You can usually cancel a tradesperson's work within a 14-day cooling-off period, but the rules depend on where you agreed the job and whether the work has started. Citizens Advice explains that you can cancel the work as long as you haven't made a contract , so the timing of the agreement matters as much as the calendar. This guide covers how the cooling-off period works, what changes once work begins, and what to check before you commit. If you are still comparing options, you can browse trade services on GetBrent and ask several firms for a quote before agreeing anything.
When the 14-day cooling-off period applies
The main legal basis is the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013, which come into force on 13th June 2014 . Citizens Advice says you have a 14-day cooling-off period to cancel and get a refund if you arranged the service away from the business's premises. The period is not automatic in every case, so it helps to know where the agreement was made.
Citizens Advice draws a distinction based on location. If you agreed the work in the contractor's own place of business, your right to cancel will depend on whether they've started the work. Services arranged away from the trader's premises are treated differently, and Citizens Advice gives examples such as a plumber to service your boiler as a service you can cancel within the cooling-off period.
Before any work starts
The clearest position is that a cancellation before work begins carries little risk. Citizens Advice notes that a builder or decorator will only begin work if you've formed a contract, either written or verbal. Be careful, though, because a contract does not need to be on paper. You may have a contract even if there's nothing in writing, for example if you've accepted a quote, paid the fee or a deposit or verbally told them to go ahead with the service.
If you do cancel in time and the trader has not started, Citizens Advice says you can cancel and get all your money back if the business hasn't started the work and you're still within the 14 day cooling-off period.
Citizens Advice's pages describe the start of the 14 days in slightly different ways. The building work guidance says the cooling-off period begins the day after you give the go-ahead for the work to be done. Another says your cooling-off period begins the day after you enter a contract with the business - whether the contract's written down or if it's an oral contract.
If the work has already started
Starting work early can change the position. Citizens Advice says that if the builder, decorator or installer begins the work during the cooling-off period without your approval you'll have the right to cancel and get a full refund of all costs. The reverse also applies. If you asked for the work to start within those 14 days, you'll have to pay a part of the agreed price, depending on how much was completed when you asked to cancel. The amount might depend on when you asked to cancel and how much work had been done when you asked to cancel.
Once a contract has been formed and the cooling-off period has passed, your options narrow. Citizens Advice warns that if you've formed a contract with the business and you cancel, you're unlikely to get all your money back unless there's a generous cancellation clause written into your contract. If you are unhappy with the quality of the work rather than wanting out, the trader still has a duty. It's also worth remembering the trader has to carry out the work with reasonable care and skill.
Checklist before you agree the job
- Get the terms in writing. Citizens Advice says a quote should include a breakdown of all the work to be done and the materials needed , along with when the price can go up.
- Look for a cancellation clause. Check your contract for terms and conditions on cancellations. A clause may give you more time than the statutory minimum.
- Do not ask for work to start straight away unless you are sure you want it. Asking for an early start can cost you part of the price if you cancel inside the 14 days.
- Check the insurance covers the whole job. Citizens Advice advises that you should also ask to see their insurance policies and check they don't run out before the work will be finished.
- Keep a dated record of when you agreed the work and what was said, so you can show when the cooling-off period began.
Before you agree a job, compare local trades firms in London and ask each one for a written quote and cancellation terms. Whether you can get your money back depends on the facts of your case, so if a dispute arises, Citizens Advice is the right place to check your options.
GetBrent helps you find local tradespeople, handymen, cleaners and landscapers and ask them for a quote direct. Use GetBrent to compare local firms, confirm their terms and insurance, and agree work with clear written details from the start.
