OFTEC has urged the government to ensure any new consumer protections for home heating work apply equally to every household, regardless of the technology or how the work is funded, to avoid creating a two-tier system. The comments form part of OFTEC's response to the government's consultation on Reforming Consumer Protection for Home Upgrade Schemes.
In the consultation, the government proposed a new consumer protection service for households having work carried out under government backed schemes, such as the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS). However, this would only apply to government funded work, leaving households who pay for their own heating upgrades without the same level of support if something goes wrong. OFTEC argues this risks creating a two-tier system and different levels of protections for consumers.
In their response, OFTEC also highlighted concerns with the existing system in place. Because registration with a competent person scheme is not mandatory, compliance with building regulations can easily be compromised and this, combined with the cost and bureaucracy involved in holding renewable registration, has led to an increase in installations that are notified through so called umbrella schemes. This is where a third party submits the paperwork on behalf of an installer who may not hold the relevant registration themselves. In some cases, the umbrella scheme provider never inspects the installation in person, relying instead on photographs or video sent by the installer as evidence that the work meets the required standard.
Thirdly, OFTEC outlined how the design of funding schemes themselves can affect installation quality. Government backed schemes, such as BUS, can involve significant administration and cost to join. OFTEC argues this falls hardest on the small, often family run, businesses that make up most of the heating installation sector and discourage them from taking part directly.
OFTEC argues the most effective way to address these challenges is to make registration with a recognised competent person scheme mandatory for all tradespeople carrying out notifiable work in the home, regardless of whether that work is government funded or paid for by the homeowner.
In their response, OFTEC also called for closer working between certification bodies and local authorities, who hold the power to enforce building regulations when non-compliant work is found. OFTEC suggests a formal agreement to help ensure enforcement action follows when problems are identified, so that rogue traders are not able to continue operating.
Malcolm Farrow, director of marketing and external affairs at OFTEC, said:
“We welcome that the government has recognised the need to put in place stronger protections for consumers. However, every household having heating work carried out in their home should have the same standard of protection, whether that work is funded by the government or paid for by themselves.
“We also need to address loopholes in the current system which can allow installations to be signed off without anyone who is properly qualified ever inspecting the finished work in person. In contrast, we know from our own experience that a well-run registration scheme addresses this and delivers better outcomes for consumers. We would urge the government to look at mandatory registration for anyone carrying our notifiable work in homes.
“This consultation is a welcome opportunity to raise standards across the industry, and we support its ambition to get things right first time and give consumers confidence that if something does go wrong, there’s a clear route to putting it right.”