{"id":75181,"date":"2020-04-22T12:01:13","date_gmt":"2020-04-22T11:01:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pbctoday.co.uk\/news\/?p=75181"},"modified":"2020-04-22T12:01:29","modified_gmt":"2020-04-22T11:01:29","slug":"cowboy-builders","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pbctoday.co.uk\/news\/planning-construction-news\/cowboy-builders\/75181\/","title":{"rendered":"Experts back calls for licensing to end \u2018cowboy builders\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

Experts within the UK construction industry have urged the government to take action against cowboy builders by consulting an industry-wide licensing\/certification scheme<\/h2>\n

In order to put an end to cowboy builders the government needs to adopt an industry-wide licensing\/certification scheme to give end-users a recognisable mark of quality and trust, says the British Board of Agr\u00e9ment<\/a> (BBA) and Westminster Sustainable Building Forum<\/a> (WSBF).<\/p>\n

Each year more than \u00a38bn of building work fails to meet appropriate quality standards and has to be repeated or repaired. Anyone can set up as a\u00a0builder and there is no requirement to register with recognised trade bodies or quality assurance<\/a> schemes.<\/p>\n

It is this situation, the BBA, working with WSBF, has convened a \u2018Stop the Cowboys: Certification in Construction\u2019 roundtable at the House of Commons.<\/p>\n

A level playing field<\/h3>\n

Ken O\u2019Sullivan, head of audit and inspection at the BBA, said: \u201cThe Grenfell Tower tragedy highlighted the urgent\u00a0requirement to improve standards. The Hackitt Review<\/a> drew attention to the lack of skills and experience of those involved in the construction and\u00a0maintenance of Higher Risk Residential Buildings.<\/p>\n

\u201cA licensing and\/or certification scheme for all contractors would allow for a level playing field to avoid\u00a0competent contractors being undercut by competitors that are not registered with a recognised scheme.\u201d<\/p>\n

The BBA is already working with the Federation of Masters\u00a0Builders<\/a> (FMB) to vet new federation members.<\/p>\n

More than 75% of FMB members have given their backing to a licensing scheme<\/a> to professionalise the industry, protect consumers and sideline\u00a0cowboy builders. The FMB is also part of the \u2018Construction Licensing Task Force\u2019 which is examining how a\u00a0scheme would work.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe proposed model is for a scheme governed by a single body but integrated within existing structures to minimise administrative burden,\u201d said FMB chief executive Brian Berry.<\/p>\n

The roundtable, chaired by Helen Hayes, MP for Dulwich and West Norwood, made three recommendations:<\/h3>\n