Campaign Builds Against Construction Cowboys

Carl Sargeant, Minister for Housing and Regeneration

 

As part of their campaign against rogue builders the Director of the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) Cymru, Richard Jenkins, has met with the Carl Sargeant, Minister for Housing and Regeneration.

As the Minister responsible for Building Regulations the FMB Cymru hope that Carl Sargeant will be able to discuss how better control of builders in the domestic building sector in Wales, could help put an end to the black economy and even save lives.

Richard Jenkins, Director of FMB Cymru, said:

“We have already presented evidence and been unanimously supported by the Cross Party Group on Construction, Chaired by Joyce Watson AM, and have met with the Minister for the Economy, who has agreed to convene a group to scope the issue further.

“The next step for our campaign is to speak with the Minister for Housing and Regeneration, as Wales and the UK are practically the only westernised countries that do not exercise a form of regulation or accreditation over domestic builders. We already have a good working relationship with the Minister, and following previous discussions with us, welcome his recent bold announcement over sprinklers systems and the shared equity scheme, Help to Buy Cymru, which will address failures in the market.

“We hope that the Minister will add his support to our campaign to end the absurd reality that builders working in the domestic sector are able to freely work with no regulatory or assessment framework.”

Carl Sargeant, Minister for Housing and Regeneration added:

“Delivering quality in building work is crucial in the safe and efficient use of resources, and in ensuring that clients gets what they pay for.

“Poor quality remains a concern in some parts of the home building industry  and so it is important that the government and the industry work together to take effective action.

“In addition to the building regulations and controls that set standards and ensure compliance, the Welsh Government supports customer assurance and protection through schemes such as Trustmark and the Building Regulations Competent Persons scheme.

“I am committed to exploring other ways in which poor quality might be tackled and how regulation might help. I welcome the commitment of the FMB and its members to delivering a quality service to its customers and am keen to discuss this area of mutual concern.”