South West homeowners lose nearly £500m to rogue builders as FMB renews licensing calls

By Danny BallPublished On: June 18th, 2026Categories: Top Stories

Homeowners across the South West have lost almost £500 million to rogue builders over the past five years, according to new research from the Federation of Master Builders (FMB), which is calling for the introduction of a mandatory licensing scheme for construction professionals.

The research, published alongside an interactive constituency-level map, estimates that around one in 12 households across the region has been affected by poor-quality or abandoned building work.

According to the findings, homeowners in the South West have collectively lost nearly £500 million, with every parliamentary constituency recording losses of more than £7.6 million over the five-year period.

Gloucester, Plymouth and Bournemouth among hardest-hit areas

The FMB’s analysis identifies several constituencies with particularly high estimated losses:

Gloucester – £9.9 million
Plymouth Sutton and Devonport – £9.7 million
Bournemouth West – £9.6 million
Filton and Bradley Stoke – £9.5 million
Swindon South – £9.5 million

Even the constituencies with the lowest estimated losses, Christchurch and Frome and East Somerset, recorded more than £7.6 million each.

The organisation argues that the figures demonstrate the financial impact of an unregulated domestic building market and has renewed calls for a mandatory “Licence to Build” scheme.

FMB calls for mandatory licensing of builders

Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the Federation of Master Builders, said: “Nearly half a billion pounds lost in the South West alone.

“That is the price of an unregulated industry that lets anyone pick up a trowel and call themselves a builder. Every one of those pounds represents a family who trusted someone with their home and was badly let down. Government must introduce a mandatory Licence to Build now.”

The proposed scheme would require builders to meet recognised competency standards before carrying out domestic construction work, with the FMB arguing it would help improve consumer confidence and professional standards across the sector.

Construction firms highlight impact of rogue traders

The FMB’s South of England director said the issue extends across the region, affecting homeowners in both urban and rural communities.

Iain Kirtley, FMB Director for the South of England, said: “These figures are staggering. From Bristol to Bournemouth, from Truro to Taunton — no part of the South West is immune. Tens of millions of pounds are being lost by families who had no way of knowing whether the builder they hired was qualified or not. A Licence to Build would change that overnight.”

The organisation believes greater regulation could help reduce financial losses and improve accountability within the domestic construction sector.

Industry experiences underline cost of unfinished projects

Construction businesses have also highlighted the impact rogue traders can have on homeowners and developers.

FMB member Patrick Coll, Managing Director of Collstone Developments & Project Management in Warminster, said: “Over the past year, we have assisted in resolving two projects in which rogue builders took more than £2 million from homeowners and developers before abandoning the work.

“The financial, emotional and practical consequences have been severe. A Licence to Build scheme would give homeowners the assurance that the person they are hiring is competent, qualified and trustworthy.”

Consumer protection remains a key issue for the construction sector

The latest findings add to ongoing industry debate around competency, regulation and consumer protection within the UK’s domestic construction market.

The FMB has consistently argued that mandatory licensing would help raise professional standards, reduce the prevalence of rogue traders and provide homeowners with greater confidence when appointing contractors for repair, maintenance and home improvement projects.