Free tool
Stage payment planner
Turn a contract value into a stage payment schedule, see what should be visibly complete before each payment, and check whether the schedule looks front-loaded.
Step 1
Enter your contract details
Step 2
Your stage payment schedule
Each payment is tied to a stage note. Do not release a payment until the note is genuinely true on site.
| Payment | Amount | Release only once… |
|---|---|---|
| Deposit | £1,500 | Materials genuinely ordered for your job — ask to see an order or invoice |
| Stage 1 payment | £5,400 | Site set-up, materials ordered and start on site confirmed |
| Stage 2 payment | £5,400 | Groundworks and drainage complete and inspected |
| Stage 3 payment | £5,400 | Structure watertight — walls, roof structure and coverings on |
| Stage 4 payment | £5,400 | First-fix carpentry, electrics and plumbing complete |
| Stage 5 payment | £5,400 | Plastering and second-fix trades complete |
| Final retention | £1,500 | Held until snagging is cleared and certificates/guarantees are received |
Guidance
How a sensible stage payment schedule is structured
A deposit exists to let a builder order materials specifically for your job — it is not a general advance on the contract. A figure that covers real material cost, evidenced with an order or invoice, is more defensible than a round percentage.
Stages should be tied to work you can see: groundworks complete, structure watertight, first fix done, and so on — not to elapsed time or the builder's own cash flow needs.
A final retention, typically around 2.5–5%, held until snagging is cleared and certificates are received, gives you leverage to get the last small items finished properly.
Read more in our guide on how much deposit to pay a builder.
Not sure the whole contract is fair?
Have the full quotation checked before you sign.
Builder Proof UK publishes general educational information for homeowners. It is not legal, structural, surveying, planning, electrical, gas, insurance or financial advice, and it does not replace advice from a suitably qualified professional for your specific project.