The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) is launching two new and innovative building contracts next month (5 November). Designed to be used in conjunction with RIBA’s Architect’s Appointment Agreements for Small Projects (domestic and concise forms); the new contracts are fully aligned with the RIBA Plan of Work 2013. The new contracts have been designed in response to feedback from RIBA members calling for improvement and innovation within the building contracts currently available. The RIBA Domestic Building Contract provides a simple, comprehensive and legally appropriate contract solution for all types of non-commercial work, including renovations, extensions, maintenance and new buildings. The contract is endorsed by the HomeOwners Alliance. The RIBA Concise Building Contract provides a complete contract solution to cover small scale commercial building projects of a standard and straightforward nature. The new RIBA Building Contracts form part of a move towards a holistic suite of project contracts that can be prepared and stored digitally and are more relevant and focused around the needs of those undertaking smaller projects – a more intelligent and flexible suite of documents that are easier to use, yet reduce risks to both parties and the project overall. The RIBA is also working on updating the suite of RIBA Agreements, to be available as an online tool. Key innovations incorporated into the new RIBA Building Contracts: Allows effective collaboration between the client/employer and contractor Facilitates good management of the project from start to completion Fair and equitable terms for all parties Provides an effective way of managing payments to the contractor Flexible payment options Flexibility to propose suppliers and sub-contractors Provides a straightforward method for dealing with changes to the project within specified timescales Option for completion in stages Comprehensive insurance provisions Terms compliant with the Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations for consumer clients Key features of the new RIBA Building Contracts include: Clearly designed and laid out to aid completion Available in both print and online formats Written in plain English that is simple to understand Comprehensive guidance notes The new RIBA Building Contracts will be launched on Wednesday 5 November and will be available in both print and online formats. For further details on the new Contracts, please visit www.ribacontracts.com. Speaking about the new contracts, Stephen Hodder MBE, RIBA President said: “The new RIBA Building Contracts are a major step forward for the RIBA, our members and more importantly our member’s clients. The contracts complement our existing suite of architect’s appointment agreements for small scale residential and domestic building projects and have been written in straight forward language that can be completed with confidence, without the need for legal advice.” Jane Duncan, Director, Jane Duncan Architects and RIBA President-Elect said: “I commend these RIBA forms of contract – designed specifically for ease of use by architects and other industry professionals, but also and particularly by home owners and builders of smaller projects. The RIBA Buildings Contracts are fair and balanced, supporting and enabling the work of the contractor whilst protecting the rights and interests of clients. This offers appropriate provisions for the major risks that either parties may encounter, including the risk to the contractor of failure by the client to pay for the work done and the risk to the home owner of defective or incomplete work. “I am proud to have been instrumental in the development of these two new forms of building contracts and very much welcome their publication.” Paula Higgins, Chief Executive, HomeOwners Alliance “Most homeowners do not have experience in carrying out major building work, like an extension or loft conversion, and we therefore strongly support this new form of contract. It will help homeowners protect their home, help them have a better understanding of their and their builders obligations and ensure that the result is a dream come true.” ENDS Notes to editors For further press information and review copies contact Howard Crosskey in the RIBA Press Office: 020 7307 3761 howard.crosskey@riba.org The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) champions better buildings, communities and the environment through architecture and our members. www.Architecture.com The HomeOwners Alliance (www.hoa.org.uk) is the first organisation to champion and serve Britain’s 17 million homeowners and 5 million aspiring homeowners. The HOA aims to restore trust in homeownership, lobbies for policies and industry practices to get a better deal for homeowners, and provides advice and services.   Posted on Wednesday 22nd October 2014 Source link

