Home owners in the UK are so frightened of being ripped off by a cowboy builder that a third don’t bother getting the work done, new research has found.
If everyone had more confidence in the building industry they would typically spend an average of £40,000 on major home improvement projects over the next five years, according to the report from the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).
The research also says that with 32% of owners not getting work down this means that the UK economy is missing out on £10 billion of work per year.
‘If we were able to unlock this pent-up demand from fearful consumers, the benefit to jobs and growth would be enormous,’ said Brian Berry, chief executive of the FMB.
‘Last year the UK experienced its slowest growth since 2012 with a rise in GDP of just 1.8%. With Brexit just around the corner, it’s therefore vital that the Government pulls as many leavers as possible to turbo charge the economy and protect it from any potential economic wobbles,’ he pointed out.
‘In the longer term, we need to end the cowboy builders’ reign of terror so we can give all home owners the confidence they need to invest their cash in building work. The Government should consider introducing some form of mandatory licensing system for domestic builders so that consumers know that all building firms have a base level of skill, competence and professionalism,’ he added.
He explained that unlike in countries like Australia and Canada, in the UK anyone can be a builder. ‘That’s why there is a significant minority of rogue traders out there giving the whole construction industry a bad name,’ he said.
The FMB is exploring mandatory licensing with industry and Government but in the meantime, our advice to home owners who are looking for a builder is to ask for a recommendation from family or friends,’ Berry pointed out.
‘If they can’t help, consumers should approach a professional trade association like the Federation of Master Builders who can put them in touch with a vetted and inspected building firm,’ he concluded.
