A new survey has found that late payment of invoices has reached "epidemic proportions" within the construction sector.

It was found four out of every five building firms had experienced problems with late payments over the past year, according to the Scottish Building Federation (SBF).

It also warned that the cash-flow for many firms was being "critically undermined", increasing the threat of business failure.

According to the SBF's latest Scottish Construction Monitor, it revealed the average builder said they were owed almost £90k in payments not made within stipulated periods.

-- Advertisement --

The survey also found a majority of companies had to write off a number of unpaid invoices over the past year, with the average value of invoices written off reaching almost £6k.

The latest report follows the latest official statistics which showed 164 Scottish building firms were forced into bankruptcy last year - a 122% increase from five years previously.

Speaking about the results, SBF Executive Director Michael Levack said: "Late payment of invoices has long been the bane of many construction firms. But, in the current economic climate, it risks becoming the difference between continued trading and business failure.

"For Scotland's construction industry, this survey demonstrates that late payments have become an issue of epidemic proportions, affecting an overwhelming majority of businesses, irrespective of their size. What is more, a majority of construction firms have been forced to write off outstanding payments worth thousands because of persistent non-payment."

(JP)