A new survey by the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) shows homeowners in Northern Ireland are being pushed to financial breaking point to pay for domestic building work, with figures showing they are significantly more likely than anywhere else in the UK to request payment plans from builders.
The research reveals Northern Ireland homeowners are experiencing unprecedented financial pressure when it comes to building work. It shows an emerging crisis where families in Northern Ireland must choose between maintaining safe, habitable homes or financial stability, with growing numbers unable to afford either.
In Northern Ireland, 15% of homeowners have requested payment plans from builders, which is 67% higher than the UK average of 9%. This highlights the financial strain faced by many people in the region when trying to afford essential building work. Additionally, 11% of Northern Ireland homeowners have taken on a second job specifically to pay for building work, compared to 9% across the UK. This shows the extreme measures some are taking to manage repair costs.
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.”
Furthermore, the research shows 7% of homeowners in Northern Ireland have borrowed money or gone into debt to cover building costs, slightly lower than the UK average of 9%. A significant number of people, 37%, have never hired a builder at all, which is the highest rate in the UK compared to 29% nationally.
Gavin McGuire, Hub Director of Northern Ireland for the Federation of Master Builders, said:
"Northern Ireland homeowners are facing impossible choices. We're seeing families borrowing money, taking on additional work, and requesting payment plans just to afford essential repairs that should be straightforward. The fact that we lead the UK in payment plan requests shows the acute financial pressure households here are under.
"What's equally worrying is that over a third of people have never hired a builder at all. This suggests many homes across Northern Ireland have mounting maintenance issues that are being ignored, not because homeowners don't want to fix them, but because they simply can't afford to. Postponing maintenance doesn't go away; it only gets worse and more expensive over time. We need to ensure that quality building work remains accessible and affordable, and that homeowners have confidence in the builders they hire.
ENDS
Additional Findings
The research also revealed concerning patterns around rogue traders in Northern Ireland:
- 20% of Northern Ireland homeowners have lost money due to hiring unqualified or unlicensed builders
- Among those who lost money in the past five years, the average loss was £493
- 27% have hired unreliable builders, while 10% hired unqualified builders
Notes to Editors
- Research conducted by Et. Al. Comms among 2,069 UK adults, including 51 in Northern Ireland
