Should a Sub-contractor Sign a Sub-contract with<br>Pay-When-Paid Clause?

It is common in the Malaysian construction industry that many Contractors sub-let their works to their Sub-contractors on pay-when-paid/pay-if-paid basis. That is to say, unless the contractor receives payment from the Employer or client, the Sub-contractor/s will not receive theirs, correspondingly. Often, the Sub-contractors are burdened and suffer financially as a consequence of such practices, […]

Can Loss and/or Expense Form Part of a Variation<br>Item?

This question is as perennial as the evergreens and is of interest especially to Contractors but equally important to the Architect / Engineer / Supervision Offer as they are the party that will assess a claim for loss and / or expense. For us to provide an answer to whether loss and / or expense […]

What is Set-off under Construction Contracts?

It is important to understand the mechanism of set-off under construction contracts in relation to issues of payment due to the Contractor. Set-off is a wide and complex topic, but in this article, the Writer will give an overview discussion on this aspect affecting payments under construction contracts. Set-off is normally used by the Employer […]

When Must Retention Sum be Released and<br>Paid?

Most, if not all, construction contracts used around the world usually have provisions for the retention of certain amount of monies due to the Contractor by the Employer. This retention sum is normally retained by the Employer throughout the contract period, and usually beyond the construction period up to the expiry of defects liability period. […]

Should Retention Sum be Placed under a<br>Separate Bank Account?

Most standard forms of construction / building contract have a provision for the retention of a certain percentage of the amount due to the Contractor. The main purpose of retention monies is to serve as a protection mechanism for the Employer from the Contractor’s failure or default in his performance under the contract e.g. rectification […]

Is The Contractor Bound by His Tendered Rates if the Quantities Changed Substantially

In principal, tendered rates once contracted, shall hold firm for all variations, unless the contract provisions allow for its adjustment due to difference in quantities, character, conditions, etc. Any adjustment will depend very much upon the QS/SO valuing the varied work under its circumstances. In this series, Entrusty Group will provide the answer to the […]

Can the Contractor Insist on Agreeing to the Cost of Variation Work Before He Proceeds With It?

Most standard forms of building contract provide for written instruction by the Architect/Engineer/SO prior to ordering any variation works.The Contractor is obliged to carry out any variation works instructed (incl. those deemed variations such as statutory compliance), unless its validity is in question. The appointed QS (if any) is then responsible for valuation of variations […]