Most builders don't get asked for critical paperwork: FMB
UK homeowners have been leaving themselves open to disappointment as 90% of builders report customers do not ask for a written contract, according to research from the Federation of Master Builders (FBM). In addition, 80% of builders said they were never asked for an agreed payment schedule, and most said they have not been called upon to provide references. "These protections really are essential to helping clients weed out the cowboys and mitigate against any issues that could crop up during the build," said Brian Berry, CEO of the FMB.

The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) has warned that an “alarming” number of homeowners do not ask their builders for essentials such as a contract or references.

This follows research from the FMB which found that 90% of builders say that the majority of homeowners do not ask for a written contract.

Brian Berry, chief executive of the FMB, felt there were indications that homeowners were leaving themselves vulnerable to problems in terms of how they approached their building work.

“The vast majority of builders say that most clients fail to ask for references and even fewer ask for a written contract on their work.

“There is a similar trend when it comes to asking for critical things like an agreed payment schedule and key warranties on work, as well as checking whether the builder has any external accreditation or recognition from professional trade associations like the FMB.

“These protections really are essential to helping clients weed out the cowboys and mitigate against any issues that could crop up during the build.



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“A quality builder will insist on these things and if they don’t, consumers ought to question why.”

The research from FMB found:

More than 40% of builders need at least four months’ notice from consumers who want to hire their firm

90% of builders say that the majority of homeowners do not ask for a written contract

80% of builders report that most consumers do not ask for an agreed payment schedule

Fewer than 10% of builders say that clients normally request to see vital insurance policies, such as public liability or employer’s liability insurance.

Brian added that if a builder was free to start work tomorrow, then alarm bells should be ringing.

“Demand for building work is incredibly high at the moment and it should be no surprise that almost one in two builders need to be contacted at least four months in advance of when a client is looking to start a home improvement project.

“The workloads of builders have been rising steadily over the past two years and there’s no shortage of work.

“That’s why we’re urging homeowners who are keen to crack on with their build or renovation projects to start getting in touch with prospective builders as soon as possible.

“Otherwise, they risk disappointment delaying their projects or worse still, working with a dodgy builder.

“So many building horror stories start with a client approaching a builder who’s free to start work sooner than the more professional builder who is really busy.”