The wider construction market is still the biggest influence on what a bathroom or tiling job costs and how safely it gets delivered. Here are four developments from the past few weeks that matter if you are hiring a tiler or fitting out a bathroom this summer.
Construction insolvencies are still high, so check who you hire
Construction remains the worst-hit sector for company failures. BCIS figures show construction firms made up 16% of all insolvencies in England and Wales in May 2026, with 281 registered construction businesses going under that month and 3,803 over the year to May (down 6% on the previous year). For a homeowner commissioning a bathroom, that is a reminder to stage payments against completed work, avoid large deposits, and ask how long a firm has been trading before you sign. See the latest BCIS construction insolvency figures.
Material prices are still creeping up
Building materials costs for all construction work rose by 3.2% in the year to April 2026, according to BCIS. Tiles, adhesives, boards and sanitaryware all sit inside that trend, so quotes are drifting higher rather than falling. If you have a quote you are happy with, ask how long the price holds and order materials early rather than leaving it until the fitter is booked. The BCIS materials price update has the detail.
Building safety rules are tighter for flats and higher-risk work
The Building Safety Regulator became a standalone body on 27 January 2026, and the June 2026 building safety updates confirm that gateway approvals now shape timing on higher-risk buildings rather than being a box-ticking exercise at the end. If you own a flat in a taller block and are planning bathroom or wet room works, expect more scrutiny of what touches walls, floors and fire compartmentation. Pennington Manches Cooper’s building safety update for June 2026 sets out where things stand.
New building control guidance from the Construction Leadership Council
On 4 June 2026 the Construction Leadership Council published a fresh guidance suite on building control for higher-risk buildings, plus a new guidance note on the building safety regime. It is aimed at the trade rather than homeowners, but it feeds through to how quickly refurbishment work in affected buildings can be signed off, and it is worth a contractor being across it before quoting. The CLC’s building safety workstream hosts the documents.
None of this changes the basics of a good tiling job, but it does explain why prices are firm and why work on flats now moves more slowly. Plan early, vet your contractor, and lock your quote.
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