Does the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) have any teeth

Anthony147

Wondered if anyone had any insight to the FMB or any other body that has the ability to solve issues if they arise on a building job?
From my initial research - The ultimate sanction from the FMB for poor work or not mediating is the builder not being registered but the customer has to go to court for resolution (which of course is a lengthy process whilst the work is incomplete).

Is there anything, anyone or a body that customers can use, action or pay for that would simply get the job done if issues arose?
Looking at a loft conversion but concerned regarding the imbalance of power inherent in the current market if issues / quality or disagreements arise.

ThisIsWeird

Make sure you have Leg Prot included in your insurance policy? And be sure to tell the insurance co when you start work.
I guess there's other due diligence to be carried out - the quality of each quoting company's insurance policies, etc, but I don't know what to look for there.

Doozergirl

The FMB has the dispute resolution in place only for its members and their clients, but the purpose of the FMB is to expect high standards of its members in the first place and therefore assist consumers in finding trustworthy contractors at the offset.  

100% of members of the FMB have had at least one site independently vetted by a building inspector before they can be admitted, they need a proven trading history, credit checks carried out and insurances checked every year.  They also offer decent contracts for use by members and their clients and the dispute service which can resolve many, not all, situations outside of the court room.   No other trade body or organisation in the same space can claim the same.  They also turn down around 20% of applications - it's non-profit, so the fullest of coffers is not the main priority.  

Whilst the FMB constantly lobby for builders to become licensed and they managed to get a bill put forward to parliament by a Conservative MP fairly recently, this government isn't interested in regulation, so the bill failed.  No one has the teeth to cover you financially for a relationship that has broken down for any reason. There would have to be a central pot that we all paid into.  If you're paying mainly in arrears to sensibly agreed stage payments you're minimising your risk of being financially behind as well.  

The time to do all of your homework is at the beginning.  If you start on the correct footing, things are unlikely to go irretrievably wrong.   It's in planning your project carefully and documenting it so that your quotes are like-for-like, the right contract is subsequently in place and - just as important, it's in checking references and visiting previous projects.  Do people do this? Not really, but the FMB membership criteria goes a fair amount if that way on your behalf.  

Anthony147

Thank you both for responding - So really it’s a risk a customer has to take on and hope their research and due diligence is sufficient which is a shame.

One point I will call out is regarding payment terms and structures - Whilst I’d seek to pay in arrears and at stages of work as this provides some risk mitigation on the customer side - this is increasingly from my experience and enquiries not an option with material costs expected direct to contractor and beforehand (not at ordering or when onsite), deposits to hold bookings (up to 30% has been quoted), specific date payments (not at a completed work piece) and in four extreme examples - prices directly given as percentage of house value (considered this outrageous so treating as an outlier).

All of which move the risk needle and are being treated increasingly (based on my experience) as something you’ll either accept or some else will - which sets alarm bells ringing.

Doozergirl

There's no rules on how you pay.   I don't work to stages, I work to dates and a value of work completed to each date because that directly correlates with our own financial commitments.  I don't pay anyone else by milestones, but by time period. 

We ask for payment up front when something is bespoke and therefore we also have to pay up front, but not for general materials.   

Are you using the FMB Find a Builder service? 

Anthony147

Fully understood and aware that payment terms SHOULD be discussed, be clear and ideally be good for both parties - unfortunately as mentioned it’s not happening that way. I can see your way works for you and of course if a contractor explains the value of work completed I can see that working for customers as well.

In terms of materials - I suggest you’re an outlier as not one enquiry has said only bespoke is paid for in advance.

I have tried the site - laissez-faire would best describe the attitude of responses / requests for clarification or details but at the moment it’s the closest to a trusted source starting point, as a customer champion / industry standard maker and regulator doesn’t exist.

MouldyOldDough

Anthony147 said:

Wondered if anyone had any insight to the FMB or any other body that has the ability to solve issues if they arise on a building job?
From my initial research - The ultimate sanction from the FMB for poor work or not mediating is the builder not being registered but the customer has to go to court for resolution (which of course is a lengthy process whilst the work is incomplete).

Is there anything, anyone or a body that customers can use, action or pay for that would simply get the job done if issues arose?
Looking at a loft conversion but concerned regarding the imbalance of power inherent in the current market if issues / quality or disagreements arise.

I was wondering the same myself - about to spend upwards of £50k on an extension

I was also going to ask how to choose a builder ?

What should we consider when choosing ?

How many builders should we consider ?

I have checked  companies house and found no issues with our preferred builder

GrahamLM52

I'd suggest double-checking that any company that claims to be a member of a trade organisation really is a member. We employed a builder who's website, van and correspondence all said he was a member of the Federation of Master Craftsman. When we had an issue, we contacted the Federation and they told us that the company were not members and that they would contact the builder and ask him to stop using their logo. That was years ago and I still see him around. His new van still shows the Federation of Master Craftsman logo.

Anthony147

MouldyOldDough said:

Anthony147 said:

Wondered if anyone had any insight to the FMB or any other body that has the ability to solve issues if they arise on a building job?
From my initial research - The ultimate sanction from the FMB for poor work or not mediating is the builder not being registered but the customer has to go to court for resolution (which of course is a lengthy process whilst the work is incomplete).

Is there anything, anyone or a body that customers can use, action or pay for that would simply get the job done if issues arose?
Looking at a loft conversion but concerned regarding the imbalance of power inherent in the current market if issues / quality or disagreements arise.

I was wondering the same myself - about to spend upwards of £50k on an extension

I was also going to ask how to choose a builder ?

What should we consider when choosing ?

How many builders should we consider ?

I have checked  companies house and found no issues with our preferred builder

I’m sure someone will offer some experiential insight shortly - At the moment I can only say to you research, research, research - Due diligence and then recheck everything.

btw - Not sure how important it is to yourself but Ive decided going forward if answering my due diligence questions and as appropriate and things move onwards statement of works / schedule / price clarity aren’t forthcoming i’ll take it the contractor isn’t for me (this may cause issues in the current market but it’s £10s of thousands not a days work and I’d rather take longer than be wrong),

bris

The best people to recommend you on builders is the architect.

Architects tend to have builders they know and trust.

My Brother in law has been doing extensions for 30 years all of them come from the same architect.