OFTEC urges businesses to protect themselves against liability Published:  24 August, 2016 OFTEC is urging technicians to make sure they fully understand UK regulations covering contracts made with customers and to put measures in place to protect their business from liability and potential financial loss. The Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013 involve contracts made between a trader and a consumer. All technicians who provide quotes, estimates and contracts of work on a householder’s property will be affected. However, the regulations do not cover trader-to-trader contracts or those with a value under £35. A key requirement of the regulations is that technicians must provide consumers with certain information in straightforward language. This includes the main characteristics of the goods/ services provided; total price; payment arrangements; the time frame of the job and the complaints procedure. The amount of information required is reduced for any repair or maintenance work which is requested immediately, and where the price of the work is no more than £170. Under the regulations, technicians must also let the customer know in writing they have the right to cancel the contract within 14 days. This ‘notice of the right to cancellation’ applies whether the contract is agreed verbally or in writing. However, this doesn’t apply if the customer has ordered something to be made up to their own specification or if they have requested urgent repair or maintenance work. It is sufficient for a consumer to clearly state they wish to cancel the contract and, providing this is done, customers are entitled to a full refund, whether that’s a deposit or the full balance paid. If a technician fails to notify the consumer about their cancellation rights, they run the risk of the cancellation period being extended from 14 days to 12 months. For contracts where work or services start within 14 days, technicians must get written authorisation from the customer to start. The notice should also state that the customer must pay a reasonable amount for goods and services provided before any cancellation. OFTEC is keen to raise awareness of this important issue to prevent technicians falling foul of the rules, which are designed to protect consumers. Technical manager Matthew Northcott said: “OFTEC regularly hears cases of technicians purchasing equipment or even starting work on the basis of a verbal agreement, only for the customer to back out, leaving them significantly out of pocket. Unfortunately it is often only after getting their fingers burnt as a result of not agreeing an effective contract of work, that technicians realise the importance of this area. “Providing written quotes with clear terms and conditions should be a basic requirement for a professional heating business. However, due to a mixture of ignorance of the law and complacency, some heating businesses still operate in a casual way.” OFTEC has produced a guide that outlines an installer’s key legal responsibilities in this area. The ‘Contracts of Work’ Technical Notice 015 can be downloaded online at www.oftec.org.uk. Additional guidance can be found by visiting Trading Standards’ website at www.businesscompanion.info. Source link

UK tradespeople are quoting for more work than 12 months ago Published:  06 September, 2016 Nearly half (44%) of the UK’s plumbers, electricians, builders, carpenters and other trades say they are quoting for more work than they were 12 months ago, according to Plumbfix’s latest survey. Of the 95% of tradespeople currently working, the majority (67%) said they have enough work to keep them busy and 16% claim to have more work than they can handle, with nearly half (48%) believing business will improve for them over the next year. However, the latest Trade Pulse report also revealed this optimism is tempered with a degree of concern around the general UK economy. Nearly one in three (32%) think it will worsen in the next 12 months, increasing from 20% who felt the same way one year ago. Trade Pulse is a monthly index from Plumbfix’s umbrella organisation, Screwfix, which surveys more than 500 UK tradespeople including plumbers and heating engineers to track work levels and optimism among the trade. The retailer undertakes the research to gain greater insight into the needs of its customers to ensure it provides the services and products required. Andrew Livingston, chief executive officer of Plumbfix, said: “The optimism seen among the UK’s tradespeople at the start of 2016 is continuing, however, there also seems to be more uncertainty on the nation’s economic outlook from the trade. Despite this, it is very encouraging to see that many continue to be in work, with more jobs to come, which is something we see reflected by our busy trade customers across our network of Plumbfix trade counters.” Source link

The value card is trumping politics in buying decisions in the post EU Referendum era in Scotland and the market is performing better than predicted, with more buyer activity compared with the same period last year, according to new research revealed at Savills Scottish Property Outlook in Glasgow, attended by 350 property specialist from across Scotland. Savills own data reveals there has been a 30% increase in new buyers who registered in July and August, compared to the same period last year, with a third coming from outside Scotland. In addition there was a 40% rise in viewings in the same period.  Andrew Perratt, Savills Head of Residential in Scotland said:  “While it is relatively early days since the EU referendum, and question marks remain with regard to the speed, terms and conditions of our exit from Europe, a picture is beginning to emerge which reveals the Scottish housing market to be in good shape. “Our feeling is that Scottish buyers have become resilient to a fast-changing political landscape. Having seen two Referendums, a General Election, as well as local Scottish elections, many are now keen to move on with their lives. “Scotland has always attracted buyers from south of the border, and much further afield, particularly those with pre-existing Scottish connections due to the quality of life and comparative value for money.  It is now possible to buy a detached five bedroom Victorian villa in the sought-after Glasgow suburb of Pollokshields for the price of a two bedroom flat in Islington, London.  “Those with links north of the border who are living in London and the South, may be concluding that now is the time to sell, and invest their considerable equity in Scotland, taking advantage of the record value gap. Indeed, value appears to be more important to buyers than politics in the current market.”  Faisal Choudhry, Head of Residential Research in Scotland said:  “It will be interesting to see how this activity impacts value in the longer term, but so far our Prime Index reveals that values are currently 1.3% higher than the same period last year. “For the time being, the fundamentals for a healthy residential property market are in place. Mortgage regulations are tight and lending rates are favourable. In addition, LBTT rates are benefitting the market below £400,000, which comprises the bulk of Scottish residential sales. “An exception to this generally positive outlook is the Aberdeen area market, which after seven years of phenomenal growth has seen a 12% annual drop in transactions, impacting Scotland’s overall residential property market. In addition, according to the latest research the market above £600,000 outside Scotland’s traditional hotspots is struggling to adjust to the higher rates of Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT).   For example outside Edinburgh and Glasgow, sales above £1m are currently 20% below the level two years ago. “The length of time houses take to sell is a useful indicator of market strength.  Across Scotland’s cities, properties are staying on the market for an average of 18 weeks, compared to 26 weeks during the downturn which is a reduction of 30.77%”. Savills research follows data published in recent weeks revealing that the performance of the services, manufacturing, employment and retail sectors since the EU Referendum has been encouraging. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the number of people unemployed in July this year fell by 8,600, compared to the previous month. The retail sales figures (often used by commentators as a gauge of consumer confidence) reveals a monthly 1.4% increase in July. At the time of writing, the value of the British Pound compared to the US Dollar is at the lowest point for 31 years, making UK exports relatively competitive, including real estate for overseas purchasers. Source link

