Can a builder charge me more than the agreed quote?

Not if you were given a genuine fixed quote. A quote — sometimes called a "fixed estimate" — is a promise to carry out the work at an agreed price, and you have a legal right to get the work done for that price. The builder can only charge more if they told you extra work was needed and you agreed to pay for it, or if the original price contained an obvious mistake that most people would spot. Rising material or labour costs on their end are never a valid reason to raise your price after a quote's been given.

Quote vs. estimate — check which one you actually got

Check your paperwork carefully — the word used on the document (or what was said if there's nothing in writing) determines which category you're in. If you're not sure, that uncertainty itself is worth raising with the trader before agreeing to anything.

The two situations where a quoted price can legitimately change

• You agreed to extra work. If the builder identified genuinely new work partway through (for example, rot discovered once a wall was opened up) and you agreed to pay more because of it, that increase is valid — but only for the extra work, and only because you consented.
• The original price was an obvious mistake. There's no fixed legal definition of "obvious," but it generally means most people would recognise the number as clearly wrong — not just a price you later think was too low.

Outside these two situations, you're entitled to the quoted price, full stop.

What to do if a builder tries to raise the price

1. Confirm whether you have a quote or an estimate by checking your paperwork.
2. If it's a quote, ask the builder directly what their justification is for the higher figure.
3. If they can't point to extra work you agreed to, or an obvious mistake in the original price, tell them clearly and in writing that you'll only pay what was quoted.
4. Don't let yourself be pressured into agreeing to a higher price on the spot, especially mid-job when leverage feels one-sided.
5. If they refuse to honour the quote and the dispute doesn't resolve, you can pursue it through the small claims court for amounts up to £10,000 in England and Wales (£3,000 in Scotland and Northern Ireland).

More on this

What's the difference between a quote and an estimate? A quote (sometimes called a fixed estimate) is a binding promise to carry out the work at the stated price. An estimate is the trader's best guess at the likely cost and is not a fixed commitment, though it should still be a genuine, reasonable approximation rather than a lowball figure used to win the job.

What should I do if a builder tries to charge more than quoted? Check your paperwork to confirm you received a quote rather than an estimate, then tell the builder in writing that you'll only pay the quoted price unless they can point to extra work you agreed to or an obvious pricing mistake. Don't be pressured into paying more on the spot.

Related questions

• Can a builder start additional work without asking me first?
• Can I refuse to pay the final invoice if the work is unfinished?
• Can a contractor keep my deposit if I cancel the work?

Official sources

• Citizens Advice — Problem with the cost of building work
• Consumer Rights Act 2015