In this section
KBSA Consumer Guide
Our FREE guide contains practical advice for consumers who are considering buying a new kitchen, bedroom, bathroom or home office.
Buying your bathroom
The KBSA has produced a FREE Consumer
Guide which contains practical advice for consumers who are considering
buying a new kitchen, bedroom, bathroom or home office.
Order or download your FREE copy here.
Your home improvement project may entail a substantial investment so it pays to get the best possible independent information and advice before you begin.
It’s crucial to work with a supplier you can trust and with a KBSA retail member you will feel safe in the knowledge that the design and installation of your bathroom will be handled by a professional.
All KBSA retail members are carefully vetted prior to admission and they must have been trading for at least two years in order to be considered for membership. The high standards and strict monitoring applied by the KBSA to its retail members means that they are able to offer exceptionally comprehensive protection, free of charge, for consumers, in case of the member retailer ceasing to trade.
The Kitchen Bathroom Bedroom Specialists Association (KBSA) is the body, similar to that of ABTA, which sets the standard for professionalism in the home improvement industry. With over 300 kitchen, bedroom and bathroom retailers nationwide, the KBSA offers consumers peace of mind and security.
Buying guidelines from the KBSA
- No-one would buy a car without test driving it first, and your new room can carry a similar price tag. Make sure you visit a showroom and see exactly what you are buying and check out the quality for yourself. All KBSA retailers have their own showrooms with permanently fitted displays, and are continuously vetted to ensure they maintain the high standards required for KBSA membership.
- Choose a retailer with a track record of good installations and ask to speak to some past customer and even visit them in their homes if possible.
- Be careful about paying in full for your bathroom in advance. You should not pay a deposit of more than 25% and it is likely that you will be required to make an interim payment, ask for a written payment schedule which includes the timings of any interim payment and final retention.
- Make sure you have a written quotation that covers every aspect of the job, including fitting, flooring and any structural alterations you may have discussed.
- Don’t sign anything unless you are prepared to honour your side of the contract. Some terms and conditions have expensive cancellation clauses. If in doubt contact the KBSA.
- When using a KBSA retail member, don't forget to keep your insurance certificate in a safe place, and if you haven't received it with a few weeks of paying your deposit, contact the insurance helpline at QANW on 01292 268020, as without your insurance certificate you may not be covered. You can of course, contact the insurance helpline within a few days of paying your deposit to get verbal confirmation that your contract has been registered and that the cover is in place.
