Britain’s Home Repair Backlog Deepens
Britain’s Home Repair Backlog Deepens as One in Nine Homeowners Wait Over a Year for a Roofer
With the Autumn Budget a less than a week away, Fix Radio’s National Construction Audit reveals worsening trade shortages, delayed projects and a generation turning away from construction careers
Key findings:
• One in nine homeowners waited over a year to book a roofer
• 75% haven’t hired a decorator in three years
• 17% are renting because mortgage rates are too high
• Only 6% of parents encourage children to consider construction careers
• One in nine homeowners waited over a year to book a roofer
• 75% haven’t hired a decorator in three years
• 17% are renting because mortgage rates are too high
• Only 6% of parents encourage children to consider construction careers
Ahead of this Autumn’s Budget, where the Chancellor is expected to set out plans for housing, skills and infrastructure, Fix Radio, the UK’s only national radio station for builders and tradespeople, has released its 2025 National Construction Audit.
The report highlights a workforce stretched to breaking point, with long delays, affordability pressures and a deepening skills gap threatening Britain’s ability to deliver new homes and essential repairs. Trade backlogs have surged, shortages are spreading beyond major cities, and parental encouragement into the trades has collapsed from 18% last year to just 6%.
Trade waitlists at breaking point
General builders and handymen now report the longest queues, with 12% of homeowners waiting more than a year, followed by landscape gardeners (12%), roofers (11%) and bricklayers (11%). Roofing demand remains at record highs: 43% of homeowners waited two months or longer for a roofer, driven by severe weather and ageing housing stock. Bricklaying shows similar pressure, with only 1% securing help within a month.
General builders and handymen now report the longest queues, with 12% of homeowners waiting more than a year, followed by landscape gardeners (12%), roofers (11%) and bricklayers (11%). Roofing demand remains at record highs: 43% of homeowners waited two months or longer for a roofer, driven by severe weather and ageing housing stock. Bricklaying shows similar pressure, with only 1% securing help within a month.
Discretionary projects are being delayed or abandoned entirely. Three in four haven’t hired a decorator in three years, and almost two-thirds haven’t brought in a landscape gardener. Even essential trades are under strain: 5% waited more than a year for plumbing or heating support, while 8% waited over a year for electrical work.
Cost pressures reshaping Britain’s housing choices
Affordability is dictating how and where people live:
• 20% chose a less-preferred location to save money
• 17% are renting instead of buying because of high mortgage rates
• 11% have downsized to reduce costs
• 6% moved home this year specifically to cut expenses
Affordability is dictating how and where people live:
• 20% chose a less-preferred location to save money
• 17% are renting instead of buying because of high mortgage rates
• 11% have downsized to reduce costs
• 6% moved home this year specifically to cut expenses
Energy efficiency is rising as a factor in buying decisions (11%), although upfront costs remain a barrier.
Construction delays slowing new builds
Labour shortages are now affecting the new-build supply chain, causing:
• 4% to delay moving in due to unfinished construction
• 3% to see mortgage offers expire
• 5% to abandon new-build plans for older homes
• 3% to pay for temporary accommodation
Labour shortages are now affecting the new-build supply chain, causing:
• 4% to delay moving in due to unfinished construction
• 3% to see mortgage offers expire
• 5% to abandon new-build plans for older homes
• 3% to pay for temporary accommodation
Although the percentages seem small, they represent tens of thousands of disrupted moves, adding further pressure to completions and budgets.
A generational workforce crisis
Only 6% of parents are encouraging their children to consider construction careers, while 40% say they are not. With one in five workers now over 50, the lack of new entrants threatens to deepen existing backlogs and derail future housing delivery.
Only 6% of parents are encouraging their children to consider construction careers, while 40% say they are not. With one in five workers now over 50, the lack of new entrants threatens to deepen existing backlogs and derail future housing delivery.
Year-on-year comparison
Wait times have lengthened across every core trade. Roofing and bricklaying backlogs now stand at 11% waiting more than a year, up from typical waits of 2–3 months in 2024. Shortages seen in major cities are spreading into smaller towns, and affordability pressures continue to intensify.
Wait times have lengthened across every core trade. Roofing and bricklaying backlogs now stand at 11% waiting more than a year, up from typical waits of 2–3 months in 2024. Shortages seen in major cities are spreading into smaller towns, and affordability pressures continue to intensify.
Clive Holland, host of The Clive Holland Show on Fix Radio, Fix Radio, said:
“The Autumn Budget is being framed as a growth plan, but there’s no growth without the workforce to build it. This year’s Audit shows the same pattern across the board: long waits, fewer trades, and only six percent of parents encouraging their kids to consider construction.That’s a national alarm bell.“Homeowners are waiting months – sometimes a year – just to get basic repairs done. If we don’t rebuild pride in the trades and properly invest in skills, Britain’s housing ambitions will stay stuck on paper.”
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