Trust and safety
How we check a pro's licence
Every Hollr pro in a licensed trade is checked before their first call. Here's how we do it, and how you can check any tradesperson yourself, for free.
Four checks before a pro takes a call
- The pro sends their licenceLicence number, issuing body, province, trade, expiry date and a photo of the certificate.
- We check it with the regulatorAgainst the regulator's public register where one exists, before the pro can take a single call.
- We match it to the personThe name on the licence has to match the pro's account.
- We watch the expiry dateBefore a licence lapses, the pro gets a reminder in the app to send the renewal.
Check any tradesperson yourself
These public registers are free. Use them for anyone you hire, on Hollr or off it.
| Who | Register | What it shows |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical contractors, Ontario | Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) | Contractor locator. Only a Licensed Electrical Contractor can be hired for electrical work in a home. |
| Certified tradespeople, Ontario | Skilled Trades Ontario public register | Check a Certificate of Qualification in a compulsory trade, such as plumber or electrician. |
| Fuels and gas contractors, Ontario | TSSA registered fuels contractors | Registered contractor list, updated monthly. Covers companies, not individual technicians. |
| Electrical and gas contractors, BC | Technical Safety BC | Licensed contractor search for electrical and gas work. |
| Journeypersons, Alberta | Alberta tradesperson lookup | Verify a journeyperson certificate or Red Seal issued in Alberta. |
| Red Seal, across Canada | Red Seal credential verification | How to confirm an interprovincial Red Seal endorsement. |
What a Hollr call never covers
Never walked through on a call
- Opening a live electrical panel
- Working on a gas line
For these you get a clear in-person referral. If you smell gas, leave the house and call your gas utility or 911.
Always yours after a call
- Written notes from the pro
- The parts list and any photos
- What to tell whoever you hire next
Licence questions
How do I check if an electrician is licensed in Ontario?
In Ontario, electrical contractors are licensed by the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA), which has a contractor locator on its website. Individual electricians hold a Certificate of Qualification you can look up on the Skilled Trades Ontario public register.
How do I check a gas fitter or furnace contractor?
In Ontario, TSSA publishes a list of registered fuels contractors that it updates monthly. In British Columbia, Technical Safety BC has a licensed contractor search. Gas work should only be done by a licensed contractor.
What does Hollr do when a licence expires?
Hollr stores each licence's expiry date. Before it lapses, the pro sees a reminder in the Hollr app to send the renewed licence.
Do all trades on Hollr need a licence?
No. Plumbing, electrical and gas work are regulated in most provinces. Roofing, appliance repair and handyman work usually aren't. For those trades, the trade pages explain which jobs need a licensed pro instead.
Trades on Hollr
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