All Angles UK attended the Tipton consultation as officials faced questions over what the proposed housing changes could mean for applicants. Share Sandwell’s housing crisis is forcing the council to consider some of the biggest changes to its housing register in years, and All Angles UK was inside the consultation at Jubilee Park Community Centre in Tipton on Friday, speaking directly with housing officials about what the proposals could mean for thousands of residents. The meeting formed part of Sandwell Council’s public consultation on changes to the way people qualify for, are prioritised for and ultimately allocated social housing. The council’s own figures show the scale of the pressure: the register has risen from around 6,000 households in 2020 to more than 24,000 in 2025/26, while properties available to let annually have fallen from around 1,977 to just 1,268. All Angles UK spoke directly with Louis Bebb, Housing Policy and Strategy ...
Burnham Backs Tougher Rules to Stop Builders Taking Deposits and Disappearing
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New scheme would hold customer payments securely and release funds only as work is completed
Households who fear handing thousands of pounds to a builder only to be left with an unfinished kitchen, exposed walls or a contractor who suddenly disappears could soon have greater protection. Prime Minister Andy Burnham has announced government backing for a new system designed to tackle so-called “cowboy builders”, promising to make it harder for rogue tradespeople to take large deposits and walk away before completing the work.
Under the proposal outlined by Burnham, customers would have the option of having their money held securely rather than handing the full payment directly to a tradesperson. Funds would then be released gradually as agreed stages of the work are completed. “Do the work, get paid. It’s as simple as that,” Burnham said, arguing that the measure would protect householders while ensuring reputable builders are properly rewarded for work they complete.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham picture of a tweet backing a new protected payment system designed to stop ‘cowboy builders’ taking large deposits and abandoning work, saying the plan will ensure builders are paid only when each stage is properly completed.
The plan also aims to distinguish trustworthy tradespeople from rogue operators. Burnham said builders meeting a new set of standards would be able to demonstrate to customers that they work properly and can be trusted in people’s homes. It is an important distinction: the overwhelming majority of builders earn their living legitimately, but the financial and emotional consequences for families who encounter a rogue trader can be devastating. Home improvements can involve life savings, loans and months of disruption, leaving victims particularly vulnerable when projects go wrong.
But the announcement raises important questions that will determine whether the policy becomes genuine consumer protection or simply another layer of bureaucracy. Who will hold the money? What happens when a customer and builder disagree over whether a stage has been completed satisfactorily?
How quickly will legitimate tradespeople receive payment, and what safeguards will prevent homeowners from unfairly withholding money after work has been carried out? The success of any scheme will depend heavily on those details.
Burnham has presented the initiative as part of a wider effort to ease cost-of-living pressures and restore confidence in everyday services. For homeowners, however, the test will be far simpler than the politics surrounding it: whether the system actually prevents families from losing thousands of pounds while allowing honest builders to continue earning a fair living without unnecessary obstacles. If it works, it could change one of the most anxiety-filled transactions many households ever make. If it does not, rogue traders will simply look for the next loophole.
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