Home or office renovation contract template

Renovation and Interior Works Contract

Parties: Contractor · Client

1. Purpose

This contract sets out the terms on which the Contractor carries out the renovation and interior works described below at the Client’s home or business premises, and what each party must do.

2. Scope of the works

The Contractor carries out the following renovation works at [[Address of the home or premises]]:

[[Describe the works room by room, e.g. kitchen, bathroom, flooring, painting, fittings]]

The plans, drawings or quotation that form part of this contract are: [[List of documents with their dates, or none]]

Furniture, appliances, decoration and any other item that is not listed in the description or in the price schedule are not included unless the parties agree otherwise in writing or in electronic form.

3. Materials and choices

The Client chooses the finishes, fittings and colours listed here by [[Date]]: [[Items the Client chooses]]

The Contractor supplies materials of the quality described, or equal ones, and tells the Client in good time of long lead times. If the Client changes a choice after the materials have been ordered, the extra cost and the delay are treated as a change.

Where the Client supplies materials or fittings, the Contractor checks their suitability for the work as far as it can see, but is not responsible for defects in the items themselves.

4. Access and the Client’s duties

The Client gives the Contractor access to the premises on the working days and at the times stated here, and provides water, electricity and a place to store materials: [[Working days and hours]]

The Client empties the work areas or protects what stays, tells the Contractor of anything that affects the work, such as pets, building rules or restricted access, and confirms that it is entitled to order the works. The Client obtains any consent needed from the owner of the building, the landlord, the building management or the neighbours.

5. Permits and licences

Where the law that applies requires a permit or a notification for the works, it is made by [[the Client / the Contractor]], and the other party helps with the documents it holds.

The Contractor confirms that it, and any tradesperson it uses for work that the law reserves to licensed persons, such as electrical, gas, plumbing or structural work, holds the licence or qualification that the law that applies requires. The certificates for such work are given to the Client at completion.

6. Schedule and working hours

The Contractor starts the works on [[Start date]] and aims to complete them by [[Completion date]]. It works on the days and at the times stated above and keeps noise within the hours that the building rules and the law that applies allow.

The time is extended by the length of a delay caused by the Client’s late choices, access or payments, by changes, by hidden conditions, by delivery delays outside the Contractor’s control or by other causes the Contractor cannot influence. The Contractor tells the Client promptly.

7. Price and payment

The Client pays the price shown in the price schedule of this contract. The price is [[a fixed price / an estimate based on the work described]] and excludes tax unless the price schedule says otherwise.

Payment is made as follows: [[Payment plan, e.g. 30% on signing, 40% when the work is half done, balance on completion]]

The Contractor asks for an advance only up to what the law that applies allows. On completion the Client may hold back a reasonable amount for the defects listed at the final inspection until they are corrected. If a payment is more than [[7]] days late, the Contractor may pause the work after notifying the Client, as far as the law that applies allows.

8. Changes and hidden conditions

Either party may ask for a change. The Contractor tells the Client what a change costs and how it affects the schedule, and carries it out only after the Client has approved it in writing or in electronic form.

When walls, floors or ceilings are opened, conditions may appear that could not be seen before, such as damp, rot, old wiring or pipes, or hazardous materials. The Contractor then stops the affected work, tells the Client at once and proposes what to do, at what cost and with what delay. Hazardous materials are removed only by persons qualified to do so, as the law that applies requires.

9. Protection, cleaning and waste

The Contractor protects the floors, furniture and fittings that stay in the work areas, keeps the premises reasonably clean on each working day, removes its waste lawfully and cleans the work areas on completion. It repairs or pays for damage that its staff cause to the Client’s property.

The Contractor does not move or use the Client’s belongings, tools or facilities without permission, and keeps keys and access details safe.

10. Completion and acceptance

The Contractor tells the Client when the works are complete. The parties then walk through the works together within [[7]] days and record any defects in a list, which the Contractor corrects within [[14]] days or another period the parties agree. The Client accepts the works or states in writing or in electronic form the defects that prevent acceptance within that time.

If the Client does not respond, or starts using the finished works without objection, the works are treated as accepted, unless the law that applies provides otherwise. Minor defects that do not prevent normal use do not delay acceptance.

11. Defects and guarantee

For [[12]] months after completion, or any longer period that the law that applies requires, the Contractor corrects free of charge and within a reasonable time the defects that are caused by its work or its materials and are reported in that period.

This guarantee does not cover normal wear and tear, misuse, lack of care, items supplied by the Client or changes made by others. The Client’s rights under the law that applies are not limited by this clause.

12. Insurance and liability

The Contractor holds liability insurance for damage to people and property caused by the works, with cover of at least [[Amount]] per claim, and gives the Client a certificate on request. The Client keeps its insurance for the building and its contents and tells its insurer about the works.

Each party is liable for damage it causes, as the law provides. Except for intent, gross negligence, personal injury or where the law does not allow a limitation, the Contractor’s total liability under this contract is limited to [[the contract price / Amount]].

13. Cancellation and termination

Either party may terminate this contract by notice in writing or in electronic form if the other party seriously breaches it and does not remedy the breach within [[7]] days of being asked to.

If the Client cancels before the works start, it pays only the costs the Contractor has already incurred, including materials ordered specially for the Client that cannot be returned. If the Client cancels after the works have started, it pays for the work done and the cost of materials ordered, plus [[Compensation for the loss caused, or none]], as far as the law that applies allows.

Rights that the law that applies gives the Client to cancel or withdraw are not limited by this clause.

14. Governing law and disputes

This agreement is governed by the law stated under Governing law. The parties will first try to settle any dispute in good faith. Otherwise the courts stated under Jurisdiction decide, unless mandatory law provides otherwise.

Payment terms

Each instalment is payable within [[7]] days of receiving the invoice, by bank transfer to the account stated on the invoice. The final instalment is payable on completion, less any amount held back for listed defects.

Governing law

[[Country or state whose law applies]]

Jurisdiction

[[Courts that decide disputes, e.g. the courts of your city]]