Burnham announces crackdown on rogue bailiffs and ‘cowboy builders’

The government of England and Wales has announced measures to combat rogue bailiffs and unscrupulous tradespeople, such as builders, who exploit vulnerable individuals. Andy Burnham, the prime minister, has launched a crackdown on "rogue bailiffs" and "cowboy builders" as part of a series of initiatives to make Britain fairer and ease the cost of living crisis.

Under the new rules, private bailiffs in England and Wales must be accredited by the Enforcement Conduct Board (ECB) or work for an ECB-accredited enforcement company. This will ensure that private bailiffs adhere to consistent professional standards. Those facing enforcement action will also have access to an independent complaints process, thereby strengthening the rights of vulnerable individuals.

The crackdown on bailiffs follows a recent Guardian report that accused the government of dragging its feet on the issue. The Ministry of Justice had previously announced legislation to make independent regulation of bailiffs mandatory, but no clear plan had emerged a year later. Over 7 million cases are handled by bailiff enforcement each year, with the industry collecting more than £1 billion annually, primarily from unpaid parking and traffic fines and council tax arrears.

Martin Lewis, founder of MoneySavingExpert.com, has criticized the lack of proper regulation of bailiffs, calling it "outrageous" that no independent regulator exists. The government's new regime is expected to take full effect next year, although the implementation of some measures, such as the "Approved Code" scheme for the home improvement sector, will begin by the end of September and be fully implemented by December.