Prime Minister Andy Burnham has announced a new initiative to combat "cowboy builders" who defraud customers, stating, "They're crooks – and it's about time we treated them like it." The plan aims to protect vulnerable individuals and families from unscrupulous contractors.
The initiative will introduce a new system allowing consumers the option to have their payments held in escrow and released incrementally as work is completed. This "do the work, get paid" approach is designed to prevent builders from taking large deposits and disappearing before finishing jobs.
Burnham highlighted the significant financial and emotional toll these scams take. He recounted the story of a woman from Essex who, while grieving the loss of her mother, commissioned a home extension intended as a care space. The builder she hired performed shoddy work, rendering the house unsafe and forcing her to remortgage and rely on family support. The stress of the situation led her to attempt suicide, though she ultimately survived.
"Too many cowboy builders are still getting away with it. And I won't sit back while they make more victims out of vulnerable people, hardworking families and genuine tradespeople up and down this country," Burnham stated.
According to the Federation of Master Builders, homeowners lost an estimated £14.3 billion to fraudulent builders between 2020 and 2025, averaging £1,759 per affected individual. The Prime Minister emphasized that this issue disproportionately affects those already struggling with the cost of living.
The new standards will also help reputable tradespeople distinguish themselves. Those who meet the updated criteria will be able to demonstrate their trustworthiness to customers. Burnham framed the initiative as part of a broader government commitment to fairness, citing other policies such as capping bus fares and rebuilding technical education.
"This is about ensuring people have some breathing space when they need it most," Burnham said. "It gets to the heart of who we are and the kind of country we're trying to build together – a country built on fairness."
He concluded by assuring the public that the government is acting on the concerns raised, referencing the woman from Essex's plea for government intervention. "Today, I want her to know: we heard you. We're acting. And we'll keep acting until people in every part of this country finally believe in Britain again."