The full BCIS Facilities Management Quarterly briefing: Maintenance, cleaning and energy is published in the Briefing section, as part of BCIS OpX
Published: 03/07/2025
BCIS produces five-year construction industry forecasts, covering projected costs and output, and examining the latest construction market trends.
The quarterly BCIS maintenance, cleaning and energy briefing is a building maintenance market report. It presents our view of construction repair and maintenance output, and private and public sector building maintenance, cleaning and energy costs, against the backdrop of the wider economic background.
The full briefing is available to subscribers of BCIS OpX.
BCIS maintenance, cleaning and energy forecast: 1Q2025 – 1Q2030
Maintenance costs, as measured by the BCIS All-in Maintenance Cost Indices, are set to rise 19% by 1Q2030, according to our latest forecast data. Cleaning costs, mainly driven by labour costs, are expected to rise by 31% over the same period.
Dr David Crosthwaite, Chief Economist at BCIS, said: ‘Against a backdrop of sluggish UK economic growth, maintenance and cleaning budgets remain under pressure.
‘Domestically, households and organisations are grappling with high energy costs, wage inflation, changes to National Insurance contributions and thresholds, and wider cost-of-living pressures, all of which have constrained both public and private sector spending.
‘Internationally, oil prices, currency fluctuations and global geopolitical tensions are adding further uncertainty.’
BCIS expects energy costs to fall by 14% between 2025 and 2029, reflecting expectations of subdued global demand and stabilisation in gas markets following recent supply shocks, and providing some relief to overall operating expenditure.
Dr Crosthwaite said: ‘Near-term volatility remains likely, particularly in response to geopolitical events. We’re anticipating a short-term rise in energy costs in 2025, followed by steady declines through the forecast period as wholesale gas prices fall and Europe secures a more stable liquefied natural gas supply.’
Repair and maintenance output remained flat in 1Q2025, when compared with 1Q2024, whereas total new work output was up by 1.7% over the same period. Public housing R&M increased 13.1%, while private housing R&M was down by 11%. Non-housing R&M increased by 6.8%.
BCIS forecasts R&M output will grow by 8.3% by the end of 2029.
Dr Crosthwaite added: ‘The repair and maintenance sector is showing signs of resilience, particularly in public housing and non-housing work. However, momentum will depend on how quickly inflationary pressures ease and confidence returns to both household and institutional budgets. While the short-term outlook is subdued, we anticipate a gradual return to growth from 2026 as the sector adjusts and longer-term investment filters through.’
Source: BCIS
Note: Output is whole year on whole year, costs are changes from 4Q to 4Q of the previous year
The full details of the forecast are available in BCIS OpX.
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Quarterly updates to forecasts are published for maintenance, cleaning and energy, building, and infrastructure, while an annual update is published for the economic significance of maintenance. Non-subscribers can access the previous year’s economic significance of maintenance report to find out more about its coverage.
