Scotland’s building divide leaves homeowners paying the price

​​​​​​​£14.3 billion has been lost to rogue builders across the country in the last five years alone

A new survey from the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) reveals a troubling trend in the Scottish construction industry.

Although Scots are less likely than their UK counterparts 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 most significant financial risks, indicating a "Scottish Building Divide."

The survey, conducted among over 2,000 homeowners across the UK, finds that Scotland's average loss from builder issues surpasses all other regions.

In addition, new research by the Federation of Master Builders (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 unqualified builders.