Final terms must be agreed in writing between the homeowner and the builder before works commence.

These stages reflect common practice on UK residential extensions. Your builder may propose different stages — that is normal, and the schedule should be negotiated, not imposed.

The retention (Stage 7) is commonly held for a defects period after practical completion — typically 6 to 12 months in UK residential work. Release is conditional on agreed snags being addressed.

A starting point for the conversation between homeowner and builder about how payments are staged across the project. The stages below reflect common UK residential practice — they are not a recommendation, an instruction, or a contract. Final terms must be agreed in writing between the parties before works commence.

All figures derive from the project value provided by the homeowner. SiteBrief does not quote on behalf of builders or verify the underlying scope.

These observations describe how staged payments are commonly structured in UK residential construction. They are descriptive, not prescriptive.

Deposits. A deposit on contract signing is normal practice and typically covers the builder's mobilisation and material lead-time risk. Larger deposits before works start are less common in residential work, though they can be appropriate where bespoke or long-lead items are being procured.

Stage triggers. Tying each payment to a verifiable milestone (Building Control inspection, certificate, photo evidence) is widely used to reduce dispute risk. Stages without a clear external trigger are harder to defend either way.

Retention. A retention of around 5% held back at practical completion, released after a defects period, is common on UK residential projects. The defects period and release mechanism should be agreed in writing.

Negotiation. Builders may reasonably propose different stages — for example consolidated stages on shorter or lower-value works, or stages aligned to their own cashflow needs. The schedule should be agreed between the parties, not imposed.

This is not a contract, not legal advice, and not a recommendation that you pay any specific amount at any specific stage. It is a discussion scaffold to help both parties have a structured conversation about payment terms before signing. Sums shown derive from the project value the homeowner entered. For binding terms, both parties should agree the schedule in writing and consider whether a JCT Homeowner contract or similar is appropriate.