The HSP glossary

A minimum charge to cover travel and the first hour on site, regardless of the actual work carried out.

A document confirming installed work meets the relevant regulations — e.g. Part P for electrical, Gas Safe for gas.

The turnover between one short-let guest checking out and the next checking in. Involves cleaning, linen and restock.

Work billed to the customer, as opposed to warranty or goodwill work.

The fuse board that distributes electricity around a domestic property, incorporating circuit breakers and RCDs.

The visual schedule showing which engineer is going to which job at what time.

Electrical Installation Condition Report. A periodic inspection identifying C1, C2, C3 or FI classifications.

Deep clean carried out between long-let tenants, often required for deposit return.

UK/EU regulation covering fluorinated gases used in refrigeration and air-conditioning. Requires certified engineers.

A quoted total price for a defined scope, regardless of hours taken.

The UK register of engineers legally permitted to work on gas appliances.

The point at which a job is signed off with the customer or property manager — usually with photo evidence.

Home Service Pro. A tradesperson or small firm delivering property services.

The agreed payment window — commonly Net-7, Net-14 or Net-30 for property managers.

The record of a single job, containing scope, photos, materials, time and cost.

Legally required certificates for rented property (gas, electrical, EPC).

A single row on a quote or invoice describing one component of the work — labour, materials or fee.

A tenancy of 6+ months. Distinct from short-let / holiday-let.

The finishing work needed after a trade job — plastering, painting, sealing — often excluded from the primary quote.

The percentage added to material cost when charging the customer. Commonly 15–30% for domestic trades.

Master Locksmiths Association. UK trade body for vetted locksmiths.

UK competent-person schemes for electricians allowed to self-certify domestic electrical work.

Fixed business costs — van, insurance, tools, phone — that must be recovered across chargeable jobs.

A URL sent to the customer allowing them to pay a specific invoice by card or bank.

Property Manager. A person or company managing rental properties on behalf of owners.

A trade formally added to a property manager's approved supplier list for repeat work.

A binding price for a defined scope of work, as opposed to an indicative estimate.

Residual Current Device. A safety switch that trips on earth faults. Required on most modern circuits.

Follow-up work required to bring an installation back into compliance after inspection.

The written definition of what is included in a job. The single most important protection against disputes.

A recurring agreement — annual boiler service, quarterly AC maintenance — with a scheduled visit and fixed price.

Short-Term Rental. A property let for nights or weeks via Airbnb, Vrbo or Booking.com.

A list of defects identified at handover that require the trade to return and rectify.

The full cleaning, linen and restock process between short-let guests.

A change to the agreed scope, priced and approved before work continues.

Work carried out at no charge to remedy a defect covered by the original guarantee.