Trading Standards - Landscaping Scams

6th March 2025

There's been a recent increase in rogue traders posting leaflets through doors offering to carry out paving work, cleaning, turfing or other landscaping work.

Several consumers who contacted companies listed on the leaflets reported that the work they requested was done to a poor standard and that their garden was left in a mess.

One couple asked a company who had put a leaflet through their door to replace some slabbing at the back of the house. The traders quoted over £2,500, but then dropped the amount to £1,500, asking for a £500 deposit to buy materials, which the couple paid in cash. The workers only spent a few hours in the garden before heading off to pick up more materials, leaving the slabs in an unstable condition. They didn't return and haven't answered any phone calls or emails.

How to Avoid
Before having any work done in or around your property, get quotes from as many trusted companies as possible.
Find traders who have been vetted by Trading Standards through a local approved trader scheme at www.approvedtrader.scot.

Any unsolicited trader who offers to carry out work on your property must give you their business name and address.
Don't agree to let a cold caller start work straight away - do plenty of research into their company and, if something doesn't look right, don't deal with them.

Sign up for Neighbourhood Watch Scotland Alerts to stay up to date with what is going on in your community: www.neighbourhoodwatchscotland.co.uk

Report any suspicious behaviour to Police Scotland on 101 or 999 in an emergency.
Report scams to Advice Direct Scotland on 0808 164 6000 or via scamwatch.scot.

Find Out More
Police Scotland: www.scotland.police.uk/doorstep-crime-and-bogus-callers
Find traders in Scotland who have been vetted by Trading Standards: approvedtrader.scot
Trading Standards Scotland: www.tsscot.co.uk/priority-areas/doorstep-scammers