Sandwell Council trading standards officers are warning residents there is likely to be an increased risk of rogue traders calling at their door over the next few months.

As the weather improves, homeowners' thoughts turn towards maintenance of their property. It is during this time of year rogue businesses will target homes offering to carry out gardening work, repair or clean roofs, jet wash or resurface driveways.

Rogue traders often use intimidating or aggressive practices, overcharge and give misleading statements about the work that they offer. This often leaves the homeowners left with poor quality work and out of pocket facing more bills to put problems right. Bob Charnley, Sandwell Council's trading standards manager, said:

"Be very wary of anyone turning up on your doorstep offering to carry out work. Ask yourself if you would trust someone you have never heard of, and may never see again, to carry out important and expensive work to your home.

"Responsible traders will know the rules and will supply the correct paperwork before starting any work – this includes in many cases a right for a consumer to cancel work in a short period of time."

One easy way of ensuring success is to use the 'Tradewell in Sandwell' scheme. The scheme has been developed by the council’s trading standards service in partnership with the Citizens Advice Bureaux, Age Concern, Agewell, Sandwell Traders’ Association and the council’s private sector housing team.

Consumers who are searching for a gardener, roofer or similar home improvement tradesperson can search the register themselves online, or ring trading standards officers, who will carry out the search for them. The scheme is not designed to approve tradespeople, but all traders joining the scheme agree to abide by the scheme’s code of practice. Councillor Preet Gill, Sandwell Council’s cabinet member for public health and protection, said:

“Traders on this scheme have shown their commitment to treating consumers with care and respect, they will not go round knocking on doors looking for work.

"Successful businesses don’t need to. I would urge homeowners who are thinking of having any work carried out on their home or garden to use a trader off our scheme."

Consumers can search the Tradewell in Sandwell register, or have a search carried out for them, by ringing Citizens Advice consumer services on 03454 04 05 06.