28/08/2026
📢 GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES NEW CRACKDOWN ON COWBOY BUILDERS & ROGUE TRADERS
The Government has today announced new measures aimed at tackling cowboy builders and protecting homeowners having building and home improvement work carried out.
This is something that could be particularly relevant to members of UK Paving Talk Group, as many businesses within the group carry out not only paving and landscaping, but also groundwork and general building work.
From September, a new Government-supported scheme is due to be introduced to help homeowners identify trusted traders.
Businesses signing up to the Approved Code will be expected to meet higher standards covering customer service, transparency and dispute resolution.
One of the biggest changes is the introduction of a new payment protection system, where customers' money can be protected and payments released in stages as agreed milestones of the project are completed.
The Government says the intention is not only to protect homeowners, but also to support reputable contractors who are currently competing against rogue traders who undercut legitimate businesses.
According to the figures released today, more than 1 in 4 UK adults who had home improvement work carried out during the previous 18 months experienced problems. Of those, 37% incurred additional costs, losing an average of £750.
For genuine paving, landscaping and building contractors, the principle of removing cowboy operators from the industry is obviously difficult to argue against.
However, the important question will be how the scheme actually works in practice.
Will reputable established contractors benefit from it?
What will businesses have to do to become approved?
What will it cost?
How will staged or protected payments work when contractors need substantial upfront expenditure for materials?
And, most importantly, will it genuinely tackle rogue traders, or simply create another layer of administration for legitimate businesses already doing everything correctly?
This is something we'll be keeping an eye on as further details emerge.
👇 What do contractors in the group think?
Would you welcome an approved trader and protected payment system if it helped separate professional contractors from cowboy operators?
Or do you have concerns about how something like this could work in the paving, landscaping and building industries?
🔗 Read More
https://ukpavingtalkgroup.com/kb/government-announces-crackdown-on-cowboy-builders/
