UK Home Upkeep Costs to Surge, New Forecast Shows

UK homeowners face a significant rise in property upkeep costs over the next five years, with cleaning services projected to increase by 23.6% and general maintenance by 15.3%. This surge is primarily driven by escalating labor expenses, including wages, National Living Wage, and National Insurance contributions.

Ethan Rowe

October 9, 2026 · 4 min read

Homeowners across the UK should prepare for a significant and sustained rise in the cost of property upkeep over the next five years, with cleaning services set to become disproportionately more expensive. A new forecast released by the Building Cost Information Service (BCIS) projects that general maintenance costs will climb by 15.3%, while cleaning costs will surge by 23.6% by the second quarter of 2031. The analysis points to rising labor expenses as the primary cause, creating distinct financial pressures that will require careful household budgeting.

The forecast, part of the latest quarterly data from BCIS, provides a crucial long-term view for anyone planning their finances. The trend is already underway, with maintenance costs having increased by 4.3% in the year to the second quarter of 2026. The new five-year outlook confirms that this is not a short-term spike but a sustained period of rising prices that homeowners will need to factor into their future spending.

General Maintenance: A 15% Rise on the Horizon

The cost of general home maintenance, which includes everything from routine repairs to decorating and upkeep, is forecast to increase by 15.3% over the five years leading to the second quarter of 2031. This steady rise is attributed to broad economic factors that increase the price of hiring skilled tradespeople and other professionals. For homeowners, this means the budget set aside for fixing a leaky tap, servicing a boiler, or repainting a room will need to grow substantially to cover the same work in the future.

The BCIS forecast identifies the core driver as the rising cost of labor. This encompasses not just the direct wages paid to workers but also associated expenses that employers must cover. As these costs go up for maintenance firms, they are passed on to the consumer. While material costs can fluctuate, the forecast emphasizes that the persistent upward pressure on labor expenses will be the defining feature of maintenance pricing in the coming years.

Cleaning Services: The Fastest-Growing Expense

The most striking element of the forecast is the projected 23.6% surge in the cost of cleaning services over the same five-year period. This significantly outpaces the increase for general maintenance and highlights a specific pressure point for household budgets. The report from BCIS clarifies that this sharp rise is because cleaning is a highly labor-intensive service, making it particularly sensitive to changes in wage policies and payroll taxes.

Unlike a maintenance job that may involve significant material costs for parts or supplies, the price of a cleaning service is almost entirely composed of the cleaner's time and the employer's associated labor costs. This direct link means that any increase in wages or employment-related taxes has a more immediate and pronounced effect on the final bill for the homeowner. Consequently, households that rely on regular cleaning services will need to plan for a much steeper budget increase compared to other areas of home upkeep.

BCIS Five-Year Cost Forecast for Homeowners (to Q2 2031)
Cost Category	5-Year Forecast Increase	Primary Economic Drivers
General Home Maintenance	15.3%	Driven by rising labor costs, including general wage growth, increases in the National Living Wage, and higher National Insurance contributions for employers.
Home Cleaning Services	23.6%	More heavily impacted by labor costs due to the service's high labor intensity, making it more sensitive to changes in wages and National Insurance.

Why Costs Are Rising: Wages, NLW, and National Insurance

The BCIS analysis points to three specific labor-related factors driving the forecast. The first is general wage growth across the economy, which pushes up the rates that tradespeople and cleaning staff can command. The second, and more direct, factor is scheduled increases in the National Living Wage (NLW), which sets a mandatory minimum pay rate and directly impacts the payroll of companies employing cleaning staff.

A third key element is the higher employers’ National Insurance contributions that were introduced in 2025. This acts as a payroll tax, meaning that for every employee, a company must pay more to the government, adding another layer to the overall cost of labor. Dr. David Crosthwaite, Chief Economist at BCIS, emphasized the persistent nature of these costs.

“Labour remains the main driver, reflecting wage growth, increases in the National Living Wage and the higher employers’ National Insurance contributions,” Dr. Crosthwaite stated. He added a crucial insight for long-term planning: “Slower inflation will ease the pace of cost increases, but it will not reverse the increases already built into expenditure.” This means that while the rate of price hikes may eventually slow, the higher cost base for these essential home services is expected to be permanent.