Cowboy builder complaints nearly double since 2022, research finds
The findings come as the Government announced measures aimed at protecting households from rogue traders.
The proportion of home maintenance and improvement complaints flagged as potential scams has almost doubled since 2022, according to research from Leader Online.
The findings come as the Government announced measures aimed at protecting households from rogue traders, including plans to establish a mandatory licensing scheme for home improvement businesses.
Leader Online’s analysis of Citizens Advice data found 14% of home maintenance and improvement complaints were flagged with potential scam markers in 2025, up from 8% in 2022.
There were 5,177 potential scam cases among 38,356 complaints during 2025, while early 2026 figures showed the rate remained elevated at 13%, with 831 potential scam cases recorded up to 28th February.
Separate information obtained from Citizens Advice found the recorded cost of fixing or completing problematic work reached £2.33m in 2025, the highest annual figure since 2022.
However, Leader Online said a detriment cost was provided by just 0.8% of complainants across the four-and-a-half-year period analysed.
Using the median reported detriment of £1,000 across all 189,224 complaints during the period, the company estimated the overall cost could potentially reach £189.2m, although it stressed that this was an estimate.
David Turner, head of product at Leader Online, said: “The financial and emotional impact of a cowboy builder cannot be underestimated.
“We welcome this news and hope that fewer people will find themselves victims of scammers and rogue builders, which, on average, leaves Britain’s £1,000 out of pocket according to our research. However, many individual cases are significantly higher.
“It is important to note that these scam figures do not mean every complaint flagged as a potential scam was confirmed as fraud, but they do show why it is important to check the details before a project starts.
“The cost to fix poor or incomplete work is significant for most people, especially when grappling with wider financial pressures.
“A good tradesperson should be clear about what is included in the quote, which materials will be used, how long the work should take, and when payments are due.
“If those details feel vague, rushed, or keep changing, it’s sensible to pause before handing over money.”
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