Prime Minister Andy Burnham has announced new measures aimed at tackling the issue of "cowboy builders" who, he says, cause significant financial and emotional harm to homeowners across Britain. Speaking ahead of Parliament’s return, Burnham described these unscrupulous tradespeople as "crooks" who "destroy lives" by preying on vulnerable individuals and undermining trust in the home improvement sector.

Burnham highlighted the case of a woman from Essex who, while grieving the loss of her mother to cancer, engaged a builder recommended by a neighbour to complete a home extension. The work was later deemed unsafe, leading to financial hardship that pushed her to attempt suicide. The Prime Minister used this example to underline the human cost behind the widespread problem of poor-quality or fraudulent builders.

According to figures cited by Burnham, homeowners lost an estimated £14.3 billion between 2020 and 2025 due to unreliable or unqualified builders—averaging a loss of about £1,759 per affected individual. While the majority of builders are described as honest and hardworking professionals, the minority who demand large deposits then fail to complete work or disappear with funds cause substantial distress to families and damage to the industry’s reputation.

In response, the Government is supporting the launch of two initiatives designed to protect consumers and promote higher standards. The first is a smartphone application called Trusted Partners, scheduled to go live next week. This platform will safeguard homeowners’ money by only releasing payments to builders when agreed milestones in the work have been met. The app is expected to be available to up to 100,000 traders nationwide by the end of September and is a collaboration between a private company and TrustMark, a Government-endorsed quality assurance scheme.

The second initiative is the Approved Codes Scheme specifically for the home improvement sector, developed by the Chartered Trading Standards Institute and the Furniture and Home Improvement Ombudsman. This voluntary scheme will require participating businesses to meet enhanced customer service standards. It is set to launch at the end of September, with full implementation expected by December. While the Government endorses both programs, it has clarified that no public funding has been allocated to their development or rollout.

Burnham emphasized that these measures form part of a broader effort to support consumers and reinforce fairness in the economy, alongside other policies such as capping bus fares and investing in education. He said the Government’s aim is to protect reputable tradespeople and restore consumer confidence, ensuring that those who act properly can stand out from dishonest operators. The Prime Minister concluded by affirming the Government’s commitment to continued action until public trust is renewed nationwide.