Industry Regulation · 29 August 2026 · 6 min read
An Approved Code for home improvement:what it means for small builders
Approved Code frameworks generally focus on customer service, transparency, contract clarity, complaint handling and independent redress.
None of that is out of reach for a small firm. Most of it is writing down what good contractors already do.
Typical areas of focus
- Clear pre-contract information, including scope, exclusions and timescales
- Written contracts and cancellation rights for work sold in the home
- Transparent pricing and a defined approach to variations
- A published complaints procedure with timescales
- Access to independent dispute resolution
- Insurance, qualifications and competence records kept current
A sensible order to tackle it
Start with the contract pack, because everything else hangs off it. Then publish a complaints procedure, since it is quick and immediately visible to customers.
- 01
Contract pack
- 02
Complaints procedure
- 03
Insurance records
- 04
Evidence routine
- 05
Handover pack
Independence note
Builder Standard is an independent commercial platform. It is not a government body, statutory regulator or the Chartered Trading Standards Institute Approved Code Scheme, and it is not affiliated with any third-party scheme.
Our role is to help contractors organise procedures, records and documentation so they are ready for whatever requirements are confirmed.
Sources & further reading
- Approved Code Scheme information
Chartered Trading Standards Institute
- Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013
legislation.gov.uk
This article is editorial information for professional contractors, not legal advice. Builder Standard is an independent commercial platform. It is not a government body, statutory regulator or the Chartered Trading Standards Institute Approved Code Scheme, and it is not affiliated with any third-party scheme.
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