Honest Builder - Honest,impartial building advice to help wipe out the cowboy builder

The following pages list a number of authorities and associations related to the building industry. Most contractors affiliated with these bodies are bound by a code of conduct and their work may be warranted.

The display of a badge does not always guarantee workmanship, so please do your homework and establish what your rights are with regards to poor workmanship from a person associated to any of these authorities.

These authorities are primarily there for their Trade members and not the public, although you can contact them for information relating to their expertise.

Most organizations or associations will also help you come to a suitable conclusion shouldy ou have a dispute with one of their members. They do not offer guarantees or warranties other than that carried by the builder. They can and sometimes will use the threat of expulsion from the association if the member refuses to abide by the ruling and can also recommend a suitable third party arbitrator.

The display of a badge does not necessarily confirm that membership fees are up to date (some of these certificates are also quite easy to come by). Most of these authorities have up to date member directories on their websites. Alternatively, check that the builder's membership is still valid by contacting the trade association in question.

		Builders' Merchants Federation 15 Soho Square, London, W1V 5FB www.bmf.org.uk/ The Builders Merchants Federation (BMF) provides builders merchants with the support and advice needed to run their businesses in a competitive environment.


		Federation of Master Builders England and Wales 14-15 Great James Street, London WC1N 3DP Tel: 020 7242 7583 Fax: 020 7404 0296 www.fmb.org.uk/ Scotland 11 Mentone Gardens, Edinburgh EH9 2DJ Tel: 0131 667 5888 Fax: 0131 667 5548 Other regional offices can be found by visiting the FMB regional contacts page: www.fmb.org.uk/contact/regions.asp Founded in 1941, this is the leading employers' trade association within the UK building industry. They have approximately 15,000 members and membership requires a builder prove that they offer suitably high standards of working practice and business methods . Carrying a FMB badge is wiidely accepted as a hallmark of quality

		National House-Building Council England and Wales Buildmark House, Chiltern Avenue, Amersham, Bucks HP6 5AP Tel: 01494 434477 Fax: 01494 728521 Scotland 42 Colinton Road, Edinburgh EH10 5BT Tel: 0131 313 1001 Fax: 0131 313 1211 www.nhbc.co.uk An independent organisation, the NHBC has approximately 25,000 builders registered. All builders must be able to show that they are technically and financially competent before being registered.


		National Federation of Roofing Contractors 24 Weymouth Street, London, W1N 3FA www.nfrc.co.uk/ The National Federation of Roofing Contractors is the UK's leading trade association for the roofing industry. Its Mission Statement is 'to promote trade members to gain more work and through this achievement to help Associate members to sell more products and collectively to achieve quality installation.'


		Confederation of Roofing Contractors 72 Church Road, Brightlingsea, Colchester, Essex CO7 0JF Tel: 01206 306600 Fax: 01206 306200 www.corc.co.uk The Confederation of Roofing Contractors has about 300 members. The Confederation of Roofing Contractors ensures that all materials and methods used on a roofing contract conform to the requirements laid down in its code of practice.


		National Approval Council for Security Systems Queensgate House, 1 Cookham Road, Maidenhead, SL6 8AJ www.nacoss.org This organization recognises, inspects and regulates firms who install, maintain and monitor electronic security systems. Their role to ensure the recognised firms uphold the highest standards possible.


		Master Locksmiths Association Units 4 - 5, Woodford Halse Business Park, Great Central Way, Woodford Halse, Daventry, NN11 6PZ www.locksmiths.co.uk A non-profit making body, this association promotes standards of conduct, practice and materials within the locksmith profession.


		British Security Industry Association Security House, Barbourne Road, Worcester, WR1 1RS www.bsia.co.uk The British Security Industry Association is the professional trade association for the security industry in the UK. Its aim is to help its member companies succeed in an ever-changing and highly competitive business environment. A vitally important element of this is ensuring its members provide the highest possible standard of products and service to their customers.


		British Wood Preserving & Damp Proofing Association Building No. 6, The Office Village, 4 Romford Road, Stratford, London, E15 4EA www.bwpda.co.uk The BWPDA is a trade association which places great emphasis on standards of workmanship and ethics and publishes Codes of Practice, guidance on training and legal aspects of trading in the industry and Standard Specifications as well as informative leaflets on all aspects of wood treatment and damp control


		English Nature Northminster House, Northminster Road, Peterborough, PE1 1VA www.english-nature.org.uk/


		Countryside Council for Wales Plaspenrhos, Penrhos Road, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2LQ www.ccw.gov.uk/ The Countryside Council for Wales is the Government's statutory adviser on sustaining natural beauty, wildlife and the opportunity for outdoor enjoyment in Wales and its inshore waters. The national wildlife conservation authority.


		Scottish Natural Heritage 12 Hope Terrace, Edinburgh, EH9 2AS www.snh.org.uk/


		Glass and Glazing Federation 44-48 Borough High Street, London, SE1 1XB www.ggf.org.uk/ A trade association for all those who make, supply or fit flat glass, such as windows, film or plastics. The website supplies information about the Federation, glass and glazing to the general public.


		Heating and Ventilating Contractors Association Esca House, 34 Palace Court, London, W2 4JG www.hvca.org.uk/ An association created for contractors that provides the contractor with access to information and products related to their trade.


		National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting 37 Albert, Embankment, London, SE1 7UJ www.niceic.org.uk An accredited certification body set up to protect users of electricity against the hazards of unsafe and unsound electrical installations. It is the industry's independent electrical safety regulatory body.


		Institute of Plumbing 64 Station Lane, Hornchurch, Essex, RM12 6NB www.plumbers.org.uk Founded in 1906, the UK's professional body for plumbers and the plumbing industry. It has a membership of 11000 and all members listed have had to prove their plumbing competence through recognised qualifications or extensive experience


		Fencing Contractors Association Warren Road, Trellech, Monmouthshire, NP25 4PO www.fencingcontractors.org/ The FCA can provide you with a list of members together with advice and assistance when it comes to fencing.


		The Guild Of Master Craftsmen 166 High Street, Lewes, East Sussex, BN7 1XU www.thegmcgroup.com


		National Association of Loft Insulation Contractors (NALIC) POBox12, Haslemere, Surrey, GU27 3AH dubois.vital.co.uk/database/ceed/loft.html Formed in 1979, this association represents the loft insulation industry. It's aim is to look after the interests of the customers, as well as the reputation of the industry.


		Scottish Decorators Federation 41A York Place, Edinburgh, EH1 3HT www.scottishdecorators.co.uk An organization for Scottish decorators. Customers using members of the federation can contact the federation and ask for general advice and codes of conduct, etc.


	(logo not available)	Asbestos Information Centre Ltd PO Box 69, Widnes, Cheshire, WA8 9GW www.aic.org.uk AIC is a trade association which provides advice and assistance on the health, safety and environmental aspects of asbestos and asbestos-containing products. It liaises with Government departments and other official bodies, trade unions, industry associations, scientific research bodies and the like on matters relating to asbestos.