What does a workmanship guarantee cover?
Defects caused by the quality of the labour and workmanship on the described works, for the stated period. Product faults are usually covered by the manufacturer's own warranty instead.
Consumer Rights Act 2015
Workmanship Guarantee
A workmanship guarantee is a written promise to the customer that the labour and workmanship on a job are covered for a stated period, and that defects caused by poor workmanship will be put right without charge.
Free plan · No card required · Works offline on site
It sits alongside the customer's statutory rights, including the Consumer Rights Act 2015 requirement that services are carried out with reasonable care and skill, and alongside any separate manufacturer warranties on the products installed.
TradePlanr lets you set out what is covered, for how long and on what conditions, then produce a signed PDF guarantee to hand over with the invoice and certificates when the job is done.
What it covers
- Customer, property and contractor details
- Description of the works the guarantee applies to
- The guarantee period and its start date
- What is covered: labour and workmanship on the described works
- Exclusions, such as fair wear and tear, misuse or third-party work
- How the customer makes a claim and what the remedy is
- Whether the guarantee transfers to a new owner
- Signature, company details and the date of issue
When it's required
A written guarantee is good practice on any completed job and is often expected on larger works such as heating installs, rewires, roofing and bathrooms, where customers compare quotes partly on the guarantee offered.
Putting the guarantee in writing protects the contractor too: it defines exactly what is covered, for how long and what is excluded, rather than leaving promises made on the doorstep open to interpretation.
The guarantee sits alongside statutory rights and manufacturer warranties. Where scheme or insurance-backed guarantees apply, the written record shows what the contractor has promised beyond them.
How to issue it in TradePlanr
- 1
Enter the job details
Record the customer, the property and a clear description of the works covered, linked to the job and invoice in TradePlanr.
- 2
Set the guarantee terms
Set the guarantee period and start date, what is covered and the exclusions, and note how the customer should raise a claim.
- 3
Confirm transferability
Record whether the guarantee stays with the property if it is sold, a common question on longer guarantees.
- 4
Sign and store the PDF
Capture the signature, generate the PDF guarantee and store it against the job, ready to hand over with the completion paperwork.
Issue this certificate from your phone or the web
TradePlanr generates this and 45+ other gas, electrical, oil, plumbing and renewables certificates as proper PDFs — filled on site, signed on screen and stored against the job. Works even with no signal. Free to start.
Frequently asked questions
How long should a workmanship guarantee last?
That is the contractor's choice: one to two years is common on general work, with longer periods often offered on installations such as heating systems or roofing.
Does a guarantee affect the customer's legal rights?
No. Statutory rights, including the Consumer Rights Act 2015 requirement for reasonable care and skill, apply regardless. The guarantee is a promise on top of those rights.
Can I issue the guarantee on site?
Yes. TradePlanr lets you set the terms, capture the signature and produce the PDF at handover, alongside the invoice and certificates.