The British Institute of Kitchen, Bedroom & Bathroom Installation (BiKBBI) has launched BiKBBI Protected to link consumers with installers, with all parties financially protected.

Announced at its Annual Conference, at The Houses of Parliament, BiKBBI Protected will take retailers of all sizes, from independent single showrooms to nationals, out of the contractual equation.

It allows retailers to step back from the responsibility of installations, reducing or removing costs and risks associated to fitting.

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The service, which is driven by technology and underpinned by the BiKBBI’s existing compliance, will  include contracts, schedules, pricing and payments.

Consumers will pay for their installation service into a financially protected client account, which is paid to the installer upon satisfactory completion of the project.

In the event of a dispute, both the consumer and the installer have access to onsite assessment from the BiKBBI for resolution.

The consumer will be financially protected, as is the installer, and the entire fitting service is underpinned by insurance backed workmanship warranties.

It will be trialled by a select number of retailers before its launch in the Spring.

Damian Walters said: “The new service will completely revolutionise the retailer-installer-consumer proposition.

“Consumers will have access to a network of specialist installers nationally – their relationship will be build upon solid foundations in the form of a direct contact, which will be lawful, fair and protected – BiKBBI Protected.”

He added: “We operate within changing times. Consumers are changing, as are laws and indeed the complexity of our industry and the world we live in.

“Retailers that operate any form of installation service, whether employed, sub-contracted or recommended do so because they know that it’s what their customers expect – but they do so with expense, complexity and for most a deviation to their core objective – selling product.

“This service allows them to continue to do all of that but with none of the cost or distraction.”

he concluded: “I see this as a definitive movement for our industry and we will welcome those retailers who want to be part of it.”

The BiKBBI also announced Homebase has joined the institute as a Retail Standards Installation Partner.