Cowboy builder complaints nearly double ahead of planned Government clampdown

The number of potential cowboy builder scams affecting households in England and Wales has nearly doubled since 2022, data suggests. In an analysis of Citizens Advice figures, home improvement firm Leader Online said complaints tagged as potential cowboy builder scams rose from eight per cent to 14 per cent between 2022 and 2025 in England and Wales. It comes as the Government plans to crack down on rogue firms by putting in place a database of trusted traders and a payment system offering more safeguards.The cost of putting shoddy home improvement work right hit £2.3million in 2025, the highest since 2022, Leader said. But only a tiny proportion of complainants provided a record of the 'detriment cost' meaning the true cost of remedial works to sort out shoddy home improvements could be much higher. The detriment cost includes all costs resulting from the poor-quality work, and not just the price of putting it right. So for example, it might include the cost of replacement accommodation if shoddy building work meant a home could not be moved into as planned. Leader Online said that applying the median reported detriment cost of £1,000 across all 189,224 complaints submitted via Citizens Advice in the period would suggest the true total bill for remediation works last year could have been as high as £189.2million. Dodgy: The number of potential cowboy builder scams affecting households in England and Wales has nearly doubled since 2022, data suggests (file image)In 2022, Citizens Advice Consumer Service recorded 50,346 recorded cases of home renovation work problems involving tradersOf these, an estimated 4,024 were flagged as potential scams, giving the year a potential scam rate of eight per cent.By 2025, the number of recorded complaints via Citizens Advice had dropped, but the proportion flagged as potential scams was higher at 14 per cent.Early 2026 data suggests that suspected scams remain elevated. David Turner, head of product at Leader Online, said: 'The financial and emotional impact of a cowboy builder cannot be underestimated.'The cost to fix poor or incomplete work is significant for most people, especially when grappling with wider financial pressures.'A good tradesperson should be clear about what is included in the quote, which materials will be used, how long the work should take, and when payments are due.'If these details feel vague, rushed, or keep changing, it's sensible to pause before handing over money.' Cowboy builders targeted in new clampdown Households carrying out home renovations could get greater protections against cowboy builders' via a new database of trusted traders and a payment system offering more safeguards, the Government said last week.Traders signing up to the scheme launching in September will need to demonstrate certain standards of customer service, transparency and dispute resolution.Under the new traders' scheme, households' money will be held in an account and released in parts after certain milestones in projects are completed. The National Federation of Builders said the changes would not stop rogue operators, while the Conservatives suggested there would be added paperwork for businesses already operating legitimately.Citizens Advice has said home renovations are one of its biggest sources of consumer complaints.In a report published in July 2026, Citizens Advice said it received around 37,000 complaints related to home maintenance and improvements in 2025. It found that 28 per cent of people who hired a trader for home repairs or improvements in the last 18 months experienced a problem, with those who lost money losing a median of £750, with 11 per cent losing more than £5,000.The report from Citizens Advice in July also found that households using accredited or larger, brand-name traders were no less likely to experience problems than those using sole traders, underlining that voluntary schemes alone were not fixing the market. Business secretary Jonathan Reynolds said: 'Your home is the biggest investment you make. While improving it can be stressful; we are helping families to avoid it turning into a nightmare.'We’re taking action to protect consumers, support reputable traders and make sure people can spend their money with greater confidence and security.' The Federation of Master Builders called the crackdown 'a great move for the industry', but expressed concern over the scheme’s voluntary nature.It said: 'However, it is a real concern that this is just another voluntary programme without regulation behind it.'Voluntary schemes have never filled the gap for good regulation that protects both reputable builders and consumers.'Have you had a problem with cowboy builders? editor@thisismoney.co.uk Best mortgage rates and how to find them Mortgage rates have shot up again due to inflation triggered by the conflict with Iran reversing hopes that the Bank of England would cut rates. 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