The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) has released a new report showing that 37% of British adults have unknowingly hired a cowboy builder before
The report, Licence to Build, has estimated that British homeowners have collectively lost £14.3bn to cowboy builders over the last five years, highlighting the significant financial impacts of hiring rogue traders.
These are builders who are unreliable or unqualified, whose work has caused damage requiring repairs or other remediation work.
Fresh calls for a Licence to Build
The FMB is maintaining momentum in garnering support for a builder’s licensing scheme, having reported in May that nearly half of the surveyed homeowners in the UK incorrectly believed that builders were already required to be licensed. Upon discovering that there is no licensing scheme, 81% supported the idea of introducing one.
The most recent survey found that:
• 44% of respondents feel there are fewer builders available now than five years ago
• 85% reported the cost of hiring a builder rising, nearly half of these said it had risen “a lot”
• 37% had delayed planned renovations due to cost or availability
• 34% resorted to doing the work themselves
• 16% gave up on the project entirely
• 35% had to pay unexpected costs with their builder
• 22% saw jobs left unfinished
• 33% reported low-quality work
• 15% had lost money in the past five years, averaging to £1,759 per person
This last statistic means that, with 15% of UK adults reporting financial loss averaging £1,759, this amounts to a figure of £14.3bn lost to cowboy builders.
Brian Berry, Chief Executive of FMB, added: “This research lays bare the scale of damage caused by poor standards and a lack of accountability in the building industry – from botched jobs and lost savings to deepening public mistrust.
“We urgently need a licensing system for domestic building companies that ensures only competent builders are allowed to trade. Licensing would protect consumers while also supporting reputable builders by ensuring a level playing field.
“Licensing building companies would raise standards across the building industry and give homeowners the confidence to carry out home improvements. The public has had enough of cowboy builders – it’s time for change.”
“We need regulation to stop these criminals from destroying lives.”
The FMB have shared words from one particularly aggrieved respondent, who said: “After my mum passed away from cancer, I was grieving and vulnerable and unwittingly trusted a builder recommended by a neighbour to build an extension that was originally intended to be a place to care for mum. I wanted to go ahead in her memory.
“It was a disaster. The builder quoted £68,000 but was paid £72,425, challenging me to trust and work with him; however, when I finally stopped work due to a request for an additional £12,000, the work was so substandard that my home was condemned. He ignored building inspectors, lied and laid the blame on me.
“My insurance wouldn’t help. Trading Standards dismissed it as a civil matter despite the police offering to work with them, even though, through my own belated research, I found this man has a history of dissolving companies to avoid paying debts.
The stress was unbearable, and I attempted suicide.
“I felt then and still do, utterly betrayed by every organisation or institution that is supposed to support and prevent these criminals. Eventually, I had to pay another builder £98,000 to fix the mess, remortgage my home and rely on my family to survive. My twilight years are now overshadowed by debt. I implore the government to act. We need regulation to stop these criminals from destroying lives.”
This report shines a stark light on the widespread harm caused by cowboy builders and the urgent need for reform. With billions lost, lives upended, and public trust eroded, the call for a builder licensing scheme is not just timely – it’s essential.
