Service Providers Directory

# Service Providers Directory User Guide ## Overview The Service Providers Directory is your comprehensive resource for finding trusted housing and property professionals across the UK. Whether you need a plumber, estate agent, property manager, or housing support services, our directory connects you with verified professionals who specialize in social housing and property management. ## What You'll Find ### 🏢 Provider Types - **Registered Social Landlords (RSLs)** - Housing associations and trusts - **Housing Trusts** - Charitable housing providers - **Local Authorities** - Council housing services - **Estate Agents** - Property sales and lettings - **Property Managers** - Property maintenance and tenant coordination - **Letting Agents** - Rental property management - **Social Workers** - Housing support and advice - **Care Homes** - Residential care facilities - **Nursing Homes** - Specialized elderly care - **Sheltered Housing** - Supported accommodation for seniors - **Extra Care Housing** - Assisted living facilities - **Almshouses** - Traditional charitable housing - **Housing Cooperatives** - Community-owned housing - **Charitable Housing** - Non-profit housing providers - **Community Land Trusts** - Community-controlled housing ### 🔧 Service Categories (53 Categories) #### **Property Professionals** - Mortgage Broker - Loan arrangements and financial planning - Estate Agent - Property sales and lettings - Property Manager - Property maintenance and tenant coordination - Letting Agent - Rental property management - Property Surveyor - Property valuations and structural assessments - Conveyancer - Legal property transfer services - Property Developer - Construction project management - Property Consultant - Investment advice and consultancy - Home Inspector - Property condition reports - Property Valuer - Market assessments and valuations - Property Lawyer - Legal services for property transactions - Energy Assessor - Energy performance certificates #### **Trades & Maintenance** - Plumber - Plumbing repairs and installations - Electrician - Electrical work and repairs - Handyman - General repairs and maintenance - Builder - Construction and renovation services - Carpenter - Carpentry and joinery work - Painter & Decorator - Painting and decorating services - Roofing Contractor - Roof repairs and installations - Heating Engineer - Boiler and heating system services - Locksmith - Lock repairs and security services - Window & Door Specialist - Window and door repairs - Gas Engineer - Gas installations and safety certifications - Appliance Engineer - Appliance repairs and installations - Maintenance Contractor - General property maintenance #### **Services** - Cleaner - Residential and commercial cleaning - Gardener - Garden maintenance and landscaping - Pest Control - Pest prevention and removal - Security Specialist - Security systems and alarms - Fire Safety Consultant - Fire safety assessments - Smart Home Specialist - Smart home installations - Removal Company - Moving and relocation services - Storage Provider - Self-storage facilities #### **Finance & Insurance** - Insurance Broker - Property insurance services - Financial Advisor - Financial planning and investment advice #### **Legal & Regulatory** - Housing Law Specialist - Legal advice for housing matters - Regulatory Compliance Consultant - Compliance with housing regulations #### **Technology & Consulting** - Property Software Consultant - Property management software - PropTech Specialist - Property technology solutions - Architect - Architectural design and planning - Quantity Surveyor - Cost management and surveying - Interior Designer - Interior design and decoration - Project Manager - Construction project management #### **Social Housing** - Supported Housing Provider - Specialized housing for vulnerable tenants - Tenancy Support Worker - Tenant support and housing management - Housing Association Consultant - Housing association expertise - Social Worker - Social work and support services - Support Worker - Care and support services #### **Environmental & Other** - Environmental Consultant - Environmental impact assessments - Asbestos Surveyor - Asbestos surveys and management - Accessibility Consultant - Disability adaptations - Home Adaptations Specialist - Home modifications for accessibility ## How to Use the Directory ### Getting Started 1. **Navigate to Service Providers** - Visit the main website - Click "Service Providers" in the navigation menu 2. **Understanding the Interface** - **Map View**: Interactive map showing provider locations - **Search Bar**: Find providers by name, service, or location - **Filter Buttons**: Quick access to common filters - **"More Filters" Button**: Advanced filtering options ### Basic Search #### **By Provider Name** - Use the search bar to find specific providers - Example: Search "Quick Fix Plumbing" to find plumbing services #### **By Service Type** - Use the search bar with service keywords - Example: Search "electrician" or "plumber" #### **By Location** - Search includes location matching - Example: Search "London plumber" or "Manchester electrician" ### Advanced Filtering #### **Using the Quick Filters** 1. **Service Types Filter** (Any Service) - Click the dropdown to select service types: - Supported Housing - Supported Living - Social Lets - Emergency Housing - Temporary Accommodation - Independent Living 2. **Provider Types Filter** (All Types) - Choose from organizational types: - Registered Social Landlord - Housing Trust - Local Authority - Estate Agent - Property Manager - Letting Agent - Social Worker - Care Home - Nursing Home - Sheltered Housing - Extra Care Housing - Almshouse - Housing Cooperative - Charitable Housing - Community Land Trust 3. **Service Categories Filter** (All Categories) - **Most Important Filter** - Click "All Categories" for specific services - Organized by professional groups for easy browsing 4. **City Filter** (Any City) - Filter by location (when city data is available) 5. **Sort Options** - Name (alphabetical) - City (when available) - Date Added (newest first) #### **Using the More Filters Panel** For advanced filtering options: 1. Click **"More filters"** button 2. Access additional options: - **Verification**: Show only verified providers - **Service Types**: Multiple selection support - **Provider Types**: Multiple selection support - **Service Categories**: Grouped by professional category - **Cities**: Multiple city selection - **Sort Options**: Ascending/descending order ### Finding Specific Services #### **Example: Finding a Plumber** 1. Click **"All Categories"** dropdown 2. Select **"Trades & Maintenance"** group 3. Choose **"Plumber"** 4. Results show all verified plumbing services #### **Example: Finding Housing Support** 1. Click **"All Categories"** dropdown 2. Select **"Social Housing"** group 3. Choose **"Tenancy Support Worker"** or **"Social Worker"** 4. Results show housing support professionals #### **Example: Finding Property Services** 1. Click **"All Categories"** dropdown 2. Select **"Property Professionals"** group 3. Choose **"Estate Agent"**, **"Property Manager"**, etc. 4. Results show property professionals ## Understanding Provider Information ### Provider Cards Display: - **Business Name**: Official provider name - **Verification Status**: ✓ Verified badge for trusted providers - **Rating**: Star rating from user reviews - **Service Categories**: Tags showing offered services - **Location**: Geographic area served - **Availability Status**: Current availability (Available/Busy/Unavailable) ### Map Integration: - **Interactive Map**: Click providers to see details - **Location Search**: Find providers near specific areas - **Clustering**: Multiple providers grouped when zoomed out ## Tips for Best Results ### **Start Specific** - Use the category filters rather than general search - Example: Instead of "help with housing", use "Tenancy Support Worker" ### **Combine Filters** - Use multiple filters for precise results - Example: "Property Manager" + "London" + "Verified only" ### **Check Verification Status** - Look for the ✓ Verified badge for trusted providers - Verified providers have completed background checks ### **Use Location Filters** - When available, filter by city or region - Map view helps visualize provider locations ### **Review Categories Carefully** - Each provider can offer multiple services - Check the category tags on provider cards ## Provider Verification ### **What Verified Means:** - Background checks completed - References verified - Insurance and qualifications confirmed - Regular quality assurance reviews ### **How to Spot Verified Providers:** - ✓ Verified badge on provider cards - Higher placement in search results - Detailed service information available ## Getting Help ### **If You Can't Find What You Need:** 1. Try broader category searches 2. Use the general search with keywords 3. Check "Other" category for specialized services 4. Contact our support team for assistance ### **Provider Feedback:** - Leave reviews to help other users - Report issues with provider listings - Suggest new service categories ## Mobile App Access The Service Providers Directory is also available in our mobile app with the same filtering capabilities optimized for mobile devices. ### **Mobile-Specific Features:** - Touch-optimized filter interface - GPS location services - Direct contact integration - Offline provider information ## Directory Statistics - **1,600+ Active Providers**: Comprehensive coverage across the UK - **53 Service Categories**: From basic repairs to specialized housing services - **16 Provider Types**: Covering all housing sector organizations - **Verified Quality**: Majority of providers verified for reliability - **Regular Updates**: New providers added regularly - **Geographic Coverage**: UK-wide service availability ## Future Enhancements We're continuously improving the Service Providers Directory with: - **Enhanced Search**: AI-powered search suggestions - **Provider Reviews**: Detailed rating and review system - **Service Requests**: Direct booking and quote systems - **Emergency Services**: 24/7 emergency service indicators - **Integration**: Connect with property management systems