Burnham takes aim at ‘cowboy builders’ with new crackdown
- Andy Burnham has unveiled new plans to tackle rogue tradespeople known as “cowboy builders” to protect consumers from unfair practices by private bailiffs.
- A government-backed register launching in September will help householders find trusted builders, while a milestone-linked payment system next week will prevent upfront costs.
- The Prime Minister stated that the measures aim to protect families from stress and financial losses while stopping dishonest builders from damaging the reputation of reliable traders.
- Stricter rules for private bailiffs in England and Wales will require mandatory accreditation by the Enforcement Conduct Board to protect individuals in debt from intimidating behaviour.
- Shadow Business Secretary Andrew Griffith criticised the proposals, warning they could impose unnecessary paperwork on honest businesses rather than punishing lawbreakers.
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