The Labour MP for Isle of Wight West, Richard Quigley, has voiced strong support for the licensing of building companies, arguing it would protect consumers and support legitimate tradespeople.
His comments came during an appearance on the Federation of Master Builders’ podcast, Build up from the Basement, where he addressed serious concerns raised by his constituents.
“They’ve lost £30,000 or £50,000”
Mr Quigley highlighted the scale of the problem on the Isle of Wight.
“When you’ve got constituents coming to you saying ‘we’ve been a victim of a rogue builder,’ you’re not talking about a couple hundred quid.
“You’re talking about people who’ve lost £30,000, £40,000, £50,000 and are not in a position where their home is what they wanted—or even safe.”
He drew attention to the lack of any regulation stopping anyone from claiming to be a builder.
“At the minute, there’s nothing to stop anyone setting up as a builder. You could set up as builders tomorrow,.
Backing good builders
When asked if he supported licensing, Mr Quigley made his stance clear.
“No decent builder will be against it – good builders want to be distinguished from the rogues.
“They want customers to have confidence in their work and qualifications.”
His remarks come ahead of the government’s expected response to the Energy Security and Net Zero Committee’s recommendation for licensing in the retrofit sector. The committee has called for action to protect homeowners from poor-quality work and financial loss.
£14.3bn lost to rogue traders
Brian Berry, CEO of the Federation of Master Builders, welcomed the MP’s support.
He said,
“I am delighted that the MP for the Isle of Wight West, Richard Quigley, has openly backed the FMB’s campaign for the licensing of building companies.
“We need to get the issue on the Government’s agenda as soon as possible – whilst continuing to drum up support in Parliament, from all sides of the House on this vital issue of rogue builders.
“Too many people across the country right now are being affected by rogue companies, often with terrible consequences such as losing their life savings and suffering huge emotional stress as a result. A staggering £14.3bn has been lost to rogue traders over the last five years. A mandatory licensing scheme of building companies is the only way to protect homeowners and reputable builders.”
The case for small, skilled builders
Beyond the licensing issue, Mr Quigley used the podcast to highlight the importance of smaller building firms and skilled trades on the Island.
With 2,400 households on the Isle of Wight on housing waiting lists and 800 people in emergency accommodation, he said small builders were critical.
“We’ve relied on big builders, but if one of them falls over or is under financial pressure, developments don’t happen. I cherish the smaller builders. They provide innovation and different offerings, and they’re probably key to achieving net zero.”
He set out a bold aim for the Island’s housing future.
“Every Islander deserves the right to their own front door, whether it’s rented, mixed tenure, bought—whatever that looks like.”
Valuing the trades
Looking ahead, Mr Quigley called for greater respect for vocational careers, warning of a demographic shift that could worsen the housing crisis.
“There’s no such thing as a menial job—there are menial attitudes towards people. We need to respect trades again. Without these people, we don’t have the secure homes we need.”
