Our approach
Why we match you with builders close to home
If you live in Barking, we'd rather introduce you to a good builder from Barking or Dagenham than one who has to drive across London every morning. That's the idea behind our introductions, and it's why they're free for homeowners and builders.
We want to help honest, local builders find work near where they live, and help homeowners find them. It's a small thing, but we think a business should help the people around it, not just itself.
Why local makes sense
- Fewer miles driven. A builder based nearby spends less time in traffic and less on fuel getting to your job and to the merchants.
- Less pollution on London's roads. Shorter trips mean fewer vehicle miles. Transport for London says road vehicles are the single biggest cause of London's air pollution, and the GLA's London Atmospheric Emissions Inventory tracks emissions by source.
- Quicker site visits and follow-ups. It's easier for a nearby builder to pop round to look at the job, sort out a snag or meet the building control inspector.
- Lower travel costs. Less time on the road can mean lower travel costs, which a builder may be able to pass on to you. We can't promise that it will.
- Local knowledge. Builders who work in your area often know its type of housing, its soils and the way your council handles planning and building control.
- Money kept in the community. Paying a local firm helps local jobs and local suppliers.
What it means in practice
When you ask for quotes, we look for checked builders who take on your type of work and cover your borough, and we put them forward nearest first. Nobody can pay to be put forward. The full rules are on our how it works page.
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 yet, we'll tell you honestly, rather than send someone from far away just to fill the gap.
Are you a local builder?
If you'd like more work close to home, apply to be listed. It's free, and every application is checked by hand. A listing isn't an endorsement or a guarantee of work.
London Builders introduces homeowners to independent builders through this page. Those builders aren’t employed by London Builders, and London Builders doesn’t carry out the work they quote for or guarantee it. Agree a written contract directly with the builder you choose, and read our tips on spotting a rogue builder first.