Everything you need to know about booking trades, finding work, and managing payments on Cabin — for builders, trades, and people having work done.
Builders
Post a job or search direct. Pay only when the work is done and you're happy with it.
Add a payment card during sign-up. You won't be charged anything until you confirm a booking — it's just there when you need it.
Search by trade type and postcode to find someone available now. Or post to the board in under 60 seconds and let trades come to you.
Review the rate and confirm. We place a hold on your card to secure the booking. Nothing is taken until you release it. The trade is locked in.
Card held · not chargedYou get a notification when they arrive. Their location is checked against the job address, so there's a clear record of who was on site and when.
Work done — tap to release. CIS is deducted and handled automatically. The trade is paid on release. You receive a full payment record.
Cabin Projects handles staged payments, CIS on every release, and client sign-off — all without extra spreadsheets.
Trades
Accept jobs that fit your schedule. No invoicing, no chasing, no waiting. CIS handled on every payment.
Set your trade type, day rate, and postcode area. Add your CIS status, VAT registration, and NI number. Cabin handles the compliance side — you just work.
Connect your bank account via Stripe. Set your availability calendar so builders can see when you're free to take on work.
See open jobs near you on the board. Or wait for direct booking requests from builders. Accept at the posted rate, decline, or send a counter-offer — you're in control.
Tap to check in when you arrive. Your location is checked against the job address, so there's a clear record of the days you worked.
Clock out when the work is done. The builder releases payment — funds clear straight to your account, with no invoice to raise and nobody to chase. A CIS deduction statement is generated automatically and emailed to you.
Create a project in the app, set a payment schedule, and invite your client. Zero cost to them. CIS automatic on every release.
Having work done
Tell us about the work and builders near you send you a price. Already have a builder? Manage the payments from your browser — no download needed.
Tell us what you need doing. We pass it to builders near you, and they send you a price with a payment schedule.
Tell us about the project. What, where, your budget and when. Add photos if you have them. Takes a couple of minutes.
We find builders near you. We pass it to up to three, and tell you either way how many reply.
They send you a price and a payment schedule, so you can see how the money would work before you decide.
You choose — or don't. Builders see the area and your description, not your address or number, until you pick one. Nothing is paid until you agree a schedule.
Been invited to a project by your trade? Review the schedule, fund it, and approve each payment from your browser.
Check your email for an invite from your trade. Click the secure link — no app download required.
Review the schedule. See the full payment plan — deposit, weekly stages, and final payment — before you commit to anything.
Add your card and pay the deposit. Each later payment is charged on its date and put to you to approve or query.
Approve releases week by week. Each request tells you when the payment is released if you don’t respond: 1 day after you’re asked (2 days for the final, 5 if you haven’t opened the project). If you first open it later than that, you still get the full day (2 for the final) from when you open it. Final payment also needs your trade’s approval.
Need a trade for a day instead? Book one in the Cabin app.
No fee to you. A query stops a payment until Cabin has reviewed it. Full schedule visible from day one.
Straight answers
We're clear about this, because it matters.
Hold each stage of a project until you approve it, query it, or the approval window runs out.
Deduct CIS at source on every labour payment and keep the record.
Log who was on site and when.
Show you what your trade has told us about their qualifications.
We don't check trade certifications. Where a trade gives us a Gas Safe licence number, we show it to you along with a link to the Gas Safe Register so you can check it yourself. We haven't.
We don't inspect or guarantee the quality, timeliness or completion of any work. Whether a stage is released is your decision, not ours.
We're not an insurer, and Cabin is not a party to the contract between you and your trade.
Raise it in the app, or use the Query option on the stage if you were invited to a project, or email hello@getcabin.co.uk. Raising a query holds the funds; it does not commit you to a dispute, and you can approve the stage afterwards if the answer satisfies you. Cabin will review within two business days.
Free to download.