What to do if you've had a dispute or issue with a builder, contractor or tradesperson
On this page:
- Who does this consumer rights information apply to?
- Your rights when hiring a tradesperson for home improvement work
- Examples of unfair and misleading practices
- Trader obligations
- Before you hire a tradesperson
- During the home improvement process
- What to do if things go wrong
- FAQs for issues with tradespeople
Who does this consumer rights information apply to?
These are your consumer rights if you are having work done on your home, including renovations, an extension, home improvements or more extensive building work, and are dealing with a tradesperson. When we refer to a tradesperson or builder, this also covers some of the commonly used informal terms for the following professions:
- Contractors
- Handymen
- Electricians
- Plumbers
- Carpenters
- Roofers
- Painters and decorators
- Or any business providing a service for home improvement or building work.
Your rights when hiring a tradesperson for home improvement work
When you enter into a contract with a tradesperson for home improvement work, you are protected under the Consumer Rights Act, 2022.
If you’ve recently had work done on your home that does not match what was agreed, the tradesperson is responsible for offering a suitable remedy. Depending on the circumstances, remedies can include:
- Repair
- Termination of the contract and a refund
- A suitable reduction in price
Examples of unfair and misleading practices
Problems with home improvement services are one of the biggest drivers of calls to the CCPC helpline each year.
Poor workmanship
Consumers frequently report poor and unfinished work or damage to their property from builders.
If the work on your home is not carried out with reasonable care and to the previously agreed standard, contact the builder as soon as possible and explain the issue. If you contact them by phone, it is a good idea to send an email afterwards to outline the details of your call.
Deposits paid but work not completed
Consumers report paying deposits for services that are never delivered. Keeping records of all payments and communications with the tradesperson is crucial in case you need to make a complaint.
Delayed work or no shows
Consumers are also experiencing appointment delays and no-shows from tradespeople.
You can generally cancel a contract if a tradesperson does not start work when agreed or within a reasonable time if no date was set, or if they fail to supply services after repeated requests appropriate to the contract.
Repair promises not met
Consumers are also reporting multiple unsuccessful repair attempts.
If repairs are required, keep a record of all interactions. The contractor should resolve the issue within a reasonable period, free of charge and without significant inconvenience to you. If this is not possible, you may be entitled to a partial or full refund or to cancel your contract.
Trader obligations
The CCPC wrote to traders in 2025 with clear guidance as to their responsibilities to consumers. However, there are some steps you can take throughout the home improvement process to ensure you are receiving the standard of service you paid for, and to protect yourself against something going wrong.
If you are already in a dispute with a tradesperson, skip to our section on what to do if things go wrong.
Before you hire a tradesperson
Do your research
Always research a contractor and do a thorough background check before entering a contract with them. Getting reviews from previous jobs and finding out about any disputes allows you to make a fully informed decision on whether to go ahead.
Like with any purchase, it’s crucial to conduct thorough research to ensure you’re getting the best value for your money and, in the case of home improvements, that the services you’re paying for are legitimate and of the required quality.
Before agreeing to renovations, extensions, home improvements or extensive building work:
- Ask family, friends or neighbours for recommendations. Solid and reliable references allow you to form a clearer picture of the standard of work you can expect.
- Check that the contractor has a genuine business address and contact details
- Search for legitimate reviews and feedback from previous customers
- Ask for references from recent jobs
- Secure written quotes from multiple contractors
Beware of common scam tactics before entering a contract with a tradesperson, including:
- Aggressive sales tactics, such as being pressured into making quick decisions
- Requests to transfer money in an unusual way
- Failure to provide solid references
- Being considerably cheaper than other tradespeople offering the same services
- Only 5-star reviews – while trusted local tradespeople can have legitimately high ratings for good work, any business with solely 5-star reviews requires further research before engaging
For more information on red flags and golden rules for avoiding scams, visit Protecting yourself from scams.
Make sure the tradesperson is qualified
Some tradespeople must belong to or be registered with a professional body or association to be able to offer their services. If a builder claims to be registered with a professional body, ask for details and confirm this directly with the organisation. If a builder does not say they are registered with a professional body, check this for yourself.
