Burnham announces crackdown on rogue bailiffs and ‘cowboy builders’

New rules are aimed at protecting people in debt in England and Wales and stopping homeowners being ripped off A clampdown on “rogue bailiffs” has been launched by Andy Burnham amid concerns that vulnerable people are being overcharged and face aggressive behaviour. In the latest in a series of “everyday fixes” to ease the cost of living and “make Britain fairer”, the prime minister said he was strengthening the rules that apply to bailiffs in England and Wales to better protect people in debt. He also announced measures to target “cowboy” tradespeople, including builders who rip off homeowners. The crackdown on bailiffs comes two months after the Guardian revealed that the government had been accused of dragging its feet on the issue. In June 2025, the Ministry of Justice announced it would legislate to make independent regulation of bailiffs mandatory. But a year later, with no clear plan in sight, the body that oversees the industry in England and Wales criticised the lack of progress. More than 7m cases are sent to bailiff enforcement each year and the industry collects more than £1bn annually, most of which relates to unpaid parking and traffic fines and counc