The government has unveiled a series of new consumer protection measures aimed at curbing rogue traders and enforcing stricter standards on debt collection across England and Wales.
Announcing the package, Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds and Cabinet ministers set out plans launching this September to safeguard household finances, protect consumers from sub-standard building work, and support reputable small businesses.
Crackdown on rogue traders
Under a new government-supported scheme launching next month, homeowners will gain access to a platform designed to help identify and hire vetted, trusted traders.
To combat rogue operators who abandon unfinished building work after collecting large upfront fees, the government is backing a milestone-linked payment system. Under this setup, consumer funds will be held securely and released incrementally as project stages are completed.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said:
“Cowboy builders don’t just rip people off. They leave families with months of stress, the disruption of unfinished work, and that horrible feeling of being taken advantage of. Not only that, but they give the vast majority of decent, hardworking tradespeople a bad name.
“So we’re putting the cowboys out of business. These changes mean you’ll now have the option to make sure your money is held safely and released bit by bit as the work gets done.”
The initiative aims both to prevent fraud against families and to ensure legitimate tradespeople who meet national standards are not undercut by unaccredited operators.
Tighter regulation for enforcement and debt collection
Alongside home improvement protections, the government announced tougher regulation aimed at protecting individuals facing debt.
The measures introduce consistent professional standards for bailiffs operating across England and Wales, establishing a new independent complaints process for individuals who experience mistreatment or intimidation during enforcement actions.
Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said:
“Too many families are ripped off by home improvement work, or threatened by intimidation tactics if they’ve fallen behind with debt. We’re supporting businesses that already play by the rules, and making sure families keep more of their hard-earned cash in their pockets.”
The reform package forms part of the government’s broader focus on targeted consumer policy updates ahead of the autumn parliamentary session.
