Rogue builders cost homeowners £14.3bn as MPs hear calls for licensing crackdown
Dozens of homeowners who say they were left out of pocket by unregulated building work gathered in Westminster on 28 April 2026 to share their experiences with MPs, as part of a campaign calling for mandatory licensing in the construction sector.
The event, organised by the Federation of Master Builders (FMB), formed part of its “Licence to Build” campaign, which argues that all builders should be required to hold formal licensing demonstrating competence, insurance and compliance with standards.
Attendees included homeowners from areas such as Chelmsford, Scotland, Milton Keynes, London and Surrey, who described financial losses running into tens of thousands of pounds, alongside unfinished projects and unsafe building work.
The drop-in session was hosted by Mark Garnier MP and attended by a number of parliamentarians, including Mike Reader MP, Florence Eshalomi MP, Bill Esterson MP and Gideon Amos MP, who spoke directly with affected constituents.
According to the FMB, MPs were presented with constituency-level data highlighting the scale of consumer detriment linked to unregulated building work.
The organisation estimates that UK homeowners have lost £14.3 billion over the past five years to unqualified or unlicensed builders.
Victims also reported prolonged disputes, legal costs and disruption linked to unsafe or incomplete work.
FMB renews call for mandatory licensing scheme for construction firms
Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB, said: “Yesterday’s event brought the devastating impact of rogue builders directly to Westminster. We heard from victims who have lost life-changing sums of money, been left living in unsafe homes, and faced little hope of redress.
“This is not a niche issue it is affecting communities right across the UK and it was brilliant to see MPs from across the house engaging with this. Our research shows that billions have been lost and without proper regulation, this will only continue. That’s why we are calling on the Government to introduce a mandatory licensing scheme for builders, to drive up standards, protect consumers, and restore trust in the industry.”
“One homeowner who attended the event said: “It was reassuring to be in a room with others who have gone through the same experience for the first time, I didn’t feel alone.
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“I never imagined I would end up in this situation. What started as an exciting home improvement turned into a nightmare and we lost tens of thousands of pounds, our home was left unsafe, and the stress has been overwhelming.
“There was nowhere to turn and no real protection. I came to Parliament to share my story because no one else should have to go through this. We need proper checks in place so people can trust who they are hiring.”
“Licence to Build” campaign continues pressure on government
The Westminster event is part of the FMB’s wider push for reform through its “Licence to Build” campaign, which proposes that construction firms should be required to hold a valid licence before carrying out building work.
The proposal is intended to address concerns around quality control, consumer protection and enforcement within parts of the domestic construction market.
