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ARTICLE · 13 APRIL 2015

The New Forms Of RIBA Contract

Withers LLP
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Getting the contract right when undertaking building works, no matter how big or small the project, is as important as selecting the right architect to design the works and contractor to build them.

United KingdomReal Estate and Construction
Julie Teal
Julie Teal
Jennifer Badham
Jennifer Badham
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The new forms of RIBA contract

Getting the contract right when undertaking building works, no matter how big or small the project, is as important as selecting the right architect to design the works and contractor to build them. There can be no substitute for a contract drafted to meet the needs of the parties and the particular circumstances of the project. However, the dizzying array of precedent contracts available on the market can be off putting to the most experienced construction professionals when choosing the appropriate starting point for a project, and an un-amended precedent is rarely the best course of action.

For high end residential and smaller scale commercial works there has never been a universal solution to contract selection, and the JCT suite of contracts, well known to construction professionals, are a popular choice. However, precedents by their nature are designed for particular types of projects. The JCT Home Owner Contract is intended for

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