Depending on the type of work being completed, you may or may not need a written contract. We recommend that you always have a written agreement in place as it will assist in identifying the rights and obligations of the parties to the agreement. You should consider having your contracts reviewed by a building and construction lawyer.

A well-drafted construction contract helps prevent disputes by clearly defining roles, responsibilities and expectations for all parties. It ensures legal protection and reduces the risk of misunderstandings or project delays.

Construction contracts should be as detailed as possible and should include terms dealing with scope of works, insurance requirements, payment terms, rights to variations and extensions of time, project timelines, warranties and rights of termination.

It is recommended that you have a lawyer review your construction contract and customise it for each project being completed. No two projects are the same and each project has its own risks and challenges which need to be dealt with in the contract.

Yes, you should always attempt to negotiate a construction contract with the help of a lawyer specialising in building and construction law. Construction contracts are generally prepared to the benefit of the party who prepared the contract. This means there will be terms which adversely affect your rights and need to be negotiated.

It is not a requirement that you engage a lawyer to prepare or negotiate a construction contract. However, our construction lawyers have significant experience in preparing and negotiating construction contracts. We know which terms are standard and which terms need to be amended, identifying potential risks and guarding your interests.

Depending on the terms of the agreement, you may be able to amend the construction contract once signed. Generally, terms can be amended if all parties agree to the amendment. Contact our expert construction lawyers if you think terms need to be amended.