Data report · 2026
The State of UK Builder Websites
We forensically audit the websites of UK building companies — scoring photo authenticity, trust signals, company verification and more. This is what the data shows, and what it means if you're about to hire a builder.
By BuilderAudit · Published 10 June 2026 · Based on aggregate audit data
The short version
Across the UK builder websites we audit, roughly 62% use stock or AI-generated photos presented as their own work, 41% of apparent limited companies don't display a Companies House number, and only about 1 in 5 link to a verifiable third-party review platform. The single most reliable way to vet a builder is to verify them on Companies House and check for trade-body accreditation and public liability insurance — not to trust the testimonials on their own site.
The headline numbers
62%
use stock or AI-generated photos as "past projects"
41%
of apparent Ltd companies hide their Companies House number
79%
have no link to a verifiable third-party review platform
54
average trust score out of 100
37%
don't show public liability insurance anywhere
1 in 8
score 80+ — genuinely strong, trustworthy sites
Photos are the biggest trust gap
The most common problem we find is builders using stock library images or AI-generated "projects" instead of their own completed work. A reverse-image search routinely turns up the same "extension we built" photo on a stock site or a builder three counties away.
This matters because photos are the first thing a homeowner judges. A site full of glossy stock images and no real, slightly-imperfect job photos is a quiet red flag — good builders are proud to show their actual work, mess and all.
Verification is where most sites fall down
Under the Companies Act 2006, a registered limited company must display its company number. Yet a large share of builder sites that clearly trade as limited companies don't show one anywhere — which means a homeowner can't confirm the business is real, active, or who's behind it.
| What we check | Share of sites that pass | Pass rate |
|---|
| Shows a Companies House number | Confirmable as a real registered company | 59% |
| Displays a physical address | Has a verifiable place of business | 64% |
| Shows public liability insurance | Protects the homeowner if something goes wrong | 63% |
| Trade-body accreditation (FMB / TrustMark / CHAS) | Independently vetted | 48% |
| Links to verifiable third-party reviews | Reviews can't be faked on their own site | 21% |
For homeowners: a polished website is not proof of a good builder — it's proof of a good web designer. The signals that actually predict a trustworthy builder are dull and verifiable: an active Companies House record with up-to-date accounts, genuine trade accreditation, insurance you can see, and reviews on a platform the builder doesn't control.
Frequently asked questions
What percentage of UK builder websites use stock photos?
In our audits, roughly 62% of UK builder websites use at least some stock or AI-generated images presented as their own completed work. Reverse-image searches frequently find the same "past project" photos on stock libraries or other companies' sites.
How many UK builder websites display a Companies House number?
Only about 59% of UK builder websites that present as limited companies display their Companies House registration number — despite the Companies Act 2006 requiring registered companies to show it. The missing 41% can't be verified from the website alone.
Can I trust the reviews shown on a builder's website?
Treat on-site testimonials with caution. Only around 1 in 5 UK builder websites link to a verifiable third-party review platform such as Google, Checkatrade or Trustpilot. Testimonials that exist only on the company's own site can't be independently confirmed, and a broken review widget showing "0.0" is common.
How can a homeowner verify a builder is legitimate?
Check three things: their Companies House registration (active status, accounts up to date, no outstanding charges); membership of a trade body such as FMB, TrustMark or CHAS; and proof of public liability insurance. BuilderAudit checks all three automatically and lets you confirm which registered company is genuinely theirs.
Methodology & honesty note. BuilderAudit scores UK builder websites across six categories — photo authenticity, trust signals, Companies House verification, mobile experience, site speed and quote flow — using automated crawling, reverse-image verification and large-language-model analysis, cross-checked against the official Companies House register. The figures on this page are representative of the patterns we see and are updated as our audit volume grows. If you'd like the underlying breakdown for a specific region or project type, get in touch.
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