The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) has welcomed a new report from Citizens Advice, which adds fresh weight to the FMB’s long-running Licence to Build campaign for mandatory licensing of builders.
The report called Built to Fail: How the home repairs market is failing consumers, finds that more than a quarter (28%) of people who hired a trader for home repairs or improvements in the last 18 months experienced a problem, with those who lost money losing a median of £750, with 11% losing more than £5,000.
It also found consumers using accredited or larger, brand-name traders were no less likely to experience problems than those using sole traders, underlining that voluntary schemes alone are not fixing the market.
The findings echo the FMB’s research which found rogue and cowboy builders have cost UK consumers an estimated £14.3 billion over the last 5 years.
Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB, said:
“This report confirms what we’ve been saying for years — that consumers are being let down by a fragmented, voluntary system that simply isn’t fit for purpose. We’ve long called for mandatory licensing, and it’s encouraging to see Citizens Advice reach the same conclusion. Now government needs to act. Every week without action is another week that vulnerable homeowners are exposed to rogue traders.”
Mark Garnier OBE MP, who has campaigned alongside the FMB for licensing building companies, added:
“I’ve been raising this issue in Parliament for years and it’s frustrating that it’s taken this long for the scale of the problem to get the attention it deserves. My Bill would introduce exactly the kind of mandatory protections that the report shows are desperately needed. I’ll continue working with the FMB and colleagues from across the House, to get legislation in place to stop anyone and everyone from being able to call themselves a builder.”
One homeowner, Adele Greshon, who says her life has become increasingly stressful due to a rogue builder operating in Milton Keynes, had an experience that reflects the findings of the report, she added:
“Initially, I trusted the builder I hired, he appeared to be reputable, but the work was completed inadequately and substandard, not meeting building regs and unsafe and will cost me thousands more to put right. I had no idea where to turn for help. If a licensing scheme had existed, I’d have known who I could trust and who to hold accountable when things went wrong.”
The report lands as Parliament prepares to consider legislation that would tackle the issues highlighted. Mark Garnier’s Domestic Building Works Consumer Protection Bill, which would introduce mandatory licensing, is due to have its second reading in February 2027.