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Rogue Builders
13 November 2025
Lead MP
Mark Garnier
Wyre Forest
Con
Responding Minister
Kate Dearden
Tags
Economy
Word Count: 10879
Other Contributors: 15
At a Glance
Mark Garnier raised concerns about rogue builders in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
The fundamental problem is that at the moment the only course of redress is through the court system, and it is not good enough.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
There are countless stories of people's lives being ruined by rogue builders, and a recent poll of homeowners discovered that one in three were put off having work done on their home due to the fear of being ripped off. This equates to a possible £10 billion of lost economic activity.
Amanda Hack
Lab
North West Leicestershire
A constituent experienced fraudulent work from a builder despite multiple agencies confirming it was a criminal matter. The process of reporting and getting resolution needs to be expedited.
Andrew Cooper
Lab
Mid Cheshire
Discussed the collapse of Stewart Milne Homes North West England and highlighted residents' struggle to adopt essential infrastructure for their properties, suggesting urgent reform to ensure no home can be sold without secured infrastructure agreements.
Ben Maguire
LD
North Cornwall
Mr. Maguire highlighted the financial toll on taxpayers from developers failing to meet basic safety and building standards, urging for efficient and effective justice systems and accessible redress routes.
Clive Jones
LD
Wokingham
Mr. Jones shared concerns about a house builder and social housing provider treating his constituents disgracefully, ignoring residents’ claims for months until local authority intervention was necessary.
Connor Rand
Lab
Altrincham and Sale West
Mr Rand highlighted the case of Frank Deary, a rogue builder who has taken over £1 million from victims without delivering work. He agreed with Mark Garnier on the need for stronger regulations to prevent such exploitation.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
In Northern Ireland, consumer protection against rogue builders involves preventive measures and legal recourse through services like Consumerline and trading standards. The hon. Member agrees that there must be a more straightforward approach.
Kate Dearden
Lab
Wyre Forest
Addressed the complexity of determining whether actions are civil or criminal matters under the Consumer Rights Act.
Lee Pitcher
Lab
Doncaster East and the Isle of Axholme
Mr Pitcher mentioned a constituent's experience with leaking roof insulation, which required 97 emails over eight months to resolve. He agreed that the emotional burden on families is intolerable and urged for better protection mechanisms.
Esher and Walton
My constituent in Esher and Walton paid over £16,000 for a kitchen remodelling that was never delivered, and the same company is alleged to have defrauded other constituents. Does the hon. Member agree that the Ministry of Justice should ensure accessible routes to redress?
Julie Minns
Lab
Carlisle
One of my constituents was ripped off to the tune of £19,000 when the builder walked off the job part-way through. Does the hon. Gentleman agree that more needs to be done to protect our constituents who are caught by that loophole?
Twickenham
The Federation of Master Builders' “Licence to Build” report highlights the lack of regulation for rogue builders, who often re-establish under different names, making it difficult for trading standards to take action. This issue affects 55% of UK homeowners and impacts the reputation of legitimate builders.
Sarah Hall
Lab/Co-op
Warrington South
Ms. Hall highlighted the widespread issue of rogue builders in Warrington South, citing a constituent's experience of £60,000 worth of damage and loss due to unlicensed work, despite thorough checks beforehand.
Julian Lewis
Con
New Forest East
Described two cases of constituents who suffered from rogue builders, highlighting the need for criminalisation and licensing. Asked about the criminal actions of rogue builders and their implications.
Tom Gordon
LD
Harrogate and Knaresborough
Addressed the issue of faulty spray foam insulation installed under the green homes grant scheme and called for better oversight and consumer protection, including a thorough evaluation of TrustMark’s capacity to deliver effective quality assurance.
Tom Hayes
Lab
Bournemouth East
Mr Hayes discussed the plight of constituents affected by rogue builders and suggested that the building industry needs strong licensing and regulation to protect consumers from unscrupulous traders.
Government Response
Kate Dearden
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business and Trade
Government Response
The Minister acknowledged the concerns raised by MPs regarding rogue builders and their impact on constituents. She highlighted the Government’s commitment to strengthening the system to ensure that work undertaken in homes is performed competently and that there are redress mechanisms available to consumers. The Consumer Rights Act 2015 sets out standards for building services, including a six-year period for remediation of non-compliant work. Additionally, government bodies are working with industry groups to improve trade competence and reduce poor work practices. Discussed ongoing work on tackling rogue directors through measures in the autumn Budget. Mentioned support for alternative dispute resolution and ombudsman services while noting complexity in determining criminal versus civil actions. Emphasized continuous improvement of standards without conclusive evidence for licensing schemes.
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About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.