Licence to Build: A model for licensing domestic building companies

Our new report, Licence to Build, sets out a clear path for how we can raise standards across the domestic building sector.

Based on research carried out in collaboration with Pye Tait Consulting, the report highlights widespread public and industry support for a mandatory licensing scheme for builders - and outlines a practical model to make it happen.

The message is clear: people want higher standards, stronger accountability, and protection from rogue traders.

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A better future for building

The current system is failing. Nearly half of UK homeowners wrongly believe builders are already licensed, when no such requirement exists. At the same time, 81% of homeowners and 86% of builders back a mandatory scheme to improve quality, ensure accountability, and weed out rogue traders.

This report builds on the last seven years’ policy development and cross-industry collaboration. It offers a workable model for licensing that would benefit both consumers and the builders who do things right.

What’s inside the report?

The Licence to Build report sets out:

• Why change is needed – from the rise in construction-related fatalities to the scale of the hidden economy and public mistrust in home improvement.
• A clear licensing model – what the structure could look like.
• Four pillars of compliance – health and safety, competence, quality management and dispute handling - plus a customer charter and code of conduct.
• Built-in consumer protection – including field inspections, sanctions, and a redress process to protect clients and penalise rogue traders.
• Proposals for cost and implementation – including an industry-funded approach, proportionate to business size and risk level.
• Clear next steps – outlining the role of government, the need for legislation, and how licensing can be phased in effectively across the UK.