A new Federation of Master Builders (FMB) survey suggests homeowners in Northern Ireland are being stretched to the limit to pay for domestic construction and repairs, with residents there more likely than anywhere else in the UK to ask builders for staged payments.

The findings point to a worsening situation in which families feel forced to choose between maintaining safe, liveable homes and keeping their finances on an even keel, with a growing number unable to do either.

In Northern Ireland, 15% of homeowners have asked for payment plans — 67% higher than the UK average of 9%. In addition, 11% say they have taken a second job specifically to fund building work, compared with 9% across the UK, underlining the lengths some are going to in order to cover essential repairs.

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.

-- Advertisement --

"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."

The research also shows 7% of homeowners in Northern Ireland have borrowed money or gone into debt to pay for work, slightly below the UK average of 9%. Notably, 37% say they have never hired a builder — the highest proportion in the UK, compared with 29% nationally.

Gavin McGuire, Hub Director of Northern Ireland for the FMB, 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.

Additional findings highlight the risks posed by rogue traders: 20% of Northern Ireland homeowners report losing money after hiring unqualified or unlicensed builders, with those affected losing an average of £493 over the past five years. Meanwhile, 27% say they have hired unreliable builders and 10% have hired unqualified ones.

The research was conducted by Et. Al. Comms among 2,069 UK adults, including 51 respondents in Northern Ireland.