Industry must be accountable for rogue builders involved with flooded homes, says Flood Advice Service.
This week the Flood Advisory Service called on the insurance industry to help put a stop to the ongoing exploitation of flood victims by so-called cowboy builders.
Currently, the service, initially set up by Hull City Council but expanded now into some of the other flood ravaged areas, is investigating 300 active cases.
Close to a year after the horrendous flooding, dozens of people are still living in caravans and some have discovered that the work done on their homes by illegal or dodgy builders have left their houses in worst shape than prior to the deluge.
It’s said of the 300 cases, about 100 came through builders appointed by insurance companies. Although many insurers have approved lists of builders they use, there have been cases where those companies have sub-contracted the work out to others, said Paul Hendy, flood advisor and consultant for the Flood Advisory Service.
The ABI said: "Our members use approved builders, and any householders unhappy with the quality of building repair work should contact their insurer. The issue of low quality work often arises when claimants appoint their own builders. We would urge them to use approved traders and builders whenever possible. The scale of the floods last year means builders are in short supply in areas affected and our members are working hard to ensure repairs are carried out quickly and to a high standard. There were 180,000 claims from last summer’s floods, and for the vast majority work there was no such problem."
Although insurers are not willingly using these cowboy builders, Hendy said they must still be accountable; particularly, if the contracting industry isn’t.
The Flood Advisory Service encourages insurers to stick with dedicated contractors that they trust and ensure they use their own tradesmen. It is a challenging feat given the magnitude of last summer’s flooding when the UK experienced a severe shortage in professional contractors and supplies.
But insurers should still be aware of who is doing the work on the homes and whether the company they have appointed is sub-contracting work to a third-party. A botched job will only lead to further expenses for the insurer and increased heartache for their policyholders, added Hendy.
The opportunities for cowboy builders are likely to decrease with the housing ministry’s plans to grant local authorities greater control over rogue builders. At the end of March, housing minister Caroline Flint outlined plans to impose serious penalties for illegal construction, including prison sentences of up to two years.
