Which? has called for new rules over heat pumps, solar panels and insulation after the General Election. The consumer body and watchdog has warned the next government should force all tradespeople who conduct installations to sign up to a mandatory accreditation scheme. Which? found that households face “significant anxiety” in choosing tradespeople to fit low-carbon heating systems after “press stories about poor work and rogue traders”.
45 per cent told Which? they do not know what qualifications to check for when selecting a tradesperson to carry out work in their homes. As many as 55 per cent say they find it difficult to trust the available information, including contractors’ own claims and customer reviews. Rocio Concha, a director at Which?, said: “Over the next few years, millions of households across the UK will make significant changes to their home heating systems – such as installing heat pumps – to make their homes more energy efficient and support lower energy costs.
READ MORE UK set for three sizzling 30C heatwaves with England 'hotter than Portugal' “It’s essential that the right standards are in place to ensure that work is done to a good quality and people are protected against the small minority of rogue traders and cowboy builders.” Speaking earlier this year, Charlotte Lee, CEO of the Heat Pump Association said: "It’s great to see the sustained increase and interest in the Boiler Upgrade Scheme since the grant uplift in October 202.
