The government will introduce a national database of trusted tradespeople and a system designed to protect customers' money next month, officials have announced. The package is being presented as a clampdown on so-called 'cowboy builders' who undertake poor or fraudulent work.
What the measures will include
The measures set to be launched comprise a publicly accessible registry of tradespeople who meet specified standards and a payment-protection mechanism aimed at ensuring consumers do not lose money when work is not completed or is performed to an unacceptable standard. Further operational details and how the schemes will be administered are expected to be published before the rollout.
Policy context and objectives
Ministers say the initiatives are intended to boost consumer confidence and deter rogue operators by making it easier for householders to find vetted contractors and to reclaim or secure funds when things go wrong. The move follows longstanding concerns from homeowners about substandard work and unscrupulous practices in the domestic building and repairs sector.
Implementation and oversight
The government has set the launch for next month, with officials indicating there will be processes in place to verify tradespeople for inclusion on the registry and to manage disputes that arise under the payment-protection scheme. Details on enforcement, costs to consumers or tradespeople, and transitional arrangements are expected to be clarified as the schemes are rolled out.
Outlook
Industry groups, consumer bodies and local authorities will be closely watching how the programmes operate in practice and whether they reduce instances of fraud and poor workmanship. The measures could alter how homeowners select and pay for building work and may prompt wider changes in regulation and oversight of trades services.