THE FEDERATION OF MASTER BUILDERS (FMB) and the HomeOwners Alliance (HOA) have announced a partnership to launch their Find a Builder service.

Whether you are building a new home, carrying out renovation work, or building an extension, you need to find the right builder for the job, says the FMB. However, the trade association admits that’s not always easy in a largely unregulated market.

Find a Builder Service

The HomeOwners Alliance and the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) are launching a new Find a Builder service, designed for homeowners to find qualified builders who have been inspected and vetted.

The timing is right, according to the trade associations. They refer to National Trading Standards, which is braced for a spike in green home improvement scams. Citizens Advice is also seeing an 18% rise in complaints year-on-year, alongside a 28% increase in doorstep crime complaints. The new accreditation scheme will provide homeowners with a safer route for finding a builder, the associations say.

The partnership builds on earlier joint work from the FMB and HomeOwners Alliance, such as the campaigns to cut the VAT on home improvements and to license all UK construction companies.This is alongside work to help educate consumers through FMB’s where to start guides on extensions and conversions, and how to add value to your home.

Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB

Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB, said: “The Master Builder logo represents quality, trust, protection and experience. When you choose a Master Builder company, you can build with confidence. Our free Find a Builder service connects consumers with local, quality builders, and we provide advice and support for getting started with your building project.

“I’m delighted to be partnering with the HomeOwners Alliance. Our organisations share similar values, and it’s exciting to be bringing the FMB name and our services to a wider audience so we can all build better.”

Paula Higgins, Chief Executive of the HomeOwners Alliance, said: “We know from the millions of visitors to the HomeOwners Alliance website that finding a builder is stressful. But more than that, rogue traders can leave consumers devastated with hefty financial losses.

“We also know that the unregulated market puts consumers off from doing home improvement works. We are addressing this by offering the FMB’s Find a Builder service to connect consumers with trusted quality builders that have been vetted. We are proud of our campaigning work with FMB and look forward to continuing to make a real difference to consumers today and in the future.”

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