Payment schedule for contractors doing and extention

Alevelprep25 · 2025-07-03T12:58:59+00:00

Just want advice on the usual/common fees for contractors. We have a fixed price for the building work and already paid a 25% deposit. Foundations to be concreted tomorrow. At what stage and how much would you pay the remaining? I just want to be organised and our builder is not paper heavy!

ThejoyofNC · 03/07/2025 14:02

For a large project I would expect to pay some more installments along the way with the majority being paid on completion.

PragmaticIsh · 03/07/2025 14:19

I'd ask them to send you a payment schedule, as you'll then have it in writing. You can negotiate if it looks off. Definitely have 20% or 25% retained for completion.

Original poster

Alevelprep25 · 03/07/2025 14:27

PragmaticIsh · 03/07/2025 14:19

I'd ask them to send you a payment schedule, as you'll then have it in writing. You can negotiate if it looks off. Definitely have 20% or 25% retained for completion.

I am going to suggest one, hence the question and want to it to be fair and reasonable. So perhaps easier to do 4 payments of 25%. Unless he disagreed. I just want to be organised as it will help me manage money flow/loans etc!

OP posts:

ThisCatCanHop · 03/07/2025 14:37

I would link it to progress rather than dates, eg foundations in/roof on/ready for plaster - whatever you think. But the final payment is on completion and must not be paid until the snagging is complete.

caringcarer · 03/07/2025 14:54

When I had lift extension built about 13 years ago now, I paid 25 percent up front for materials which were delivered to our home, 25 percent end of next 2 months then remainder after snagging. It was all in the contract we agreed upfront.

Comefromaway · 03/07/2025 14:55

Monthly applications according to work done with 5% retained until practical completion.

FateAmenableToChange · 03/07/2025 18:49

I'm in the middle of this at the moment. I agreed staged payments tied to completion of stages of work. However the cowboy builders stopped all work when they didnt get the last payment as the work hadnt been completed (and what they had done was wrong). They have refused to come back and finish unless I pay them. I think their cheeky fucker wording is now 'work complete, partially complete and/or trades and materials committed' So a unilateral change of contract (breech of contract really).

And what do you do? Everyone including my architect has advised just go along with it and hope they actually finish the job. I do intend to completely destroy them with many reviews online if Im not 100% happy at the end of this nightmare.

Anyway my point is, once your house is ripped apart you have no leverage really unless you want to throw money at lawyers and try and find builders who will pick up a half done project. So choose carefully - your contract and payment terms are pretty much meaningless in the domestic cowboy building contractor world.

Original poster

Alevelprep25 · 03/07/2025 22:46

FateAmenableToChange · 03/07/2025 18:49

I'm in the middle of this at the moment. I agreed staged payments tied to completion of stages of work. However the cowboy builders stopped all work when they didnt get the last payment as the work hadnt been completed (and what they had done was wrong). They have refused to come back and finish unless I pay them. I think their cheeky fucker wording is now 'work complete, partially complete and/or trades and materials committed' So a unilateral change of contract (breech of contract really).

And what do you do? Everyone including my architect has advised just go along with it and hope they actually finish the job. I do intend to completely destroy them with many reviews online if Im not 100% happy at the end of this nightmare.

Anyway my point is, once your house is ripped apart you have no leverage really unless you want to throw money at lawyers and try and find builders who will pick up a half done project. So choose carefully - your contract and payment terms are pretty much meaningless in the domestic cowboy building contractor world.

I am sorry you're going through this. But do you mind me asking, did building control not pick up on those issues? Or is it the fact that they didn't follow the design/architect drawings?

OP posts:

Wot23 · 30/10/2025 18:58

FateAmenableToChange · 03/07/2025 18:49

I'm in the middle of this at the moment. I agreed staged payments tied to completion of stages of work. However the cowboy builders stopped all work when they didnt get the last payment as the work hadnt been completed (and what they had done was wrong). They have refused to come back and finish unless I pay them. I think their cheeky fucker wording is now 'work complete, partially complete and/or trades and materials committed' So a unilateral change of contract (breech of contract really).

And what do you do? Everyone including my architect has advised just go along with it and hope they actually finish the job. I do intend to completely destroy them with many reviews online if Im not 100% happy at the end of this nightmare.

Anyway my point is, once your house is ripped apart you have no leverage really unless you want to throw money at lawyers and try and find builders who will pick up a half done project. So choose carefully - your contract and payment terms are pretty much meaningless in the domestic cowboy building contractor world.

other than abject ignorance there is absolutely nothing stopping the "domestic market" from insisting on a JCT "home owner" contract.

decent builders will be used to them, cowboys will run a mile from them

Building Contract for a Home Owner

This contract is for a home owner/occupier who has not appointed a consultant to administer the contract. The customer deals directly with the contractor.

https://www.jctltd.co.uk/product/building-contract-for-a-home-owner-occupier