Andy Burnham Launches Crackdown on Rogue Builders

Prime Minister Andy Burnham is launching a crackdown on rogue builders, centered on a new register of trusted traders scheduled to go live in September 2026. As part of this initiative, the government is backing a Trusted Payment app endorsed by the Chartered Trading Standards Institute.

The app employs an escrow system managed by the Dispute Resolution Ombudsman, which holds payments for completed work until both the consumer and the builder are satisfied. For projects exceeding £2,500, the system includes a two-year warranty. James Walker of the Chartered Trading Standards Institute described the app as a "trusted mechanism" to ensure consumer protection.

Industry reactions are mixed. Rico Wojtulewicz of the National Federation of Builders argued that reputable traders might avoid the system, stating, "We don’t think this is the best approach." Wojtulewicz instead proposed the use of digital building passports to log significant work and hold builders accountable for substandard results.