A new survey from the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) has revealed a ‘troubling trend’ in the Scottish building industry. The organisation said that, although people in Scotland are less likely than those from other nations in the UK to hire builders, when they do, they pay a steep price – losing more than the rest of the UK.
Data shows Scots lose an average of £2,647 due to unqualified or unlicensed tradespeople, compared to the UK national average of £1,759. While 36% of people in Scotland admitted to never having hired a builder — significantly above the UK average of 25% — those who do are exposed to the greatest financial risks, indicating a ‘Scottish Building Divide’, FMB said.
The survey, conducted among over 2,000 homeowners across the UK, finds that Scotland’s average losses from poor workmanship surpasses all other regions. In addition, new research by the FMB has found that £14.3 billion has been lost to rogue builders across the country in the last five years alone. This scale of consumer harm is why the FMB is actively campaigning for mandatory builder licensing.
According to the research, only 26% of Scots reported offering builders a beverage during work – the lowest rate across all UK regions. This suggests more formal, less socially integrated relationships between homeowners and tradespeople in Scotland, potentially contributing to communication gaps and reduced familiarity that make consumers more vulnerable to hiring unscrupulous builders.
Martin Daly, Scotland board member at FMB and director of Martin Daly Builders Ltd, based in Motherwell, said, “A good cup of tea goes a long way in this business! Building relationships with clients is one of my main priorities – when you sit down for a proper chat over a brew, you get to know each other, discuss the work properly, and build that trust. It’s concerning that our survey shows Scots are less likely to offer that cuppa.
“Those little moments of connection matter – they help homeowners feel comfortable asking questions about qualifications and references. When there’s no relationship, it’s easier for things to go wrong, and unfortunately, it only takes one bad job to wipe out someone’s savings and ruin the reputation of builders who do a good job.”
Gordon Nelson, FMB Scotland director, added, “These findings show why it’s so important that consumers take time to check the credentials of their builder as well as sit down and have a brew with them. Scotland’s homeowners deserve better protection from rogue and incompetent builders and we’re working to build trust between the trades and the public.
“The figures reveal a stark reality about the risks and the scale of losses consumers across Scotland face from rogue builders. This is why the FMB is campaigning for the mandatory licensing of builders across the UK. Every builder must meet minimum professional standards and a robust licensing system would drive out those builders that are a blight on our building industry.”
