One in five (20%) homeowners in Northern Ireland have lost money to unqualified or unlicensed builders in the last five years, according to new research from the Federation of Master Builders (FMB). Among those affected, the average loss was £493, contributing to an estimated £14.3bn lost across the UK.

The study indicates that financial pressures are driving risky choices. More than a quarter (27%) of respondents say they have hired unreliable builders, while 10% admit to employing unqualified tradespeople.

Households are also stretching to fund essential works: 15% of Northern Ireland homeowners have asked builders for payment plans — 67% above the UK average of 9% — and 11% have taken on second jobs to pay for building work. Notably, 37% have never hired a builder at all, suggesting widespread deferred maintenance and worsening housing conditions.

The FMB is taking its campaign for mandatory builder licensing to Stormont on 21 May, where it will host a Parliamentary Reception from 12pm–2pm to set out proposals to MLAs, policymakers and industry figures.

Gavin McGuire, Hub Director of Northern Ireland for the Federation of Master Builders, said: "These figures show that Northern Ireland families are being hit harder than anywhere else in the UK. When 15% of homeowners are asking builders for payment plans – nearly 70% above the national average – we're not just talking about rogue traders, we're talking about a cost-of-living crisis that's leaving people unable to keep their homes safe and habitable.

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"The £493 average loss might not sound enormous, but for families already struggling, that's money they can't afford to lose. And that's just the financial cost – the real damage is in the unsafe work, the botched repairs, and the complete breakdown of trust in our industry.

"That's why we're taking this directly to Stormont. On 21 May, we're hosting a Parliamentary Reception to make the case for mandatory licensing – a system that would vet builders, stop rogue operators from simply rebranding after complaints, and give homeowners the protection they desperately need. This isn't about red tape; it's about preventing families from being ripped off and ensuring basic professional standards across the industry."

Steven Nickell, President of FMB Northern Ireland, said: "As a builder who's seen firsthand how rogue traders damage trust in our industry, it's alarming that 20% of homeowners here have lost money to unqualified operators. With families taking second jobs or begging for payment plans just to fix leaks or keep homes habitable, we're witnessing a maintenance crisis.

"Basic repairs shouldn't bankrupt households – that's why mandatory licensing is essential to protect consumers and genuine small builders like myself and other FMB members. We want to raise professional standards, not punish legitimate tradespeople. A licensing system would actually help honest builders by weeding out the cowboys who undercut us and destroy our reputation."

The FMB's proposed 'Licence to Build' would make licensing mandatory for all builders, requiring minimum professional standards before work can begin on site. It would also track individual company directors to prevent 'phoenixing', where firms close and rebrand to dodge accountability.