07-04-2021
Most construction contracts
use retention, a percentage, often 5%, of the gross value due to the
contractor, which is withheld by the paying party to ensure that the contracted
works are completed to the specified requirements. This retention is typically
released in two stages upon achievement of certain ‘trigger events’; often the
first stage is released on practical completion and the remaining half released
on the making good of the defects in the works at the expiry of the
rectification period.
Unfortunately, retention is a
well-documented source of problems in the construction industry, with retention
often not released on time or, in some cases, not at all. With the effects of
Covid-19 and the current climate a difficult one for many businesses, unduly
withheld retention only adds to the difficulty, leaving contractors and
subcontractors at a higher risk of cash flow problems and even insolvency.
Below are Arbicon’ s five top tips for recovering retention:
1. Check your contract terms
Your construction contract should contain clear and unambiguous terms setting out when the retention is due to be paid, together with further clauses allowing for interest on late payment. If you have not been paid, simply highlighting that your retention is due with cross reference to the contract terms can result in a swift payment.
Ensure you are satisfied with the retention provisions before you commit to the contract and avoid common pitfalls including:
- Excessively long defect liability periods
- Unduly high percentages being withheld; and
- Prohibited illegal clauses such as those which make payment conditional upon performance under another contract or on a paid-when-paid basis
2. Monitor
when the retention is due
Record the date when
your retention will be due and monitor progress of the contract to ensure the
retention is claimed on this date. The recovery of retention is easier to
manage where you have a defined process and timescale, which in turn leads to
improved cash flow.
3. Records,
Records, Records
It is crucial
to keep good records in the construction industry for a multitude of reasons.
Where retention is concerned it is especially important to keep records that
relate to the ‘trigger events’ to prove that they have been achieved.
Examples
- If the first half of retention is due on Practical Completion and the second half is due 12 months later, ensure you have a practical completion certificate documenting when the work was completed.
- If the retention is due for release after making good, a specified list of defects produce contemporaneous evidence by way of report, photographs, emails and letters that proves the work has been undertaken.
By collating this evidence, you can demonstrate you have fulfilled your contractual obligations and in turn demonstrate your entitlement to be paid, making recovery easier.
Now that you
have your dates correct and evidence of entitlement, you should check your
contract for the process that must be followed to request and release your
retention. It is not uncommon for subcontractors and contractors to chase their
retention by only issuing a letter asking for its release, yet the contract often
stipulates they need to follow a specific process such as issuing an
application for payment. If you do not follow the correct process, the sum is
unlikely to be released.
5. Get help demanding payment
Recovering unpaid retention can be challenging, time consuming and burdensome. Consulting and utilising the services of a third party such as Arbicon can be of great assistance.
Arbicon know how to challenge parties who are unfairly refusing to release retentions and frequently assist our Clients in the recovery of retention using a combination of contractual expertise, debt recovery techniques, and referring payment disputes to adjudication to obtain a quick decision in favour of our Clients.
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