Articles
Practical advice for UK homeowners and tradespeople - payments, vetting, project risk, and building with confidence.
6 September 2026
Government Cowboy Builder Crackdown 2026 for Tradespeople
What the UK government's 28 August 2026 cowboy builder crackdown means for Tradespeople: Approved Code, Trusted Payments, late payment, and getting paid.
28 August 2026
Government Cowboy Builder Crackdown 2026 for Homeowners
The UK government has announced an approved trader register and staged payments to tackle cowboy builders. Fresh figures put consumer detriment at £10.3bn in 2024 - here is what it means for Homeowners.
21 August 2026
Variation orders for UK builders: get paid for extras - and why VO fraud hurts honest companies
How UK builders should record and price variation orders, protect cashflow from unpaid extras, and why VO fraud damages trust for honest companies.
21 August 2026
Variation orders for UK homeowners: what they are, the real risks, and how to approve extras safely
What a variation order means on a UK renovation, the risks of verbal extras, and a practical checklist for approving changes before work starts.
2 August 2026
How Fort protects homeowners during UK renovations
How Fort helps UK homeowners reduce renovation risk - Fortified milestone payments, vetted tradespeople, project records, and a dispute pathway if work goes wrong.
27 July 2026
Average cost of a home extension in the UK
Indicative UK home extension cost ranges, what drives the price, and how to protect your budget with clear scopes and milestone payments.
27 July 2026
What happens if a builder disappears mid-project
Practical steps for UK homeowners if a builder stops work mid-renovation - contracts, payments, documentation, and how structured platforms reduce this risk.
27 July 2026
Checkatrade vs Fort: what each is for
Checkatrade helps you find a trade. Fort helps you find, fortify, manage, and pay for the project - a plain UK homeowner comparison.
27 July 2026
How to vet a builder before hiring (UK)
A practical UK checklist for homeowners: insurance, references, Companies House checks, quotes, and how Fort's verification adds another layer of confidence.
27 July 2026
How milestone payments protect homeowners during renovations
Learn how milestone-based payments reduce renovation risk for UK homeowners by securing funds until each stage of work is complete.