A new survey by the HomeOwners Alliance and the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) uncovers a widespread misconception among UK homeowners: nearly half believe builders are legally licensed, when in fact no licensing requirements currently exists.
The campaign for licensing of builders aims to professionalise the construction sector, improve its reputation, and enhance consumer protection by removing unqualified and rogue traders from the industry. The regime should include competence assessments, background checks on trading and financial history, a dispute resolution scheme and a mechanism for licences to be revoked if standards are not met.
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Key Findings
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Key survey findings
- 45% of UK homeowners wrongly believe that builders are licensed.
- 81% support a proposal to introduce a mandatory licensing scheme for residential builders.
- Two-thirds (65%) wrongly expect builders to have insurance to cover accidental damage, but they don't.
- Almost a third (32%) think they must register with a government or regulatory body but no such requirements exist.
- Younger homeowners (18-34) are more likely to believe that builders must be registered (66% vs 32% homeowners).
- Female UK homeowners are more likely to expect UK builders to have a license to trade (46%) then male homeowners (32%).
