'Cowboy builders' targeted in new government clampdown
The plan adds milestone payments for home repairs and independent oversight for bailiffs to curb rogue operators and protect vulnerable households.
- Prime Minister Andy Burnham unveiled new measures targeting "cowboy builders" and regulating private bailiffs, introducing a trusted trader database and payment system to protect homeowners from unscrupulous operators.
- More than one in four adults experienced difficulties during home improvements in the past 18 months, Citizens Advice reported, with complaints ranging from sub-standard craftsmanship to builders vanishing after collecting upfront payments.
- A new payment system launching next week allows householders to link payments to project milestones, while a government-backed scheme starting in September requires registered firms to demonstrate standards for customer service, transparency and dispute resolution.
- Courts Minister Sarah Sackman announced mandatory independent oversight of private bailiffs in England and Wales. "Bailiffs have an important job to do, but with that responsibility must come high standards," Sackman said.
- Opposition critics dismissed the initiative, with Shadow Business Secretary Andrew Griffith warning it risks "piling more paperwork onto the majority of businesses" and Liberal Democrat spokesperson Sarah Olney calling the voluntary code "half-baked.
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29 Articles
FMB warns cowboy-builder crackdown needs statutory licensing
The Federation of Master Builders has warned that a new government crackdown on rogue builders could struggle without compulsory regulation of the industry. The government announced measures intended to help homeowners identify reputable tradespeople and protect payments made during building work. From September, builders will… The post FMB warns cowboy-builder crackdown needs statutory licensing appeared first on Construction News.
Andy Burnham launches crackdown on 'cowboy builders' ripping off Britons
Andy Burnham has launched a crackdown on "cowboy builders" ripping off Britons with shoddy work and disappearing before jobs are finished.The Prime Minister has vowed to put rogue traders "out of business" as ministers introduce new protections for households undertaking home improvements.More than one in four adults have experienced problems with their most recent home renovation project, according to Citizens Advice.Complaints include poor-qua…
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