If you are a landlord and need to call a contractor out, you may quickly discover that the cost for a call out has increased over the last 2 years, and is only going upwards.

In fact, we have found the cost of construction including supply, materials and labour has increased by over 45% in the past 12 months and with National Insurance increasing as well, this is only set to rise further.

This has been dubbed as ‘a perfect storm’ in the construction industry which was originally prompted by the pandemic but exacerbated due to other events such as the Suez Canal blockage, lockdowns and unusual weather – all contributing to the unprecedented materials crisis.

Now, the war in Ukraine and soaring inflation are adding even more pressure.

The cost of raw materials in the UK is expected to more than treble in 2022, according to the Building Cost Information Service (BCIS) Materials Cost Index.

This means that at a time when demand for construction is on the rise, supply is under severe pressure.

Also, due to the pandemic some workers have been sick or away for prolonged periods of time and this has squeezed top contractors and made them high in demand.

For small builders it has been very frustrating on two counts: the cost of materials, but also the availability, especially if they had fixed-price deals with householders, as there is less wriggle room in these contracts than some larger commercial arrangements may have, meaning some smaller contractors lost money on jobs.

In addition to this from April 2022, National Insurance contributions have increased by 1.25 percentage points and as most contractors are self employed, meaning Limited Companies, they will also have to pass on this increase as an additional cost.

Our contractors never return after completing work for our landlord a 2nd time over the past 5 years and the work is guaranteed for 6 months. 

We also have found the cheaper the contractors are, the less reliable and execute poorly. We have tried and tested this and immediately regretted it and will never compromise reliability, quality, communication, and high standards.

There are cheaper option and there are more expensive options, and we try to fit in that middle ground for our landlords along with ensuring quality and consistency. It makes it a better long-term solution and investment in your property. 

If you are a landlord and need advice do get in touch. We are one of London’s leading bespoke real estate firms and would be delighted to help you acquire your dream property. Call direct on + 44 (0) 207 993 4081 or simply send an email for a fast response.

Media Enquiries
Stonelink International Media Team London
Tel: + 44 (0) 207 993 4081 or send an email