FMB NI NEWS
FEDERATION OF MASTER BUILDERS REGIONAL DIRECTOR GAVIN MCGUIRE REFLECTS ON A CHALLENGING YEAR FOR THE INDUSTRY… Northern Ireland families face rising costs for essential building work
As we approach the end of 2025, a worrying contrast seems to be emerging in Northern Ireland. On one hand, the green shoots of optimism from early in 2025 have seen many SMEs busy and fielding an increased number of enquiries. However, an uncertain financial economy and increased cost of living have presented some real challenges for clients. A new survey by the Federation of Master Builders reveals Northern Ireland homeowners are experiencing unprecedented financial pressure when it comes to building work. It shows an emerging crisis where a growing number of families in Northern Ireland must choose between maintaining safe, habitable homes or financial stability. In Northern Ireland, 15% of homeowners have requested payment plans from builders during projects, 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. What 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.
“We need to ensure that quality building work remains accessible and affordable, and that homeowners have confidence in the builders they hire.”
Postponing maintenance work doesn’t make it 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. 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. Recent findings show that fuel poverty is rising and is affecting a growing number of families here in Northern Ireland. So this is not just a construction issue. It affects the basics of life, the ability to have a safe, warm affordable home. As there has been a focus on a new housing strategy, we also need to see a concentrated effort by all bodies to invest in our existing housing stock. Going forward in 2026, surely this needs to be a priority!
Federation of Master Builders T: +44 (0)28 9446 0416 - E: fmbni@fmb.org.uk www.fmb.org.uk - www.findabuilder.co.uk
www.nibuilder.co.uk
FOLLOW US ON:
NI BUILDER | 33
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online