NEW research has found that 61% of Gen Z homeowners report having issues with tradespeople on their home renovations, compared to just 41% of those aged over 60.
Gen Z homeowners have been left with a heavier financial burden, spending £20,534 on average to fix botched jobs – compared to the over-60 homeowners who have spent £5,128 over their lifetimes. The national average for repairing disaster work for homeowners is £8,729, according to a new survey.
The study of 2,000 homeowners for the Federation of Master Builders and TrustMark highlights widespread dissatisfaction, trust issues, and financial repercussions for homeowners.
The research revealed older homeowners appear more discerning or fortunate when hiring tradespeople, with 55% of over-60s reporting they’ve never had problems. By contrast, only 26% of 18-29 year olds say the same.
Gen Z is the group most likely to hire the first tradesperson they receive a quote from (38%) and along with Millennials are also more likely to attempt the work themselves – and then have to pay to fix it.
Plumbers lead the way in disappointing their clients, with 33% reporting issues. Builders (21%), electricians (17%), roofers (16%), and plasterers (10%) round out the top five.
However, there are ways tradespeople can build trust with homeowners, as those questioned said personal recommendations give them confidence (64%), and being a member of a trusted industry body provides credibility (50%), along with positive reviews on directories (48%).
The home renovation that tops the list of what gets messed up the most is a new bathroom, followed by general repairs like boiler fixes, new kitchens, roof work, and window installations.
The most common reasons provided for not trusting tradespeople were unreliable behaviour, negative past experiences, feeling ripped off, incomplete or delayed work, and a lack of fee and cost transparency.
Brian Berry, CEO of the Federation of Master Builders, said, “It is sad to see how much homeowners have had to fork out to fix dodgy work. It is causing them unnecessary stress and financial strain and sadly also leading to a lack of trust in tradespeople.
“It is particularly concerning to see younger homeowners disproportionately affected, often spending tens of thousands of pounds to fix the substandard work, which is most likely on their first or second home. This underscores the importance of thorough research, seeking recommendations, and ensuring tradespeople are accredited and trustworthy before hiring.
“We ensure a building company goes through a vigorous vetting and inspection process before becoming a member of the FMB to help protect homeowners and improve the reputation of the industry.”
Simon Ayers MBE, CEO at TrustMark, added, “Finding the right person to carry out work in your home to high-quality standards is really important particularly when using a tradesperson for the first time. I can’t stress enough the importance of researching a tradesperson before you hire them to ensure that work is carried out to the proper standards and quality, that protection is in place if something goes wrong and that work is done to the correct safety standards.”
