The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) have released the results of a survey finding key misconceptions among homeowners
Builder licences are the hot topic again for the FMB as a survey finds nearly half of UK homeowners are under the impression the builder licences are required to operate.
65% also expect builders to have insurance for accidental damages, which is also a misconception.
Builder licences would prevent incidents with ‘cowboy builders’
The FMB’s data found that, after confirming that builders do not currently need a licence to operate, 81% of homeowners in the UK support the proposal to introduce mandatory licensing for residential builders.
Of those surveyed, 32% also were under the impression that residential builders need to be registered with a government or regulatory body. Younger homeowners, aged 18-34, were more likely to believe licensing for builders already existed, and female homeowners were also more likely to believe the same, at 66% and 46%, respectively.
There are currently no mandatory licences, regulations, or legal safeguards for builders, meaning that there is no training or responsibility for basic standards.
This allows cowboy builders, or builders with no qualifications and who tend to build to sub-standard quality, to persist with no legal or governing body repercussions for them.
As a result, the Federation of Master Builders, along with the HomeOwners Alliance, is calling for a mandatory licensing scheme to be introduced for builders to remove the vulnerability its absence leaves.
“A dangerous job and needs to be underpinned by standards and legal accountability”
Brian Berry, chief executive of the Federation of Master Builders, said: “Homeowners having building work done to their homes are at risk unless they carry out background checks. The survey finding that nearly half of homeowners mistakenly believe builders have a licence to trade is very concerning as they could be putting themselves at risk. Building work is often a complex and at times a dangerous job and needs to be underpinned by standards and legal accountability.
“Successive governments have failed to act to protect homeowners from rogue builders – an unwanted part the industry that is so prolific that is has generated its own TV shows. We can’t allow just anyone to call themselves a builder anymore. The Government must step up and bring in a licensing scheme that puts quality, safety, and accountability first.”
Paula Higgins, CEO of the HomeOwners Alliance, said: “We have supported FMB’s campaign for the licensing of builders for over 10 years and its high time the government acted. I would hate to think how many people have fallen victim to rogue traders or poor-quality work, how many millions of pounds of household’s money has been lost and victims left to clear up the mess over the last decade alone. When it comes to appointing a builder, homeowners shouldn’t have to cross their fingers and hope that their builder is one of the good ones. Government needs to protect homeowners through licensing.”
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