Co Antrim landscaper fined following Trading Standards case

Date published: 10 August 2026

In a case brought by the Trading Standards Service (TSS), William Dundon (49) of Lagmore Heights, Dunmurry pleaded guilty to three charges under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008. 

Prior to the hearing Mr Dundon had paid £8,000 in restitution to the complainant.

In April 2024 the complainant wanted landscaping work done to his rear garden in Dundonald. An online search led him to “Dale Drives and Landscaping”. After calling out and surveying the site, Mr Dundon quoted £7,500 for materials and labour – later revised to £8,000.  The work was to include the laying of patterned and textured paving slabs around the perimeter of the house and over a small patio area and the rear garden to be turfed, along with the necessary drainage. 

Other traders whom the complainant had made enquiries with told him they would not be able to start the work until near the end of 2024; two days after his site visit, Mr Dundon informed the householder that he had had a cancellation and would be able to start the job immediately.

Work began on 11 April 2024 after payment of a deposit of £1,500. As the work progressed the complainant expressed his concerns, however, Mr Dundon made assurances that any defects would be made good.

When the work was completed, Mr Dundon had been paid the sum of £8,000 as agreed. He did not return to rectify the defects. Among the list of defects, the paving slabs were not as ordered and were laid unevenly, the grass lawn had not been levelled and the soil used contained rocks and debris and the paving slabs to the rear doorsteps had not been secured in place.

An independent surveyor who was engaged by the TSS inspected the site in October 2024 and reported that the charged amount of £8,000 was excessive and quoted £2,650 as what would be considered a reasonable price for the job.

He went on to say that the works undertaken by Mr Dundon had not been completed in a satisfactory or workmanlike manner and had failed to comply with a number of significant building control regulations as well as good practice standards in use within the landscaping industry. The cost of this remedial work was estimated at £4,275.

Following the conclusion of the case, John Childs of the TSS said: “This is an example of a trader vastly over-inflating the reasonable cost of a job and then adding insult to injury by carrying out poor quality work into the bargain. It is noticeable that the contractor stated he was able to start almost straight away, while other traders contacted were booked up for months in advance; this is a common feature of such complaints received by the TSS.”

The TSS offers the following advice for consumers seeking a reputable tradesperson:

• Ask your neighbours, family or other tradespeople for personal recommendations of builders who have worked for them and carried out a good job
• Speak to previous customers for references and view the work, where possible
• Check that they are a member of a trade body with an arbitration scheme
• Always get a detailed written quotation/contract and agree a price
• Never pay up front and never pay cash
• Get at least three quotes
• Always say no to doorstep sellers