The FMB has researched the area alongside the HomeOwners Alliance (HOA) and found that 81% of homeowners are in favour.

Such a licensing framework would include competency assessments, background checks on trading and financial history, a dispute resolution scheme and a mechanism for licences to be revoked if standards were not met.

The research revealed a lack of knowledge among homeowners, with nearly half (45%) wrongly believing builders are already licensed.

The FMB and HOA are using these findings to push the government to act, with over half of homeowners having had a negative experience with a builder.

Additionally, almost 90% of survey respondents believe the government should criminalise rogue and incompetent builders.

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These calls are being echoed by the industry, with 77% of construction SMEs in support of a licensing framework.

Brian Berry, CEO at the FMB, said time was up for anyone to call themselves a builder.

"The current lack of regulation is failing both consumers and responsible builders,” he said, adding it was particularly “striking” that so many consumers already believed builders are licensed.

“A licensing scheme wouldn’t just protect consumers from cowboy builders; it would raise standards across the board and restore trust in our industry.

“The government has a golden opportunity to improve the image of builders, professionalise the industry and bring in line with other nations where being a builder is licenced and seen as a top-drawer career.”