Willmott Dixon has launched its new All Safe Minds campaign, encouraging mental fitness across the UK construction sector. Mental well-being is quite rightly a hot topic, and at last we’re seeing a massive shift in attitudes towards those who battle with mental illness. But despite major steps in the right direction, the construction sector still has a lot of work to do – especially when it comes to the age-old problem of getting men to talk about how they feel. Recent studies commissioned by Public Health England (PHE) found that certain groups of male construction workers were at greatest risk of suicide, with figures at a staggering 3.7 times above the national average. As one of the UK’s largest contractors, Willmott Dixon takes its social responsibility very seriously, and has forged ahead with the All Safe Minds campaign to ensure that everyone working on its many project sites across the UK, is fully aware of the support network available, should they feel unable to cope with their own personal situation. In 2010, the All Safe culture-change initiative was introduced with the sole purpose of empowering the workforce with the right to speak up if they feel that safety conditions on site are not up to standard. To further strengthen the All Safe programme, and to encourage not only physical well-being, but also mental fitness across the industry, Willmott Dixon have now launched All Safe Minds.  All Safe Minds aims to instil a 3-step process into its daily work culture, encouraging all employees to: – RECOGNISE. Be aware if you or someone you know is struggling to cope – REACH OUT. Start the conversation. If you are struggling, talk to someone you trust. Or if you know a colleague is struggling, offer your support – simply lending an ear can make all the difference. – REBUILD. Use the resources available to you to start taking back control. The All Safe Minds campaign will make it as easy as possible for vulnerable workers to tap into a variety of resources, and is also working on a suite of supporting material that will be issued to everyone on site, for their own personal use should they ever feel the need. Mark French is Head of Health, Safety and Environment for Willmott Dixon Group and he is determined to get people talking. He comments: “Men are famous for not addressing their emotional issues, and when you add that to working in such a high-pressure industry, the results can be catastrophic. The purpose of All Safe Minds is to provide an easy route for anyone feeling they might need some support – providing them with the tools they need to make the all-important first steps. The 3 Rs; Recognise, Reach out, Rebuild, need to become second nature as we go about our daily routine and we need to completely dispel the idea that mental health problems are a taboo.  Encouraging mental fitness is imperative in such a highly charged industry – the issue is real, it is NOT a weakness, and we have to offer the right support when we spot it.” The All Safe Minds campaign will continue to develop over the coming months, as supporting material and resources are produced and rolled out across all Willmott Dixon project sites.

In the wake of the Grenfell Tower tragedy, The Association for Project Safety Annual Conference thrusts the spotlight on sharing good practice in every aspect of design and construction health and safety industry issues. The Association for Project Safety (APS), the UK’s leading professional institution in the field of construction health and safety risk management brought together a wide range of professionals involved  at their annual conference held on Tuesday 5 September at The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff. Under the banner, ‘Making Project Safety Matter’, organisations such as the HSE, Mates in Mind and Fladgate LLP were on hand to explore key issues affecting the sector as well as sharing good practice in health and safety.  Opening the conference, Lesley McLeod, Chief Executive, APS discussed the changing landscape of the construction industry post- Grenfell where issues of further improving build quality, management, education and the supply chain have now come under intense scrutiny. She called for a greater focus on quality at all stages of the build process across the entire design, specification, supply chain and construction processes. The conference also explored the increasing need for innovative new technologies in the health and safety and highlighted the potential to revolutionise the industry.  The annual conference was also a chance for delegates and industry experts to take stock of developments in the sector as CDM 2015 becomes more firmly established. APS President Bobby Chakravarthy said: ‘Members of the Association for Project Safety are dedicated to ensuring construction workers can deliver the new homes, offices, roads and railways the country needs to succeed. But the national drive to get on and build can come with a very high price tag in terms of accidents and ill-health if we rush to get the bricks in without due thought. This conference is about reflecting on good practice within the industry and exploring new innovations to increase cost savings and efficiencies while ultimately improving the health and wellbeing of our construction workers in the UK.’ A full round up of the conference will be available on the APS website www.aps.org.uk and will be included in the APS membership magazine, Project Safety Matters.