Why use a Guild of Master Sweeps registered chimney sweep?

Not all sweeps are the same

Chimney sweeping is unregulated in the UK. Anyone can buy rods and a vacuum and call themselves a sweep, with no training, no insurance and no standards to meet. That is why registration with the Guild of Master Chimney Sweeps matters, and why both Steve and Jamie hold it.

What Guild registration means for you

• Proper training. Guild members are trained and assessed in sweeping methods for every kind of flue, from open fires to modern wood burners and lined systems.
• The right equipment. Power sweeping kit, HEPA filtered vacuums and CCTV inspection cameras, not just a brush and a sheet.
• Full insurance. If something goes wrong, you are covered. An unregistered sweep may carry no insurance at all.
• A recognised certificate. Our certificates are accepted by insurers, letting agents and HETAS as evidence of a professional sweep.
• A code of conduct. Guild members agree to work to set standards, arrive when they say they will, and leave your home clean.

Why insurers care

If you ever need to claim after a chimney fire, one of the first questions your insurer will ask is whether the chimney was professionally swept. A certificate from a registered sweep answers that question immediately. A receipt from an untrained one may not.

Many holiday let and thatched property policies in Norfolk go further and require regular professional sweeping as a condition of cover. We work with plenty of both, and issue certificates on the day for every job.

A family business, registered twice over

SG Chimney Sweep is a family business. Steven Gerrard founded it in 2016 after thirty years in Norfolk Fire Service, and his son in law Jamie Moulton joined in 2026. Steven is an NVQ qualified chimney sweep through the Guild, and both are registered, so whoever arrives at your door, the standard is the same.

How to check a sweep is registered

Every current member appears on the Guild's public directory, so you can check before you book. You will find our listing on the Guild directory, and you can read more about the standards members work to on the Guild of Master Chimney Sweeps website. If a sweep is not listed anywhere, ask why.

Questions worth asking any sweep

Before you book anyone, ask:

1. Are you registered with a recognised trade body?

2. Are you fully insured?

3. Will I get a certificate I can show my insurer?

4. What does the price include?

We are happy to answer all four before you book. Call Jamie on 07596 017501 or Steve on 07419 981638, or get in touch here. If we are on a job, leave a message and we will get back to you as soon as we can.

Need regular sweeps for a business, estate or holiday let portfolio? Take a look at our corporate chimney sweeping page.