A lack of confidence in the building industry is preventing Scottish householders from investing in home improvement work, according to new research.

A new study by the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) Scotland into consumer confidence in builders reveals if all home owners had full confidence in the sector, they would typically spend an average of £31,000 on major home improvement projects over the next five years.

With more than one third (34%) of respondents stating they are put off by carrying out major improvement works due to fears over hiring a dodgy builder, the FMB said up to £10 billion of activity per year is being missed out upon due to anxiety over cowboy builders.

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Gordon Nelson, Director of FMB Scotland, said: "The FMB's latest research shows that on average, a typical Scottish home owner would spend £31,000 on major home improvement projects over the next five years if they knew they would be dealing with an honest builder.

"In London, this figure is even higher at £67,000. Recent figures show that the Scottish economy grew by only 0.2 per cent in the third quarter of 2017 compared to a 0.4 per cent increase recorded across the UK as a whole. This demonstrates the dire need to unlock suppressed consumer demand for building work, which would bring huge growth to the Scottish economy.

"Scottish home owners are clearly crying out for greater assurance when hiring a builder. The problem lies in the fact that, unlike in other places such as Australia and Canada, anyone can be a builder in this country."

Continuing, the FMB said it is calling on the Government to introduce some form of mandatory licensing system for builders "so that home owners can be confident that all building firms will have the appropriate skills to do a good job".

"If a licensing system was put in place, it has the potential to quell the anxieties of consumers and provide a boost to the Scottish economy through increased building work," he concluded.

(LM)