Builders slammed over ‘shoddy’ work

Cowboy builders hired after last year’s floods are ripping people off with "shoddy jobs", council leaders have warned.

Rogue traders who took advantage of the shortage of builders after and influx of home insurance claims following the floods are to be targeted by councils, the Local Government Association (LGA) said.

Councillor Paul Bettison, the LGA's environment spokesman, said: "The massive demand for builders after the floods has led to building jobs being contracted to builders who have done shoddy jobs and left homeowners high and dry."

"Local authorities will use all powers available to them to crack down on rogue traders and sloppy workmanship. People whose lives were turned upside down by the flooding must not be ripped off or short-changed."

The LGA, which represents more than 400 councils in England and Wales, also called on the insurance industry to speed up the rehousing of private homeowners affected by the floods and to work more closely with local councils to achieve this.

Mr Bettison said home insurers need to be ready in the future to ensure repairs are done quickly and effectively to get people back into their homes as quickly as possible.

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