Anyone who has ever hired a builder and lived through months of delays, dodgy workmanship, or a tradesman who simply vanished halfway through the job will know exactly why this month's announcement matters. The government has confirmed a new crackdown on so-called "cowboy builders", with measures rolling out from September designed to give homeowners better protection when taking on renovation or home improvement work.
It's a welcome step. But, as with most things in this market, the details are worth understanding before you get too excited or too complacent.
What's actually changing
Two new measures are being introduced. The first is an Approved Code that home improvement traders can sign up to. It requires them to demonstrate higher standards of customer service, transparency and dispute resolution. The second is a milestone-based payment system. This will allow money to be released to a builder only as agreed stages of a project are completed. This is much better than homeowners handing over large sums upfront.
The intention behind both is straightforward. Stop the classic cowboy builder playbook of taking a big deposit, doing a fraction of the promised work, and disappearing. It will also prevent dragging a project out for months while asking for more money along the way.
The catch: it's voluntary
Here's the part that matters most for anyone reading the headlines and assuming the problem is solved. Neither scheme is compulsory. Builders can choose whether or not to sign up, and those who don't can continue trading exactly as before.
Industry bodies have been fairly candid about this. The Federation of Master Builders has called the crackdown a positive step. However, they raised real concerns about its voluntary nature. They point out that voluntary schemes have never filled the gap left by proper regulation. The National Federation of Builders went further, questioning whether the scheme will actually stop bad actors operating at all.
That's not a reason to dismiss the announcement. It genuinely gives homeowners a new way to identify traders who are willing to be held to a higher standard. It will offer a safer way to structure payments. This isn't a licensing system, and it won't, on its own, stop rogue traders who were never going to sign up to anything in the first place.
What this means if you're planning work on your home
Whether you're renovating before a sale. Improving a home you've just bought. Simply getting long-overdue work done. These few sensible habits will protect you regardless of whether your builder has signed up to the new code:
· Get more than one quote, and be wary of anyone significantly cheaper than the rest.
· Ask for references and, where possible, see previous work in person.
· Stage payments tied to completed work protect you either way. Never pay the full amount upfront.
· Get everything in writing. Including start dates, timescales and what's included.
· Check they're properly insured. For larger jobs, ask about warranties
None of this is new advice. It is advice that becomes more relevant, not less, whenever a story like this hits the headlines and people assume the danger has passed.
David Phillip's View:
"We see the aftermath of bad building work more often than people might think. It's frequently the reason a sale gets delayed or a survey throws up something the seller didn't know about. So anything that gives homeowners more protection is genuinely welcome. My honest advice, though, hasn't changed: do your homework on any tradesperson before they set foot on your property, get things in writing, and don't be pressured into paying more than you need to before the work is actually done. A good builder will never mind you asking sensible questions. It's usually the ones who do mind that you need to worry about."
If you are considering selling your home and would like a free market appraisal, call David Phillip FRICS. 0113 4676 400.
David Phillip Estate Agents, selling houses in North Leeds and covering Bramhope, Adel, Cookridge, Pool-in-Wharfedale and Alwoodley
