License to Build: End Cowboy Bricklayers for Good

Too many homeowners across the UK are still falling victim to cowboy bricklayers and unqualified builders. It’s gone on for far too long — and it’s time to raise the standard across our trade.

Bricklayers Online is calling for mandatory licensing for all UK bricklayers and general builders. We need to protect homeowners, support skilled tradesmen, and finally drive out the cowboys dragging our reputation through the mud.

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The Problem

Every year, thousands of homeowners are ripped off by rogue contractors — people who take deposits, deliver substandard or dangerous work, or vanish mid-project.

Research by the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) found that cowboy builders have cost British homeowners over £14 billion in just five years.

Right now in the UK, anyone can call themselves a bricklayer or builder — no qualifications, no background checks, no insurance — and walk onto a building site or into someone’s home.

There’s no legal requirement for a builder to prove they’re competent or safe. If something goes wrong, there’s little protection in place. Homeowners are often left with financial losses, emotional distress, and dangerous homes — with no real route to justice.

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What Homeowners Expect (But Don’t Get)

Nearly half of UK adults wrongly believe bricklayers and builders must be licensed.

65% of homeowners expect their builder to have insurance — but many don’t.

Legal routes like Trading Standards are slow and often useless if the builder vanishes or goes bust.

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Time to Clean Up the Trade

Bricklayers Online stands for pride in the trade, not corner-cutting. We’ve heard too many horror stories and seen too many good tradesmen lose work because of rogue traders poisoning public trust.

That’s why we’re adding our voice to the growing demand for a mandatory licensing scheme in the UK construction industry — starting with builders and bricklayers.

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What We’re Calling For

Mandatory Licensing: All bricklayers and general builders should be legally required to prove their skills, experience, and insurance coverage before being allowed to trade.

Competency Checks: Background checks into trading history, financial health, and qualifications must be part of the process.

Insurance Requirements: Builders should be required to hold professional indemnity insurance to cover any negligent work or damage.

Public Register: A free, online database of all licensed bricklayers and contractors should be made available to the public.

Dispute Resolution Scheme: A fast, fair route to resolve complaints — with licenses revoked if standards aren’t met.

Tougher Penalties: Criminal charges and industry bans for rogue traders who cause harm or operate under false names.

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Why It Matters

Licensing will:

Protect homeowners

Elevate the trade

Shut down cowboys

Rebuild trust in skilled bricklayers

8 in 10 homeowners already support this move — and so do over 85% of tradesmen.

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Real Lives, Real Damage

Gerard, Ealing: “Flooding, dodgy construction, years of stress – and the rogue developer still walks free.”

Mary, Southampton: “After my MS diagnosis, I trusted the wrong builder. He wrecked my home and finances.”

Michelle, Clacton-on-Sea: “While grieving, I was left with a condemned house and nothing to fall back on.”

Rosemary & Phil, Surrey: “We paid upfront for doors and windows. The work was unsafe — and the builder disappeared.”

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Join the Campaign

If you believe it’s time to license bricklayers and builders and protect both our industry and UK homeowners, share this campaign and add your voice.

This isn't just about rules. It’s about respect for the trade, protection for the people, and restoring pride in what we build.

Let’s build a better standard. Together.