Consultants Substantial construction project will typically involve an architect, a structural/civil engineer, a mechanical and electrical engineer and a quantity surveyor. Larger projects may also include planning consultants, infrastructure engineers, fire safety consultants, landscape designers, acoustic consultants and interior designers. Specifications There are various sources of standard building specifications including the approved documents under the […]
Joint Contract Tribunal The standard UK building contracts are drafted by the Joint Contracts Tribunal. It consists of members of the professional association of architects, consulting engineers, the construction confederation, specialist contractors council and the institute of chartered surveyors. The standard form building contract JCT 2005 is regarded as the industry standard for “general” or […]
JCT Construction Management Contract 2002 The JCT issued its standard CM documentation in 2002. The documentation is as follows:- Agreement (C/CM) by which the employer/ client appoints the construction manager Trade Contract (CC/C) by which the client appoints the trade contract; Specified Collateral Warranties to be given by the Trade Contractors Standard Form to be […]
Contractor’s Obligations Under the various JCT documents, the Building Contractor is obliged to construct the Works in accordance with the plans, drawings, bills and specifications which define the work in written and graphic form. The building documents will be attached to or referred to in the building contract. The make up of the building documents […]
Delays, Extensions and Variations At common law, where the employer delays or is responsible for delay, the fixed completion date and liquidated damages provision no longer apply. The employer still may be able to recover damages, but the fixed liquidated damages would no longer be available. The JCT contracts allow for extension and adjustment […]
The Council of Mortgage Lenders handbook sets the standards for acceptable title and legal standards in conveyancing and mortgage transactions in the United Kingdom. In the case of new houses it requires an approved new home warranty provider. This means that in practice, new houses will require registration with a new home warranty provider in […]
Overview The Health & Safety Executive regulate health and safety in the building industry. The Construction Design and Management regulations (CDM) are derived from European Law and are similar to the equivalent Irish legislations. The CDM regulations provide for an all around broadly based health and safety management system in construction form design to completion. […]
Builders’ skips Permission from the local authority before placing a skip on a road. A skip supplier or builder you must obtain a licence, permit or written consent from the local authority and comply with the conditions of the permission in order to place a skip on the public road The builder must; make sure […]
General A lease is an agreement between landlord and tenant setting out the terms and conditions under which a property is let. The landlord may be a freehold owner or may himself hold under a longer lease at a market rent or at a nominal or relatively low rent. “Commercial” leases are effectively investments in […]
Overview A tenant’s rights in relation to transfer, sub-letting, alterations, works and change of use are of key importance under a lease. The areas raise common issues. The Landlord and Tenant Acts create certain rights for tenants in relation to these areas which may override what the Lease says. In some cases, it is not […]