30 June 2023 , 12:00
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Newcastle, London, and Sheffield are the top cities where homeowners are most likely to fall victim to a rogue tradesperson, research has revealed.
Liverpool and Bristol round out the top five, while 18% of those living in Manchester and Leicester have also been caught out in this way.
And it emerged that those who have fallen foul of such a scam have ended up forking out an average of £1,150 for unsatisfactory work by a rogue trader – such as plumbing (24%), painting and decorating (19%), and bathroom installations (17%).
The survey of 2,000 adults, on the property ladder, found their biggest bugbears when it comes to these shoddy jobs include the mess left behind (24%), and the job taking much longer to complete than expected (20%).
Meanwhile, a whopping 62% were most unhappy about the poor-quality results – while 17% have felt they were overcharged for a job.
'I'm spending £20k on a new bathroom - but won't help my brother out with cash'
However, with the cost-of-living crisis still impacting finances, almost a quarter (23%) admit they are still likely to opt for the cheapest tradesperson – and just run the risk.
Newcastle and London are the top cities were homeowners are most likely to be duped (Checkatrade)And 27% have booked a trade without sourcing references, while 24% have completely skipped background checks altogether.
But this has left 33% of those who have done so regretting their decision to cut corners and forego tradesperson research.
Kim Faura, chief product officer at Checkatrade, which commissioned the research, said: “Recently, we’ve been hearing from our Checkatrade trades that they are being asked to rectify problems created by rogue and unqualified trades.
“With one in five homeowners intending to do home improvement work this summer, it’s vital that they do their research before hiring a trade.
“This includes not only referring to directories like ours and our online reviews, but also leaving a review once a job is complete.
“This helps us to continuously monitor if members are upholding the Checkatrade Standard, including committing to carrying out quality and fair work.”
The study also found almost two-thirds (65%) have been left at least slightly disappointed by work carried out in their homes or garden – even if they wouldn’t necessarily describe the worker as a rogue tradesperson.
More than one in six (17%) have been left disappointed by work done outside, either in gardening or fencing.
The top bugbears include the mess left behind, and the poor quality results (SWNS)And on top of the money handed over to these scammers, six in ten say they had to invest additional money to fix or finish the disappointing work left by a rogue trade, according to the OnePoll.com figures.
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Konstantinos Katsikopoulos, professor of Behavioural Science at the University of Southampton, has revealed the moment at which people drop their guard, and are more likely to unknowingly invite a rogue tradesperson into their home.
Combined with his research into risk management and perception, he has determined the elements where people are more likely to take a risk and hire an unverified tradesperson.
Professor Katsikopoulos said: “When it comes to risk perception and decision making, people are more likely to cut corners when under bouts of stress, financial pressures, and even trusting word-of-mouth recommendations.
“If you find yourself in these scenarios, it’s best to not rush a decision, no matter how small the cost, and always do your research.”
To find out more about the rogue trade hotspots across the UK, visit here.
TOP FIVE CITIES WHERE RESIDENTS ARE MOST LIKELY TO HAVE HAD A ROGUE TRADE:
- Newcastle
- London
- Sheffield
- Liverpool
- Bristol