Overview
If you are pricing up accommodation for a work crew and wondering whether you are overpaying, this guide gives you the 2026 benchmarks you need. We cover typical rates by city, what should and should not be included, how the updated CIJC lodging allowance fits in, and where negotiation can still save your project a meaningful amount of money.
The Short Answer: What Does Contractor Accommodation Cost in 2026?
The honest range is £22–£75 per person per night (pppn), depending on location, property type, and group size. That spread looks wide, but the factors that move the needle are predictable — once you know them, you can benchmark any quote with confidence.
At the lower end, you are looking at a room in an HMO or contractor house in a regional town, bills included, shared kitchen and bathroom, with parking. At the upper end, you are paying for a self-contained flat or contractor house in central London with fast broadband, weekly cleaning, and a private parking space.
The middle of the market — which is where most UK construction projects actually sit — runs £28–£45 pppn for a well-equipped contractor property with all bills included, weekly linen change, and broadband fast enough to run site management software in the evening.
2026 Rate Benchmarks by City
These ranges reflect what crews are actually booking across the UK in the second half of 2026. They assume whole-property bookings for groups of three or more, with all bills included and a minimum stay of one week.
| City / Region | Typical Range (pppn) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| London (zones 2–4) | £45–£70 | Zonal variation is significant; zone 2 runs higher |
| London (zones 5–6 / outer) |