Some home improvements requires specialist training and qualifications. It’s crucial to verify qualifications and professional registration for:
- Electrical work
- Gas repair or installation
- Some structural work
Make sure everything is in writing
Before paying a deposit or allowing work to begin on your home, make sure you have received clear written details from the builder as to what has been agreed. This can include:
- The agreed price
- An estimated completion date
- The payment structure
- A detailed description of the work being carried out.
While having a written record will not stop a builder from failing to carry out the work, it does provide you with a paper trail if a problem arises. Documenting everything is crucial in case of any future legal action or disputes.
Should you pay a deposit for your home improvement work?
Deposits are common in the home improvement sector, especially where materials need to be ordered. But you should be cautious about paying large sums up front.
Before making any payment to a contractor:
- Have clear, written details of the scope of the work agreed
- Confirm the payment structure (how and when payments will be made)
- Use a payment method that provides a record of the transaction, such as a debit card if possible.
- Avoid paying the full cost before work is completed
For larger projects, it’s common to pay in stages.
During the home improvement process
Hire an independent inspector
Large home improvement projects can involve significant costs. If you’re getting major work done on your home, it is essential to hire an independent engineer or other suitably qualified professional to inspect the work and sign off on each stage. This identifies any issues early, helps reduce the risk of unsatisfactory work being discovered later and keeps you in control before you make a payment to the contractor. An independent inspector should be factored into your initial budget.
Take pictures and document everything
It’s important to take pictures at key stages of any home improvement project. Photographic evidence of unfinished or unsatisfactory work will protect you if there is a dispute. You should also keep a record of any correspondence with the contractor during the project. Having emails, text messages, receipts and invoices to hand will greatly benefit in case of any legal action.
What to do if things go wrong
If you have a problem with home improvement work:
- Contact the tradesperson formally, explain the issue and try to come to an agreement. Make sure your complaint is in writing or that you follow-up a phone call with an email outlining what was discussed.
- Keep a record of all contact and communications. The more documentation you have, the easier it may be to demonstrate what was agreed and what went wrong.
- Give the tradesperson a reasonable period to resolve the problem.
- If the problem is not resolved within the timeframe agreed, make a formal written complaint to the tradesperson. You can use the CCPC complaint letter templates , which outline your consumer rights, to help you.
- If you paid by card, you may have the option to request a chargeback from your bank or financial services provider.
- If your claim is for €2,000 or less, you can use the small claims procedure.
- If the problem is not easily resolved, we encourage you to also report the business to the CCPC. Your report will inform our advocacy and enforcement activities.
- For more guidance, please visit our how to resolve an issue section.
FAQs for issues with tradespeople
How do I report an unresolved issue with a 'rogue trader'?
A rogue trader is an informal term that people often use if they have encountered a problem with a service and they haven't received a satisfactory resolution based on their consumer rights. If you are encountering a problem and it is not resolved within a reasonable timeframe or manner, you can report the business to the CCPC. Your report will inform our advocacy and enforcement activities.
You can also take a case to the District Court using the small claims procedure. However, this only allows claims of up to €2,000 for cases against Irish businesses and claims of up to €5,000 against businesses based elsewhere in the EU.
You can take a company to court for breaching your consumer rights without using the small claims procedure. However, this usually requires legal advice and, if you lose, you risk having to pay the companies costs, as well as your own.
The courts service provides a guide for how to prepare your application and what you need to include – Courts.ie Small claims.
What can I do if a builder has been paid, but walks off the job and leaves it unfinished?
If a builder leaves a job unfinished:
- Contact the builder formally. Make sure your complaint is in writing or that you follow-up a phone call with an email outlining what was discussed.
- Keep a record of all contact and communications. The more documentation you have, the easier it may be to demonstrate what was agreed and what went wrong.
- Give the builder a reasonable period to resolve the problem.
- If the problem is not resolved within the timeframe agreed, make a formal written complaint to the builder. You can use the CCPC complaint letter templates , which outline your consumer rights, to help you.
