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You may have recently heard that Prime Minister Andy Burnham has announced new reforms aimed at tackling ‘rogue’ builders. The initiative is designed to help homeowners identify and hire reputable tradespeople with greater confidence. Under the proposed scheme, contractors who sign up will be able to demonstrate their commitment to higher standards of customer service, while also promoting greater transparency throughout the building process.

Déjà Vu?

Robert Franklin, Local Partner & Chartered Building Surveyor, questions: “Haven’t we heard this all before, and what makes this time any different?” 

You may recall previous reports of ‘botched’ cavity wall and external wall insulation jobs carried out under previous government schemes. Since 2022, major defects have been identified in over 30,000 homes linked to these schemes, and, quite understandably, negative headlines like these undermine public confidence in government-backed schemes.

Possibly a Step in the Right Direction

In reviewing the Government’s latest reforms, these proposals also include a new payment protection system, with funds released in line with key project milestones. While this is undoubtedly a positive step, it will remains a voluntary scheme, meaning builders are under no obligation to sign up.

2025 Complaints

Citizens Advice reports that in 2025, there were nearly 40,000 complaints of defective workmanship and cowboy builders, including potential scams. The estimated cost to correct all the substandard work amounted to nearly £2.33 million, and the true figure is likely to be much higher, as this reflects only cases reported to Citizens Advice.

Poor Workmanship

Robinson & Hall regularly carries out inspections of substandard work, from small contractors to major national housebuilders. The scale of the defects, and the excuses offered by the builders, remain staggering.

However, anyone can currently call themselves a builder, with no minimum competency requirements to run a building company. Perhaps it is then unsurprising that poor workmanship persists and that such government-run schemes will always struggle without tighter regulation of the construction industry.

Help

We continue to use our experience and expertise to help clients avoid substandard workmanship when planning building projects.

For more information, or if you are currently experiencing poor workmanship issues, then please contact Robert Franklin.