5 days ago
UK hotspots for rogue traders revealed – how bad is your area?
THE worst hotspots for rogue tradespeople have been revealed, as thousands of households have been left with shoddy work done.
A total of 9,703 reports of suspected rogue trader work were recorded last year, consumer charity Electrical Safety First found.
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The highest number of reports was for roofing work, with more than 2,000 people filing complaints.
Reports were also linked to:
General building works (1,018)
Plumbing work (881)
Electrical work (655)
Carpentry work (633)
Other types of jobs reported included work on driveways, bathrooms and windows.
The data, gathered through a Freedom of Information request, also revealed Greater London as the worst hotspot in the country.
It had 2,462 reports of suspected rogue tradespeople last year.
Yorkshire and Humber followed closely behind with 2,341 reports.
East Anglia and the East Midlands were next with 934 and 793 reports respectively.
The West Midlands had the lowest number of reports at just 108.
The areas with the most suspected rogue trader reports
Greater London - 2,462
Yorkshire and Humber - 2,431
East Anglia - 934
East Midlands - 793
North West - 722
Northern Ireland - 695
Scotland - 438
North East - 364
Wales - 287
South West - 271
South East - 198
West Midlands - 108
Households are being warned rogue traders can leave them at serious risk.
Richard Harvey, electrical installation safety expert for Electrical Safety First, said: "With so many reports of suspected rogue trade activity, there's a real chance of dangerous work being carried out in homes that leaves victims picking up the pieces, or worse, at serious risk of harm.
"People are still feeling the squeeze from the cost-of-living crisis, and rogue traders will exploit this, perhaps offering to do the work in an unrealistic time frame or at a cheaper price."
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He warned electrical work can be the most dangerous as shoddy electrics leave you at risk of fire, burns and electrocution.
Plus, having poor work done can leave you thousands of pounds out of pocket as it can cause further issues and you'll need to get it fixed.
Last year, a rogue trader from Cornwall was sentenced after he left customers £90,000 out of pocket.
In one case, he removed load-bearing walls without adequate support for the roof and left electrics in a dangerous state.
Another rogue trader from Swindon was sentenced after it was found he carried out dangerous electrical work which was not compliant with building regulations.
He'd also issued houseowners with an electrical installation certificate for the electrical work claiming it had been signed off by an electrician who had not visited the property.
Red flags to watch out for
You can avoid getting caught out by a rogue trader by looking out for these signs…
They're available immediately
Builders and tradespeople are in demand, so be wary of anyone who can start work straight away.
Of course, there might be legitimate reason for this - perhaps they had another job fall through - but it's worth asking some questions.
Read the reviews on websites like Checkatrade or on Google Reviews and make sure the person is vetted and qualified to carry out the work.
They're VERY cheap
If one tradesperson comes in with a quote that's significantly cheaper than all the others, you should be wary.
This might be because the work is done in a rush and corners will be cut.
Remember, cheap work can't always be rectified and you may pay out more in the long-term to repair the damage.
When getting any work done, get a few quotes to give you an idea of the sort of price you can expect to pay.
Online cost guides can also help to provide an overview of the amount that various types of work might typically cost.
They're asking you to pay upfront
A tradesperson should never ask you to pay the full amount upfront.
You'll usually pay in instalments, keeping the final chunk of money until the work has been completed and you have confirmed that you are satisfied.
You should get a detailed written quote that includes T&Cs and states exactly what is and isn't covered, as well as a receipt for every payment you make.
Pay using a secure method rather than handing over cash.
They've knocked on the front door
While it's not unusual to get a leaflet through the door advertising work, you should never feel pressured into committing to any works by someone who has turned up uninvited on your doorstep.
Experts say a reputable tradesperson would never canvas work by knocking on doors - they'll be so in demand they don't need to.
Instead, a better way to find a decent tradesperson is through recommendations from friends, family and colleagues.
