One in ten homeowners let down by builders

One in ten homeowners say they're not happy with their building work, according to new research from the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).

The main reason customers are dissatisfied is shoddy workmanship, which was the big problem for 49%. Cost overruns disappointed 27%, and delays 23%.

One example is Helen Patterson, who was let down by a cowboy builder who took her money and ran.

"It was supposed to be the start of building my dream home and suddenly it was in complete ruins – the man responsible, who I had trusted with my hard-earned cash, just disappeared," she says.

"This has left me in a financially difficult situation, wishing I had used a builder that had been vetted by a more reliable third party to avoid this sort of thing happening."

Sometimes, the consequences can be devastating. In June, for example, poor building work caused a £660,000 house in Lewisham, London to collapse completely. It seems the team working on the house had ripped out supporting timbers without putting anything else in place.

So how can you avoid the cowboys?

First, says the FMB, you should ask around for a personal recommendation from someone you trust. Ask detailed questions: what they had done, how much it cost and how long it took. It's a good idea to see the project too: people have different ideas of what constitutes a good job.

Next, check how long the firm has been around. Cowboy builders often trade under a string of different names, so if a company wasn't around three years ago, find out more about them.

Never pay up front. Set up a payment schedule and only pay for completed work. "It is remarkable how often walking off on the job features in prosecutions of tradesmen," says the FMB.

And, it says, it can't be stressed enough how much hassle will be saved if everything is agreed in writing with a contract beforehand, covering costs, scope, responsibilities and time-frame.

Avoid builders that ask to be paid in cash; the survey results found that people who do are far more likely to be unhappy with the quality of work. "If a builder is evading tax, the chances are that they won't be very honest with you, either," says the FMB.

Finally, check for scam schemes. If the builder is a member of an accreditation scheme or trade association, find out what membership means – have they been properly vetted or have they just paid a fee for a badge? Also be sure to check whether the tradesman really is a member.

The FMB can help you to find an approved builder, here.