A new survey by the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) has found that homeowners in Northern Ireland are most likely to require payment plans from builders than anywhere else in the UK
Northern Irish construction costs are threatening to price out many homeowners, says the latest FMB survey.
The financial difficulties are putting families at risk of being unable to afford homes that are healthy and warm as the amount of domestic building work required keeps piling up.
7% of homeowners have borrowed money or entered debt due to building costs
The survey revealed that 15% of homeowners in Northern Ireland have requested payment plans from builders, compared with an average of 9% across the UK. Furthermore, 11% of NI homeowners have taken on a second job just to afford building work and manage repair costs.
20% have also lost money due to unqualified or unlicensed builders, 27% have said they have had unreliable builders, and among those who lost money in the last five years, lost an average of £493.
Brian Berry, chief executive of the Federation of Master Builders, said: “It’s concerning to see that 15% of people in Northern Ireland have asked their builder for a payment plan and 11% have even taken on a second job to cover the costs – above the national average. When homeowners are forced to take on second jobs or request payment plans just to keep their homes safe and watertight, something has gone seriously wrong. It looks like basic home maintenance has become a luxury in Northern Ireland that many cannot afford.
“The cost-of-living crisis is creating a perfect storm, pushing up the cost of building materials and labour while squeezing household budgets to breaking point. What’s particularly alarming is that 37% of people in Northern Ireland have never hired a builder at all, suggesting many are living in homes that need repairs but which they cannot afford to fix.”
FMB call for a building licence to prevent money losses
In May, the FMB called for the introduction of a builders’ licence on the back of a survey finding that nearly half of UK homeowners are under the mistaken impression that builders already require a licence.
Furthermore, 65% believe that builders must be insured for accidental damages, which is not the case.
After confirming that builders do not need a licence to operate, 81% of survey respondents agreed that a mandatory licence for residential builders should be introduced.
At the time, Brian Berry said: “Homeowners having building work done to their homes are at risk unless they carry out background checks. The survey finding that nearly half of homeowners mistakenly believe builders have a licence to trade is very concerning as they could be putting themselves at risk. Building work is often a complex and at times a dangerous job and needs to be underpinned by standards and legal accountability.
“Successive governments have failed to act to protect homeowners from rogue builders – an unwanted part the industry that is so prolific that is has generated its own TV shows. We can’t allow just anyone to call themselves a builder anymore. The Government must step up and bring in a licensing scheme that puts quality, safety, and accountability first.”
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