Delays on construction site? Ignore it now and you’ll regret it later!
ARE YOU BEING DELAYED ON SITE?
If you are please;
- don’t ignore it
- don’t simply accept it as normal
- don’t throw more men at the job to catch up
- don’t simply accept what the Main Contractor says
At its simplest, if you are being delayed by events beyond your control, you are entitled to more time!
If those delaying events cause you to take longer to complete than originally planned, you are entitled to an extension to the contract period.
But you must take action.
ISSUE THOSE NOTICES!
Most sub-contracts will require you to identify any cause of delay or likely delay to progress, and to notify the Contractor of that delay and estimate the effect on the date for completion.
Even if it doesn’t say that, it is a good discipline to adopt in any event.
You should also be very wary of Main Contractor’s onerous notification requirements that are designed to prevent your entitlement to extension of time. Check the contract – and do what it says!
And don’t fall for the age old trick of the Contractor saying; There’s no need to be contractual or we will sort it out at the end or any other BS. It’s a trap – don’t fall into it!
FAIL TO ACT AND YOU WILL BE CLOBBERED
Specialist Contractors routinely get clobbered financially by Contractors because they have allegedly delayed the Works, and have no records or notices to say otherwise.
Here’s an example of the sort of thing coming your way if you don’t, from a live job we are currently resolving for a Specialist Contractor;
Deductions, LAD’s, Charges relating to incomplete works – £72,656.82
Setting aside any commercial considerations (but why worry about upsetting someone who is trying to screw you?), one of the main reasons Specialist Contractors get clobbered is that there is a good deal of uncertainty about what to do , and they end up like rabbits caught in the headlights.
We routinely see Main Contractors setting off monies for alleged delay in the tens and hundreds of £thousands!
Don’t let it happen to you.
PRESS YOUR CLAIMS
There are some key measures that you can implement now:
- Understand your programme obligations under the contract, in particular the start date, duration and completion date.
- If you cannot proceed with your work due to preceding trades, record the fact with an email, letter or fax, doing nothing is fatal.
- Understand the requirements for submitting applications for extensions of time, as in some circumstances you may lose your entitlement with a late application.
- If there are other delays being incurred in regard to information or variations, record the fact with an email letter or fax.
- Take dated photographs of anything that is delaying your progress.
- If it becomes evident that you will not complete by the completion date, you must be able to demonstrate it’s not your fault.
You must apply for and do whatever it takes to demonstrate your entitlement to an extension of time.
Not doing so puts you at massive financial risk.
DON’T BE PUT OFF!
Once you get your head around such matters, it all makes sense, so don’t let the way contracts are drafted, or the Contractor’s reactions put you off.
Most of all don’t put off taking action, problems do not get better with age, get those notices in and protect your interests. If you don’t do it, you put your business at financial risk, and all your hard work goes down the drain.
And remember that if you need any help to resolve such problems, please don’t hesitate to pick up the phone, take action and give us a call.
I hope you enjoyed my Wise Up Wednesday email and that it gave you some food for thought, and I sincerely hope to speak with you soon and see you at the biggest event of the year for Specialist Contractors.
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