Do I have lead water pipes, and who pays to replace them in Scotland?
How to spot lead pipes, where Scottish Water's responsibility ends, and the 50% Glasgow City Council grant for replacement.
The best tradespeople in the Southside, 2026
Southside
trades.
The best-placed tradespeople based on the Southside of Glasgow, from Govanhill and Shawlands out to Giffnock and Newton Mearns, taken from our independent league tables. Nobody pays for a place.
Ranked firms based in Southside
From our 2026 tables · Firms scoring 6.0 or more
| # | Firm | Trade and table position | Based in | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Gasman Energy | Gas engineer · #1 | Hillington | 9.7 |
| 02 | Gasman Energy | Plumber · #1 | Hillington | 9.7 |
| 03 | Homeshield Scotland | Window fitter · #1 | Gorbals | 9.4 |
| 04 | Home Rewire Glasgow | Electrician · #2 | Newton Mearns | 8.9 |
| 05 | Mearns Electrical | Electrician · #3 | Newton Mearns | 8.8 |
| 06 | J Shearer Roofing | Roofer · #1 | Muirend | 8.4 |
| 07 | Southside Window Systems | Window fitter · #2 | Hillington | 8.4 |
| 08 | D McLeod Plumbing & Heating | Plumber · #4 | Netherlee | 8.4 |
| 09 | D McLeod Plumbing & Heating | Gas engineer · #6 | Netherlee | 8.4 |
| 10 | Ultimate Home Solutions | Bathroom fitter · #4 | Nitshill | 7.8 |
| 11 | Ultimate Home Solutions | Window fitter · #6 | Nitshill | 7.8 |
| 12 | Gavin and Wright Windows and Doors | Window fitter · #7 | Southside | 7.6 |
| 13 | Dumpit Scotland | House clearance · #3 | Toryglen | 7.5 |
| 14 | Access Lock Co | Locksmith · #3 | Giffnock | 7.5 |
| 15 | Barrhead Lock & Door Co | Locksmith · #4 | Neilston | 7.5 |
| 16 | We Love Your Projects | Bathroom fitter · #5 | Hillington | 7.4 |
| 17 | We Love Your Projects | Kitchen fitter · #5 | Hillington | 7.4 |
| 18 | J McCartney Plumbing & Heating | Plumber · #10 | Kinning Park | 7.4 |
| 19 | Creative Glazing | Window fitter · #10 | Hillington | 7.1 |
| 20 | Bee Builders | Joiner · #4 | Southside | 6.9 |
| 21 | Bee Builders | Builder · #5 | Southside | 6.9 |
| 22 | DG Locksmiths | Locksmith · #6 | Pollok | 6.9 |
| 23 | Bee Builders | Kitchen fitter · #7 | Southside | 6.9 |
| 24 | Good Space Builders | Joiner · #5 | Govanhill | 6.8 |
| 25 | Good Space Builders | Builder · #6 | Govanhill | 6.8 |
| 26 | Good Space Builders | Kitchen fitter · #8 | Govanhill | 6.8 |
| 27 | Quality Electrics | Electrician · #10 | Southside | 6.8 |
| 28 | Venus Home Improvements | Bathroom fitter · #8 | Clarkston | 6.6 |
| 29 | Venus Home Improvements | Kitchen fitter · #10 | Clarkston | 6.6 |
| 30 | Glasgow Plastering | Plasterer · #6 | Southside | 6.5 |
| 31 | Polbuilt | Builder · #7 | Darnley | 6.5 |
| 32 | Bathtopia | Bathroom fitter · #9 | Ibrox | 6.3 |
| 33 | KG Lock & Safe | Locksmith · #8 | Busby | 6.2 |
| 34 | Caledonian Lock & Safe | Locksmith · #10 | Shawlands | 6.2 |
| 35 | A Major Tiling | Tiler · #5 | Clarkston | 6.0 |
Scores come from each trade's own table, so they are comparable within a trade rather than across trades. Firms that only give "Glasgow" as their base are not placed in an area, and almost every firm we rank covers the whole city.
Every table
All of these firms cover the Southside
Homes in the Southside
The Southside mixes Victorian red sandstone tenements in Shawlands, Govanhill, Battlefield and Strathbungo with large villas in Pollokshields and the suburbs beyond. More firms on our tables are based here than in any other part of the city.
Older pipes and wiring
Many older properties still have original pipework, and some may have lead water pipes. Our guide to lead water pipes in Scotland explains how to check. If the wiring has never been replaced, see what a rewire costs in Glasgow.
Rented flats
There are a lot of rented flats on the Southside. Landlords need regular electrical and gas safety checks; see our guides on EICRs for landlords and landlord gas safety certificates.
Shared repairs
Roofs, gutters and closes in a tenement are usually shared, so owners need to agree the work and split the bill. Our guide to who pays for tenement roof repairs explains the rules.
Neighbourhoods this page covers
- Shawlands
- Strathbungo
- Battlefield
- Langside
- Govanhill
- Pollokshields
- Cathcart
- Mount Florida
- Newlands
- Pollokshaws
- Pollok
- Cardonald
- Giffnock
- Clarkston
- Newton Mearns
Questions
Who are the best tradespeople in the Southside?
Of the firms in our 2026 tables that are based in the Southside, Gasman Energy scores highest, with 9.7 out of 10 on the gas engineers table. Most firms on our tables cover the whole of Glasgow, so check the full table for your trade too.
Do I have to use a tradesperson based in the Southside?
No. Almost every firm we rank covers the whole city. A local firm can mean shorter travel times and lower call out charges, but it is worth comparing the full table for your trade.
How do you decide which area a firm is in?
We use the address the firm gives on its main listing, such as its Google Business Profile or Checkatrade page. Firms that only give "Glasgow" are not placed in an area.
Can a firm pay to appear on this page?
No. This page is taken straight from our league tables, and nobody can pay for a place in those.
Useful guides
All guides
Do I need an EICR to rent out my flat in Scotland?
The five-year rule, the PAT testing rule, who counts as competent, and what C1, C2, C3 and FI codes mean.
Who pays for tenement roof repairs in Glasgow?
How the Tenements (Scotland) Act 2004 splits the bill, how owners make decisions, and what to do in an emergency.
Other areas
Trade based in Southside?
Send us your registrations and where we can read your reviews. Getting assessed is free. Getting ranked is earned.