It is vitally important, to make sure both the consumer and the tradesman know exactly what work is to be done and at an agreed price, and that there is a written contract between the consumer and the tradesman.

Did you know that Trading Standards receive more than 100,000 complaints a year from consumers about rogue tradesmen?

Having a contract can stop a situation developing where there is either an unhappy customer or an unhappy tradesman that can lead to major difficulties. A contract works in a win win situation for all parties.

So to stop there being a final bill that the customer was not expecting to be so high; or to make sure that the tradesman has problems with agreeing what work should be done; and to stop a dispute ensuing about what was or was not included in the price; always have a written contract.

The UK Trades Confederation has two services that can help you:

Free UKTC Consumer Pack
This contains a free basic Homeowner Contract, and a handy Consumer Check List.

JCT Building Contract for a Home Owner / Occupier HOB
This is a consumer contract for use by a residential occupier, drafted in clear simple language to comply with The Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999. to purchase.

Please note: the JCT contract nor the free homeowners contract are applicable in Scotland, however you will find an alternative at the following link: www.sbcconline.com

You can also click here to see answers to some of our most frequently asked questions (FAQ's) regarding building contracts.