As Government's Green Deal is launched, TrustMark is warning about the high risk of rogue traders looking to cash in on what the Secretary of State has described as 'the most ambitious home improvement programme since the Second World War'.
TrustMark and a range of charities, consumer advice bodies, trade associations and industry groups are calling for an urgent updating of the Code of Practice before the practical start of the Green Deal, to protect homeowners, and especially vulnerable people and the elderly, from being exploited by rogue firms.
According to TrustMark, the problem has arisen following the decision to drop any safeguards in the Code of Practice regarding 'ancillary works', or the basic home repairs and maintenance that will inevitably be required before Green Deal improvements can be made to people's homes.
The DECC's (Department of Energy and Climate Change) original draft Green Deal Code of Practice was developed in close liaison with TrustMark and other advisers. It stated: 'Any ancillary works carried out in relation to and/or preparation for Green Deal financed measures must be carried out by members of Competent Person's Schemes (or their equivalent) or TrustMark registered firms if available and appropriate for the work being carried out.'
However, these safeguards were taken out of the latest version of the Code of Practice, put before Parliament in June 2012. TrustMark says there is nothing about ancillary works in the current regulations and although it understands that officials working on the Green Deal are keen to see a statement on ancillary works reinstated into the Code of Practice, no promises have been made.
Assuming just a 25% take up of Green Deal work in the pre-1980 owner occupied housing stock (the Government's prime target for Green Deal), TrustMark estimates that an additional £1.45 billion - £2.9 billion market for home repairs will be created as a direct result of the Green Deal. In many cases this work will fall outside any of the protections created for Green Deal.
In addition, there is the value of additional home improvement work purchased by the homeowner at the same time and any work funded privately. Such work, including things like new kitchens, home remodelling and redecoration services, can be up-sold by Green Deal Providers but will also fall outside the Green Deal's Code of Practice requirements.
TrustMark says the Green Deal Code of Practice must include an obligation upon Green Deal Providers to signpost domestic customers to reputable firms - home repair, maintenance and improvement specialists who are vetted, insured and required to work to Government-endorsed standards.
TrustMark is a not-for-profit organisation licensed by Government and supported by industry and consumer protection groups. It has the largest database of accredited tradesmen in the country.
