# UK government consumer protection for tradespeople > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/uk-government-consumer-protection-for-tradespeople > Updated: 2026-09-01T04:55:23.000Z. Sources: 9. Developments: 2. The UK government has introduced new measures to combat ‘cowboy builders’ and protect homeowners from unfair trade practices. Following research indicating that consumers lost over £10 billion in 2024 due to overpriced costs or maintenance-related losses, the government announced an Approved Code scheme and a ‘Trusted Payments’ app. The Approved Code scheme requires participating tradespeople to meet specific standards for transparency, customer service, and dispute resolution. To mitigate the risk of financial loss from abandoned projects, the new payment system allows funds to be held and released incrementally only upon the completion of specific project milestones. Prime Minister Andy Burnham noted that these measures aim to protect families from the stress of unfinished work while supporting legitimate tradespeople. While the initiative seeks to address issues like upfront payment scams and substandard work, some industry groups, such as the National Federation of Builders, have expressed skepticism regarding the scheme’s effectiveness in stopping bad actors. ## Timeline ### 2026-09-01: UK Government launches scheme to combat rogue builders The UK government has introduced an Approved Code scheme and a Trusted Payments app to protect homeowners from rogue builders and financial loss during home improvement projects. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/uk-government-launches-scheme-to-combat-rogue-builders ### 2026-08-27: UK government launches crackdown on rogue builders The UK government is launching a new database of trusted traders and a milestone-based payment system to protect homeowners from fraudulent builders and financial loss. 7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/uk-government-launches-crackdown-on-rogue-builders --- Cite as: UK government consumer protection for tradespeople. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/uk-government-consumer-protection-for-tradespeople