New Measures to Protect UK Homeowners from Poor Work and Loss

• A government-backed 'Trusted Payments' escrow system will launch in early September.
• A voluntary 'Approved Code' accreditation scheme will help consumers identify high-quality traders.
• UK households lost an estimated £10.3 billion to maintenance issues and rogue traders in 2024.
• Private bailiffs are now required to be accredited by the Enforcement Conduct Board (ECB).

On August 28, 2026, the government announced a comprehensive package of measures designed to tackle rogue traders and improve standards in the home improvement sector. The initiative follows findings from Citizens Advice showing that 28% of UK adults—representing more than one in four people who commissioned home improvements in the last 18 months—encountered significant problems. It is estimated that approximately 4.8 million homeowners have faced issues ranging from poor workmanship and unfinished projects to unfair trading practices.

Financial losses associated with home and garden maintenance reached a staggering £10.3 billion in 2024, according to research. These losses stem from a combination of overpriced services, poor quality work, and the activities of rogue traders. On average, homeowners affected by building problems lost £750 each, though one in ten individuals suffered losses exceeding £5,000. Reports in The Mirror indicate that the new protections aim to provide a safety net for consumers who have previously had little recourse when projects go wrong.

Central to the new strategy is the 'Trusted Payments' system, an escrow-style service set to launch in early September. This mechanism allows project funds to be held in a secure account, with money only released to the contractor once specific project milestones have been achieved. Alongside this, a voluntary 'Approved Code' accreditation scheme will be introduced to help homeowners identify traders who have committed to high standards of transparency and service. These measures involve collaboration between the Department for Business & Trade, the Enforcement Conduct Board, and the Furniture and Home Improvement Ombudsman.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham stated that the measures aim to "put the cowboys out of business" and end the stress of "shoddy work" for families. The clampdown also extends to the regulation of private bailiffs, who must now be accredited by the Enforcement Conduct Board (ECB) to ensure professional conduct. The scale of the issue is highlighted by the Citizens Advice Consumer Service, which recorded nearly 37,000 complaints regarding home repairs in 2025. Furthermore, data from Leader Online revealed that 14% of maintenance complaints were flagged as potential scams in 2025, a rate that has nearly doubled since 2022. Due to these trust issues, 28% of homeowners admitted to carrying out work themselves because they could not find a trader they felt they could rely on.

The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) has welcomed the news, viewing it as a supportive step toward its 'Licence to Build' campaign, which advocates for the mandatory licensing of all builders in the UK.

Tom Church, Co-Founder of LatestDeals.co.uk, said, "These new measures represent a significant step in providing consumers with the financial security and transparency they need when investing in their homes."