Two-thirds of UK tradespeople had payment withheld in 2025

​​​​​​​Building surveyors (89%), builders (87%) and bricklayers (86%) are the trades that have had the most payment issues

New research has revealed the problems UK tradespeople face when requesting payment for work, with two-thirds (66%) saying customers or contractors had disputed or withheld payment in the last 12 months. 

The study, conducted by metals4U, asked tradespeople how often they experience payment issues for work, and how this disruption affects them and their businesses. 

Nearly half (48%) of tradespeople said they experienced issues collecting payment at least once a year.

The amount of payments that tradespeople have had to write off varies, with 5% reporting losses of over £10,000 in the last 12 months. Nearly three fifths (57%), meanwhile, have written off at least £1,000 last year. 

All trades are affected by payment disruptions, but some are more likely to experience them than others. Building surveyors are most likely to be affected, with nearly 9 in 10 (89%) experiencing payment issues in the last 12 months. This is followed by builders (87%) and bricklayers (86%).

The trades most likely to have payment disputes or withheld:

1. Building surveyor - 89%
2. Builder - 87%
3. Bricklayer - 86%
4. Plumber  - 79%
5. Joiner - 79%
6. Electrician - 75%
7. Plasterer - 71%
8. Roofer - 71%
9. Carpenter - 68%
10. Painter/decorator - 62%

This lost income causes financial challenges for many tradespeople, particularly related to the health of their business.

Rising material costs for most metals, including mild steel, aluminium and copper, as well as other building materials, have increased overheads, which means that preparing for a job is more expensive than ever.

As a result, nearly two in five (38%) said withheld payments make it difficult to pay their staff or suppliers, whilst nearly a quarter (22%) of tradies say it creates cashflow problems for their company.

Whilst withheld payments are more likely to affect tradespeople professionally than personally, many still experience disruption to their personal lives.

Nearly one in five (17%) say it affects their ability to pay their personal bills, and the same number say not receiving payment impacts how they celebrate occasions with their family, such as Christmas or birthdays. 

The reasons given by contractors and customers for withholding payments varies, with the most common being a disagreement over the final cost (35%), followed by claims that the job has not been completed (30%). 

The most common reasons for disputed or withheld payment

1. Disagreement over final cost - 35%
2. Work claimed to be unfinished - 30%
3. Customers’ personal financial issues - 19%
4. Contractor cashflow issues - 19%
5. Client trying to avoid payment - 17%
6. Disagreement over quality - 17%

Tradespeople in some parts of the country are more likely than others to have payment for work disputed. Mancunians are the least likely to pay for trade work, with a shocking 91% of Manchester-based tradespeople saying they’d had payment withheld in the last 12 months.

 Those in Sheffield, however, are the most likely to be paid, with only a fifth (20%) being affected by payment issues.