A fair structure
- Deposit: 10%, no more than 20%, and only once a contract is signed.
- Stage payments on completion of defined milestones: foundations, structure, first fix, second fix, completion.
- Retention: 5% held until snagging is signed off, typically 2–4 weeks after completion.
- Never pay in cash and never pay ahead of work done.
Why it matters
A builder who has been paid ahead has no incentive to finish. A builder who is paid on milestones has every incentive to reach them.
What Quote Check adds
We flag deposits above 20%, payments not tied to stages, and missing retention, and we suggest a schedule you can propose.
General information for England, not advice on your property. Rules change; we check the current position in every report.