Government set cowboy builders in its sights

The government is planning a major crackdown on cowboy builders under proposals revealed by Housing Minister Caroline Flint today.

New controls, suggested in consultation paper The Future of Building Control, put cowboy builders under tougher scrutiny and liable for tougher sanctions for repeat offences.

Good builders who comply with controls will be relieved the burden of unnecessary inspections and, in some cases, be able to self-certify work.

The paper also proposes a three-year periodic review of building regulations to allow the industry to forward plan.

Making regulation forms electronic, providing web-based guidance and increasing local authorities’ powers to tackle botched or illegal construction are also suggested.

Federation of Master Builders (FMB) director of external affairs Brian Berry said the proposals would save builders time and money and benefit the reputation of the building industry.

“For too long, honest clients and law abiding builders have fallen victim to unscrupulous cowboy builders,” he said.

“Every year more than £1.3bn is paid out by unsuspecting clients to rogue door-to-door home maintenance traders.

“However, it’s not the public who suffer as such action also poses a serious threat to the reputation and image of the building sector.”

The government said it would now prepare a full consultation paper on the subject for release later in the year.

By Roxanne Miller