Government cracks down on cowboy builders

Currently, authorities only have six months from completion of non-compliant work to bring a prosecution for breaches of building regulations. The government has listened to concerns that a longer period is needed to make enforcement more effective, given that defects may not become immediately apparent.

Proposals in the new consultation paper would increase the time limit in which a prosecution can be brought to two years. Within this period, a prosecution can be brought within six months of discovery of sufficient evidence to prosecute.

Iain Wright, minister at Communities and Local Government said: “It is not right that those committing serious breaches and avoiding justified enforcement action are putting themselves and others at health and safety risk.” He added: “They can also be reducing the energy efficiency potential of buildings. Everyone should be striving to make buildings as environmentally friendly as possible. A more efficient enforcement regime should prove to be a more effective deterrent to non-compliance, ensuring that unscrupulous and lazy builders cannot benefit at the expense of the law-abiding majority.”

The consultation document is clear that prosecution is aimed at flagrant, wilful or repeated non-compliance and not one-off minor failures. The Government wants to ensure a level playing field for industry and these proposals will impose no additional burdens or risk of prosecution for those who comply with Building Regulations requirements.