A British expat has been left with a leaking roof and a hole in his savings after a rogue builder allegedly pocketed £30,000 and vanished, sources confirm. The victim, who asked to remain anonymous, hired the contractor through a recommendation on a local Facebook group for Lanzarote expats. Court documents obtained by this newsroom show the builder demanded cash upfront for materials and labour.
Within weeks, the roof was still unfinished, and the builder blocked all calls. The case highlights a loophole that leaves UK consumers vulnerable abroad, even as regulators tighten protections at home. This morning, the Ministry of Justice announced new rules requiring any British builder operating overseas to register with a compulsory consumer protection scheme or face a ban from advertising in the UK.
The measure, effective 1 July, targets 'cowboy builders' who flee to sunspots and prey on expats. Critics say the scheme is too little, too late. ‘It’s a sticking-plaster solution,’ said a source close to the investigation.
‘These crooks aren’t going to be deterred by a registration fee.’ The victim in Lanzarote has been told by Spanish police that extradition is unlikely, and the money is almost certainly gone. Meanwhile, back in the UK, the Insolvency Service is tracking a network of seven linked companies that have collectively left at least forty families with botched extensions, leaking roofs, and unpaid bills.
Sources confirm the total losses exceed £2 million. The new regulations may stop some bad actors, but for those already burnt, it’s cold comfort.
