The UK government announced on 28 August 2026 new measures aimed at rogue home-improvement traders and aggressive bailiffs, presented as part of a series of "everyday fixes" to ease living costs. According to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, a government-supported Approved Code scheme was planned to launch in September, letting businesses demonstrate higher standards of customer service, transparency and dispute resolution. A separate system would link some building-project payments to key milestones to protect customers' money.

The release cited figures for the 18 months before publication: more than one in four UK adults who carried out home improvements reported problems, and more than 1 in 3 (37%) of those faced extra costs, losing an average of £750. It also said people lost over £10.3 billion on home and garden maintenance in 2024 due to losses, overpriced costs or unfair practices.

For private bailiffs in England and Wales, the plan made independent oversight by the Enforcement Conduct Board mandatory for accreditation. Ministers also confirmed longer-term plans to review the wider consumer protection landscape. Trusted Payments was expected to go live the following week, with the Approved Code live with first retailers by the end of September and fully live by December 2026.