Month: November 2018

Beware unfortunate consequences

If the other contracting party is in breach, you can can bring a claim for damages to put you in the position you would have been in had the other performed its duties under the contract correctly. Under English law, damages (or compensation) can only be recovered if they are

Read More »

When is payment really due?

The Construction Acts 1996 and 2009 introduced a process for payment for construction contracts, based on payment by instalments. However, the Acts also introduced some terms which can confuse you, as all is not what it appears: the due date: this is not the date on which the (sub)contractor can

Read More »

Copying clauses on concurrent delay

If you understand the principles on concurrent delay then you might also be aware of the debate whether the contract should define concurrent delay and pass its risk to the contractor. In North Midland v Cyden, the parties amended the standard JCT contract to require: the contractor to make reasonable

Read More »

Can you trust the employer with your retention money?

The retention is a separate ‘pot’ of money, which increases in line with the price paid to the contractor. Retention is the contractor’s money which the employer kidnaps and holds to ransom until the end of the defects period. According to the 2017 BEIS research paper retention is “is a

Read More »