- If you paid by card, you may have the option to request a chargeback from your bank or financial services provider.
- If your claim is for €2,000 or less, you can use the small claims procedure.
- If the problem is not easily resolved, we encourage you to also report the business to the CCPC. Your report will inform our advocacy and enforcement activities.
- For more guidance, please visit our how to resolve an issue section.
My builder keeps delaying and sometimes won't turn up, what are my rights?
A tradesperson must provide the service within the time originally agreed. If no specific time was agreed, the service must be provided within a reasonable timeframe. If the tradesperson does not provide the service at the agreed time or within a reasonable time, you should contact them and, in most cases, give them additional time to provide the service. How much additional time you give depends on the situation.
You don’t need to give a tradesperson additional time to provide a service if:
- It was essential to receive a service based on all the relevant circumstances when you entered the contract
- You told the tradesperson that you needed the service by a specified date and that date has passed
- The tradesperson declares it will not provide the service, or it is clear that it won’t do so
If you have already given the tradesperson additional time, and it has not provided the service, you can cancel the contract and ask for a full refund. You must tell the tradesperson that you are cancelling the contract.
Do I have any consumer rights if I didn't sign a written contract with a tradesperson?
Yes. You can still have consumer rights even if you never signed a written contract. Contracts can be made verbally, through emails, text messages, quotations, invoices, or even by the conduct of both parties, such as agreeing on work and allowing it to begin.
In fact, consumer contracts are often not in writing and this does not mean there is no contract, but this makes it difficult to prove what was agreed. Evidence such as quotations, emails, text messages, receipts, witness statements, and the fact that work was carried out can all help demonstrate what was agreed.
What should you do if you are in a dispute with a tradesperson and have not signed a contract?
- Gather evidence such as quotes, invoices, emails, texts, photographs, bank transfers, and notes of conversations.
- Write to the tradesperson explaining the problem and what remedy you want.
- Keep records of all communications.
- If the issue is not resolved, consider the Small Claims Procedure (for eligible claims) or seek independent legal advice for larger disputes.
What can I do if a builder takes my money and runs?
- Contact the builder formally. Make sure your complaint is in writing or that you follow-up a phone call with an email outlining what was discussed.
- Keep a record of all contact and communications. The more documentation you have, the easier it may be to demonstrate what was agreed and what went wrong.
- Give the builder a reasonable period to resolve the problem.
- If the problem is not resolved within the timeframe agreed, make a formal written complaint to the builder. You can use the CCPC complaint letter templates , which outline your consumer rights, to help you.
- If you paid by card, you may have the option to request a chargeback from your bank or financial services provider.
- If your claim is for €2,000 or less, you can use the small claims procedure.
- If the problem is not easily resolved, we encourage you to also report the business to the CCPC. Your report will inform our advocacy and enforcement activities.
- For more guidance, please visit our how to resolve an issue section.
How can I check if my builder is legit?
Always research a builder and do a thorough background check before entering a contract. Getting reviews from previous jobs and finding out about any disputes allows you to make a fully informed decision on whether to go ahead.
Like with any purchase, it’s crucial to conduct thorough research to ensure you’re getting the best value for money and, in the case of home improvements, that the services you’re paying for are legitimate and of the required quality.
Before agreeing to any home improvement work:
- Ask family, friends or neighbours for recommendations. Solid and reliable references allow you to form a clearer picture of the standard of work you can expect.
- Check that the builder has a genuine business address and contact details
- Search for legitimate reviews and feedback from previous customers
- Ask for references from recent jobs
- Secure written quotes from multiple builders
- Make sure the builder is suitably qualified
Also, beware of common scam tactics before entering a contract with a builder. More information on red flags and golden rules for avoiding scams is available at Protecting yourself from scams.
Can I refuse to pay a tradesperson for poor workmanship or shoddy work?
If you haven’t paid in full for a service, you can withhold payment until the issue is resolved.
If the work on your home is not carried out with reasonable care and to the previously agreed standard, contact the tradesperson as soon as possible and explain the issue.
