Andy Burnham vows crackdown will 'put cowboy builders out of business'
Andy Burnham has announced a new crackdown on 'cowboy builders', promising to put unscrupulous traders out of business. The plan includes a register of trusted tradespeople to protect households, following reports that more than one in four UK adults have complained about shoddy or unfinished work.
Andy Burnham has pledged a major crackdown on 'cowboy builders', vowing that new measures will 'put them out of business' and protect households from being ripped off by unscrupulous traders. The plan, announced by the Greater Manchester Mayor, is designed to tackle a problem that has affected more than one in four adults in the UK, who have complained about shoddy or unfinished work.
Central to the proposal is the creation of a register of trusted tradespeople, which would help consumers find reliable builders and avoid falling victim to operators who take money for work that is never completed or is done to a poor standard. Burnham described the worst offenders as 'just crooks', arguing that the industry has been allowed to operate with too little oversight for too long, leaving ordinary households exposed to financial loss and stress.
The move comes amid growing public concern over the prevalence of rogue traders, with official figures suggesting that a significant proportion of the adult population has experienced problems with building work. Burnham's office has indicated that the register would be backed by stronger enforcement powers, allowing authorities to act quickly against those who breach standards or engage in fraudulent practices. The aim, he said, is not merely to punish bad actors but to change the culture of an industry where too many customers feel they have no recourse when things go wrong.
Under the proposals, tradespeople would need to meet clear criteria to be listed on the register, giving consumers a reliable benchmark when choosing who to hire for construction, renovation, or repair work. The scheme is expected to include a complaints mechanism, so that poor performance can be flagged and investigated, and repeat offenders could be struck off. Burnham framed the initiative as a consumer protection measure that would restore confidence in a sector that is vital to the economy but has long been dogged by complaints about cowboy operators.
The announcement has been welcomed by consumer groups, who have long called for tougher action against rogue traders. They argue that the current system places too much burden on individual households to check the credentials of builders, often with little support when disputes arise. By creating a public register and strengthening enforcement, the plan aims to shift the balance of power back towards the customer, making it easier to identify reputable firms and harder for dishonest operators to thrive.
Burnham's proposal is part of a broader push on consumer rights and local accountability, reflecting his wider political agenda on housing and community standards. While the details of how the register will be funded and administered are still being finalised, the Mayor has made clear that he sees this as a priority issue. He argued that the damage done by cowboy builders extends beyond individual financial losses, undermining trust in the construction industry as a whole and leaving many people wary of undertaking essential home improvements.
The crackdown is likely to be watched closely by other regional leaders and national policymakers, as it could serve as a model for how to regulate the trades sector more effectively. With millions of pounds spent each year on home building and repairs, the stakes are high, and Burnham's pledge signals a determination to make the industry safer for consumers. Whether the measures will be enough to eliminate the problem remains to be seen, but the Mayor's message is clear: those who cheat households will face consequences.
