28/08/2026
What’s everyone’s thoughts on this ? Iv a lot of builders on here. Share if you like ☺️
I think there’s a better way of tackling this than simply holding customers’ money and releasing it in stages.
Introduce a proper licensing system for the building industry, built as a pyramid structure of accountability.
Every builder or building company should be required to hold an annual licence to trade. To obtain and retain that licence, they should have to prove they have valid public liability insurance, appropriate trade/business insurance and meet basic standards of competence and financial responsibility.
Then introduce a publicly accessible Red / Amber / Green scorecard for every licensed builder.
Forget relying purely on Google and Facebook reviews. Customers who have actually contracted the builder should score them against specific areas:
* Reliability & timekeeping
* Quality of workmanship
* Project management & communication
* Handling of customers’ money
* Completion of agreed works
Those scores would build the contractor’s official record over time rather than someone’s reputation being determined by a handful of online reviews.
Then bring insurance into the same structure.
The customer takes out project protection insurance when employing a licensed builder. If they choose a builder with a strong Green rating, their premium is lower because they’re using somebody with a proven track record. An Amber or Red-rated contractor represents a greater risk, so the premium increases.
It works the other way too. Builders maintaining high standards benefit from lower insurance costs, a stronger licence rating and greater customer confidence.
Builders who repeatedly receive poor scores, abandon projects, mishandle customers’ money or fall below the required standards move down the system. Their insurance costs increase, they can be investigated, and ultimately they risk having their licence suspended or revoked.
That’s the incentive that’s currently missing.
Good builders should benefit financially and commercially from doing things properly. Bad builders should find it increasingly difficult and expensive to operate.
Holding everyone’s money in an account doesn’t determine whether somebody is a competent builder. A proper licensing, insurance and scoring system would help customers identify the risk before they hand over a penny.
That’s how I’d tackle the cowboys — regulate who is allowed to trade, reward the good ones and make reputation something that has genuine consequences.
