RLA : RPI : Spring start to builders' quality mark scheme

News from the Residential Property Investor, the bi-monthly magazine for RLA members

other artilces from the December 1999 / January 2000 issue

Spring start to builders' quality mark scheme - December 1999 / January 2000

Birmingham and Somerset are to host two pilot building industry kite mark schemes.

Housing Minister Nick Raynsford made the announcement when confirming that the Government is to act on the advice of its Cowboy Builders Working Group.

The pilots will run from the Spring of next year and will be followed introduction of a national scheme.

To be entitled to use the new quality mark builders will be required to prove they have suitably qualified staff, show they are technically capable of doing the job, demonstrate financial probity, provide third party insurance on all work costing more than £250, and sign up to a common sense code of practice.

At the same time the Government will be amending the Fair Trading Act to make it easier for trading standards officers to ban the worst traders and builders.

On average some 300 people a day complain about the level of service provided by builders, said Raynsford.

'For many people finding a builder plumber or roofer is a minefield with no easy way of telling the good from the bad. The number of logos that exist, many of which are of dubious value, makes the choice more difficult for the consumer. The new scheme offers a way through the minefield'.

other artilces from the December 1999 / January 2000 issue