Construction Law Clinic

This months article looks at an important piece of legislation – the Building Safety Act 2022 (“the Act”) – which has been a long time coming, but in April 2022 it finally entered into the statute books. The Act’s background, which runs to a mighty 262 pages, is firmly rooted in the Grenfell Tower tragedy […]

Problem: Hi.  I could do with some advice if possible. I am a builder and recently agreed a contract with a customer (husband and wife) to construct a small extension to the lounge.  The contract was based on my company’s standard terms and conditions and I got both the husband and wife to sign the

Problem: I run a small maintenance company and recently I submitted a price to a property service company.  The work concerned the external works to a small block of flats, which included repairs to the render and timber, and painting. Because this sort of work is my company’s ‘bread and butter’, I would usually use

Problem:  We supplied and fitted a floating laminate floor to the ground floor of a client’s house. After about 2 months of completing the job, the customer sent an email saying that the floor surface had digs in the surface, and attached a couple of photos.  The customer has questioned the laminate’s quality. When the

Problem:  We have a client who wanted some flats renovated but on a budget.  We agreed the quote and went ahead with the work with a written contract in place. During the works, the client carried out weekly inspections of our works and made no complaints.  Any questions the client had, we responded.  We also

Problem:  I own a joinery business which over the years has built a reputation in producing high quality bespoke furniture.  A little while back, I was approached by a couple seeking to fit out the master bedroom of their house.  The bedroom had recently been added to their already substantial house, as a loft conversion,

Problem:  I am in dispute with a customer over approximately £15,000.00, and although we have been communicating with each other, we are at an impasse, with the same old arguments and views being exchanged – clearly the customer does not want to pay. Although the sum in dispute is not particularly large, I did want

Problem:  I had an issue with a supplier over terms and conditions, and although this issue is now kind of sorted, I want to outline the issue in order that we do not make the same mistake again. We are a contractor specialising in heating and ventilation, and the job we have an issue with

Problem:  I would be grateful if you could give me some advice please. We are a carpentry company and have carried out labour only carpentry work for a house builder under an agreed contract.  However, they are holding back quite a large amount of retention monies, which is now due, claiming that there are various

Problem:  We are general building and M&P contractors that focus on maintenance and repair, with the majority of the work being direct with the end user. A little while back we were approached by a well known high street brand who where seeking a contractor to carry out general maintenance work of its retail shops