
6. Your letting agent — convenient but often marked up
If an agent manages your property, they can arrange repairs. It's hands-off, but many agents add a management markup or use a preferred contractor, and you rarely see quotes you can put side by side. For self-managing landlords this is exactly the cost they're trying to avoid.
7. FixQuotes — managed sourcing for landlords
FixQuotes writes the job up properly, dispatches it to vetted local trades, and returns three quotes for the same job in one email — free for landlords and agents, with contractors paying a referral fee only if they win. It's the option that removes the searching, chasing and comparing, and it's built around landlord compliance (Gas Safe, Part P, EICR, CP12).
Common questions
What is the best Checkatrade alternative for landlords?
It depends on what you want. For reviews and choice, MyBuilder or TrustATrader. For fast first contact, Rated People. For three quotes for the same job without the legwork, a managed sourcing service like FixQuotes, which is free for landlords and agents.
Are these alternatives free for landlords?
Most are free for the person needing the work — the trades pay (membership or per-lead). FixQuotes is also free for landlords and agents. The exception is using a letting agent, which often carries a management markup.
Which alternative gives quotes you can put side by side?
Directories and marketplaces leave you to normalise quotes yourself. A managed sourcing service is the one model designed to return quotes you can put side by side, because every trade prices the same written job.
Can I use more than one?
Yes. Many landlords cross-check a trade's reviews on a directory while using a faster route to actually gather quotes. There's no lock-in with FixQuotes.