Families will be given new protections against rogue builders and intimidating bailiffs under a fresh Government crackdown.
Andy Burnham has vowed to “put the cowboys out of business” as he announced a crackdown on rogue builders accused of leaving households facing shoddy work, unfinished projects and hefty losses.
The Prime Minister said families would have new ways to find trusted tradespeople and protect their money from unscrupulous operators.
The move comes after Citizens Advice revealed that home renovations were among its biggest sources of complaints, with more than one in four adults reporting problems with their most recent project.
Complaints include poor-quality work and builders disappearing before jobs are finished.
From September, businesses will be able to sign up to a Government-backed approved code showing they meet standards covering customer service, transparency and dispute resolution.
A new payment system launching next week will also allow customers to link payments to project milestones, meaning money can be released as work is completed rather than handing over large sums upfront.
Burnham said: “Cowboy builders don’t just rip people off. They leave families with months of stress, the disruption of unfinished work, and that horrible feeling of being taken advantage of. Not only that, but they give the vast majority of decent, hardworking tradespeople a bad name.”
He added: “So we’re putting the cowboys out of business. These changes mean you’ll now have the option to make sure your money is held safely and released bit by bit as the work gets done.”
The Prime Minister said the measures were part of his Government's series of “everyday fixes” aimed at tackling problems facing households.
He said: “It’s the latest in our series of everyday fixes to give people room to breathe and make Britain fairer. We’ve taken on subscription traps, fake discounts, and now we’re coming for the cowboy builders. Enough is enough.”
Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said the changes would “protect consumers, support reputable traders” and help prevent home improvements from “turning into a nightmare”.
Bailiffs face tougher rules
The Government also announced tougher regulation of private bailiffs in England and Wales amid concerns about people in debt being subjected to intimidating tactics.
The reforms will introduce mandatory independent oversight, with bailiffs required to be accredited by the Enforcement Conduct Board – or work for an accredited firm – to obtain the certificate needed to operate.
Ministers said the changes were designed to improve professional standards and prevent enforcement agents from pressuring people into repayment arrangements they cannot afford.
Courts minister Sarah Sackman said: “Bailiffs have an important job to do, but with that responsibility must come high standards. When someone is already struggling with debt, the last thing they should face is intimidating behaviour, unfair treatment or being pushed into excessive repayment arrangements they cannot afford.”
She added: “That’s why we’re strengthening the rules. All private bailiffs will have to meet proper, professional standards and will be subject to independent oversight – giving people greater protection and somewhere to turn when things go wrong.”
The Government will also examine whether the wider consumer protection system could be made easier to navigate, including how Citizens Advice and Trading Standards work with regulators, enforcement bodies and redress schemes.
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But the plans have faced criticism from opposition parties.
Andrew Griffith, shadow business and trade secretary, said: “We all want to see action to stop rogue traders, but this announcement looks like the sort of government initiative that risks the unintended consequence of piling more paperwork onto the majority of businesses who already do the right thing.”
He said ministers should instead “beef up” law enforcement and introduce tougher sentences for those who defraud customers.
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