Contractors - Managing Cash Flow in Construction Projects

Managing Cash Flow in Construction Projects – Reduce Your Risk

02-12-2020

It is well known that the UK Construction and Civil Engineering Industries have the highest incidence of disputes…many of which arise from payment issues. Throw a pandemic into the mix, increased construction delays, non-payment, labour shortages, and cash flow becomes a struggle for many contractors. The good news is that you can take steps to reduce your risk of falling foul of payment issues and preventing cash flow problems….

Reducing Risk of Cash Flow Problems
Main Contractors and Subcontractors should take steps to reduce their risk of falling foul of non-payment. With many businesses affected by Covid-19, there is an increased risk of payers not being able to pay for work being done or in fact completed. There is a likelihood of providing goods and services and not getting paid for them, which means you incur a loss and your own insolvency risk.

It is important to have a construction contract in place to protect all parties, primarily safeguarding against payments and guaranteeing adequate work, together with how a dispute will be dealt with if one arises. Prior to any agreement being made, contractors should understand the following:

Who are you dealing with and can they pay?

- What is the name of the other party legally, do they exist and are they in the UK?

- What is their risk of insolvency and inability to pay?

What is their credit worthiness?

o   Contract Credit Limit/Rating?

o   What Is their Net worth?

o   What assets do they have?

o   Are there any CCJs?

o   Do any Directors have history of misdealing?

- How long have they been trading?

- Has the Party been set up specifically for the project?

Any Personal or Parent Company Guarantee offered?

Who else is in the ‘food chain’?

Construction projects are by their nature structured into what could be described as a ‘food chain’. It is a good idea to understand the parties in that chain. Money flows from the Building Employer to the Main Contractor, to the Subcontractor and Sub-Subcontractors and so on. The closer you are to the bottom of the ‘food chain’, the more wary you need to be. Before payment reaches the bottom, there can be blockages, contras, insolvencies, deductions and blame on the way.

Understanding Your Construction Contracts

Once you are happy with your food chain and who you are dealing with, it is vital to ensure that the project goes smoothly, payments due are paid on time and work is kept to schedule, and records are kept. There is an Absolute Right to Payment and an entitlement to Interim Payments if the Works are more than 45 days. Clauses in a construction contract that make conditions to payment are void, for example:

- Sign the Contract or you won’t be paid

VAT Invoice required before payment

Provide a bond before payment

Pay when Certified

Pay when performance or decision made on another contract, e.g. MGDC on Main Contract

The Construction Acts

The Construction Acts provide rules for construction contracts in respect of payment and Adjudication. All commercial construction contracts and terms (not domestic ones) must comply with the Construction Acts. If contract terms don’t comply, those terms will be void and if applicable, The Scheme for Construction Contracts (England and Wales) Regulations 1998 (Amendment) (England) 2011 will apply.

Suppliers, Consumers/Householders are Excluded, but can use the Adjudication process through an Adjudication contract clause.

Post Contract Execution and Final Account Management

To ensure you have done everything correctly and there is no reason to not be paid, you must ensure that records are kept, payment notices, including Pay Less Notices, are correctly handled, and timings are kept to schedule. It is a good idea to take date stamped photographs throughout the project, minute meetings, keep timesheets/day work sheets and ensure evidence is contemporaneous, that is given to your Employer as it occurs. If there are any delays, you should communicate this with your Employer and if necessary, apply for an Extension of Time.

It is important to keep ahead of the account, for example, with variation values and producing a Scott Schedule. Applications for payments need to be on time, include a detailed breakdown, stating the actual sum due and ensure that it is clear what you are asking for.

What can contractors do if they are not getting paid?

If you are a contractor not getting paid, you should first try and negotiate a deal. Often communication with your Employer can resolve the issue before it leads to a dispute. If negotiation fails, then it is a good idea to use an alternative dispute resolution (ADR) method, such as Adjudication, Expert Reports, Arbitration or Mediation, which can be cheaper than Court Proceedings and Solicitors are not necessarily required.

If you would like to discuss your construction contract or find out more information about our ADR services, please do get in touch with our expert team on advice@arbicon.co.uk or call 01733 233 737. 


4152 views