NFRC talks retentions at UK Parliament

AS REPORTED by Catherine Oxley on the National Federation of Roofing Contractors website, members of the NFRC and other industry representatives were at the Houses of Parliament on 5th Julyto talk to MPs and Lords to improve their awareness of the problems caused for sub-contractors by cash retentions.

NFRC estimates that £300m of cash is held in retention just in the roofing and cladding industry. Despite efforts by some organisations in the wider construction industry to decrease the use of cash retentions, recent surveys of NFRC Members reveal that 78 per cent of contractors say they are facing levels of retention that are higher or the same as were seen a year ago.

The surveys also saw contractors call the process of chasing retention payments ‘unnecessary’, ‘tortuous’ and ‘psychologically damaging’.

NFRC is calling on government to engage with sub-contractor organisations on the retentions issue, and inform them on why firms would benefit from an end to the practice.

Andrew Lewer MBE MP, who is also Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on SME Housebuilders, hosted the reception.

Parliamentarians who attended the event were supportive of the message and recognised the retentions: to