Caerphilly County Borough Council has urged residents to look for the Trustmark logo when hiring tradesmen to avoid potentially being ripped-off.
The Trustmark scheme helps homeowners to find reliable and trustworthy tradesmen and acts as reassurance against the possibility of rogue traders.
Cllr Rob Gough, cabinet member for public protection, said: “Choosing a reputable trader to carry out work on your home can be a daunting process. The Trustmark scheme aims to make this process easier for residents, by providing peace of mind that Trustmark accredited traders have been vetted, and operate their business in a legal, honest and fair way.”
Trustmark approved traders have been checked by Trading Standards and assessed by experts to ensure quality of work.
The advice to residents follows figures from watchdog Consumer Direct which revealed that more than 5,500 complaints from across the UK are about cowboy tradesmen.
To find out which traders in our area have been given the seal of approval, visit the Trustmark website.