Your Contractor Messed Up. Can You Fire Them?

Suppose you own a commercial building and intend to lease it to various tenants. But before you do, you need to make a number of improvements, so you hire a contractor.

The contract between you and the contractor is expected to last approximately one year. However, about seven months into the contract, you notice multiple issues with the contractor's work:

• Numerous water leaks;
• The exterior painting is sloppy, incomplete, and incorrectly applied; and,
• There are multiple cracks in the flooring.

These errors – known as deficiencies in the construction industry – can range between severe (leaks in a roof) and less severe (the painting is incorrect). Many times, an owner in this situation will become extremely frustrated with the contractor and consider terminating the contract. The question is – is this legally permissible?