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Builder introductions

How it works and our fair rules

This page explains how we choose which builders to introduce, what we check and what we don't, and what to do if something goes wrong.

It's free

It's free for homeowners to ask for quotes, and free for builders to be listed and introduced. We don't charge builders for listings or introductions.

How we choose builders

Nobody can pay to be put forward first or more often. When you send a quote request, our system matches it automatically, using these rules in this order:

  1. Checks: the builder has passed the checks below, is currently listed, and the end date of their insurance certificate hasn't passed.
  2. Type of work: they've told us they take on the type of work you chose (for example, a loft conversion needs a builder who ticked "Loft conversions").
  3. Area: they've told us they cover your borough. Some postcode areas cross borough boundaries, so any of the boroughs your postcode area falls in counts.
  4. Travel distance: your postcode area is within the furthest distance they told us they'll travel, if they gave one.
  5. Nearest first: we measure the straight-line distance between the centre of the builder's postcode area (for example IG11) and the centre of yours, using the ONS Postcode Directory, and start with the closest. We count whole miles, so builders 4.2 and 4.8 miles away count as the same distance.
  6. Taking turns: where builders are the same distance away, the one we introduced least recently goes first, so the same builder isn't always picked.

We introduce up to three builders, then email you their details. We don't use reviews or ratings to choose, because we don't collect them. If you choose "Other" as the type of work, a person reads your request and matches it by hand. You can ask for any match to be looked at again by a person through our contact form.

London Builders also does building work itself. We don't put ourselves forward through the quotes page. If you'd like a quote from us as well, use our enquiry form.

We don't cover all of London yet

We’re building our network of local builders borough by borough, so we can’t cover every area yet. Listing and matching are free. If no checked builder covers your area, we'll tell you honestly, rather than send someone from far away.

What we check before listing a builder

  • Companies House: if a company number is given, we check that the company is active on the Companies House register and that the name matches.
  • Public liability insurance: we ask to see the certificate and note who it's with and when it ends. We don't list builders without it.
  • Memberships: where a builder says they're a member of a scheme such as TrustMark, the FMB, Gas Safe, NICEIC or NAPIT, we check that scheme's public register.

We don't inspect builders' work, check their finances or references, or check qualifications they haven't told us about. A listing or introduction isn't an endorsement, recommendation or guarantee. Please make your own checks, get written quotes and agree a written contract with the builder you choose. Citizens Advice has a useful checklist before you get building work done, and we have tips on spotting a rogue builder.

Being removed

Builders: you can ask us to remove your listing at any time, using the link in any introduction email or through our contact form. We'll stop introductions straight away. We may also remove a listing if insurance lapses, details can't be checked, or homeowners raise concerns we can't resolve.

Homeowners: you can withdraw your consent to us sharing your details at any time, using the link in our email to you or through our contact form. We'll then delete your request. We can't recall details already passed to a builder, so please tell that builder too. See our privacy notice.

Complaints

  1. About us or this service: tell us through our contact form, with "Complaint" in the message. We aim to reply to complaints within 10 working days and will tell you what we've done about it.
  2. About a builder we introduced: raise it with the builder first, in writing. Please also tell us, as we may remove them. If the builder belongs to a scheme such as TrustMark, the scheme may have a complaints or dispute process.
  3. If you can't sort out a dispute with a builder: contact the Citizens Advice consumer service, which can pass problems to Trading Standards.

For complaints about how we handle your personal data, see our privacy notice.

Where our postcode information comes from

The forms work out the borough from the first part of your postcode using a list built into the page, and our server does the same check from the same list when you send the form. Nothing is sent to another postcode service. Distances use the average position of all current postcodes in each postcode area, from the same directory. The list comes from the ONS Postcode Directory (August 2026). Some postcode areas cross borough boundaries, so the borough shown is a guide. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. Contains Royal Mail data © Royal Mail copyright and database right 2026. Source: Office for National Statistics, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.