NATIONAL HOUSE-BUILDING COUNCIL
Company number: 00320784
Reporting period:
1 April 2025 to 30 September 2025
Report filed on:
20 October 2025
Approved by:
David Campbell
Contracts and payments
Do any of this business's construction contracts with its suppliers include retention clauses? Yes
Payment statistics
Average time taken to pay invoices: 21 days
Total value paid:
- within 30 days: £32,619,025 (82%)
- in 31 to 60 days: £5,310,615 (13%)
- in 61 days or more: £2,079,348 (5%)
Invoices paid:
- within 30 days: 84%
- in 31 to 60 days: 12%
- in 61 days or more: 4%
Late and disputed:
- total value of payments due in the reporting period which have not been paid within the agreed period: £1,657,112
- payments due in the reporting period which have not been paid within the agreed period: 3%
Payment terms
Shortest standard payment periods
30 days
Longest standard payment period
Answer not provided
Standard payment terms
Standard payment terms are 30 days with suppliers for non-construction related contracts.
Were there any changes to the standard payment terms in the reporting period?
No
Were suppliers notified or consulted about these changes before they were made?
N/A
Maximum contractual payment period agreed
30 days
No further comment provided
Any other information about payment terms
No further comment provided
Retention clauses
How does this business use retention clauses?
All construction contracts include retention clauses.
Does this business only use retention clauses in construction contracts above a specific contract sum?
No
Does this business use a standard percentage rate in retention clauses?
Yes: 2%
Does this business apply retention clause practices that are no more onerous than those applied to it on the same project?
No
Releasing money under a retention clause
Process for releasing money this business has deducted or retained under a retention clause
NHBC's Claims department release the retention in accordance with the terms of the contract. It is noted in NHBC's internal claims management system that a retention is due and the full amount is normally paid in one payment at the end of the retention period (normally 24 months following practical completion).
Is the money released in stages?
No
Amount retained from suppliers in the reporting period
Amount retained stated as a percentage of the money retained from this business by its clients
0%
Amount retained stated as a percentage of the total construction payments made by this business
0%
Dispute resolution process
National House-Building Council actively seeks to resolve disputes by discussing them with the relevant supplier(s), typically involving members of the accounts payable and credit control departments and/or the procurement and commercial teams and/or where necessary members of management. However, where it is not possible to reach agreement, a number of potential dispute resolution methods (for example mediation, adjudication, expert determination, litigation and/or arbitration) may be used (these methods may be detailed in bespoke contractual arrangements). National House-Building Council’s standard payment terms for non-construction contract related payments are 30 days unless National House-Building Council agrees to different terms requested by a supplier. For construction contracts the payment terms are largely dependent on the specific requirements of individual projects and are subject to the requirements laid out in the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996.
Other payment information
Has this business signed up to a code of conduct or standards on payment practices? If so, which?
For example, signatories to The Fair Payment Code must commit to paying 95% of their invoices within 60 days.
No, this business has not signed up to a code of conduct or standards on payment practices.
Does this business offer e-invoicing in relation to qualifying contracts?
This is where suppliers can electronically submit and track invoices. It's not just allowing suppliers to email them an invoice.
No
Does this business offer supply chain finance?
This is where a supplier who has submitted an invoice can be paid by a third-party finance provider earlier than the agreed payment date. The business would then pay the finance provider the invoiced sum.
No
Under its payment practices and policies, can this business deduct sums from payments under qualifying contracts as a charge for remaining on a supplier list?
No
During the reporting period, did the business deduct sums from payments as a charge for remaining on a supplier list?
No