Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act HGRA
Contents |
[edit] Introduction
The Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996 (HGRA - also known as the Construction Act) is intended to ensure that payments are made promptly throughout the supply chain and that disputes are resolved swiftly.
Provisions of the act include:
- The right to be paid in interim, periodic or stage payments.
- The right to be informed of the amount due, or any amounts to be withheld.
- The right to suspend performance for non-payment.
- The right to adjudication.
- Disallowing pay when paid clauses.
The Act applies to all contracts for 'construction operations' (including construction contracts and consultants' appointments). If contracts fail to comply with the act, then the Scheme for Construction Contracts applies.
[edit] 2011 amendments
The act was amended in October 2011 to close loop holes within its provisions.
The act now applies to construction contracts including those that are not in writing. Adjudication clauses must still be in writing, otherwise the scheme for construction contracts applies.
It is no longer allowable to define within a contract who should bear the cost of adjudication, and adjudicators have the right to correct errors in their decisions within 5 days of delivering that decision.
Specific changes have also been made regarding procedures for making payments:
- The dates for payments must be set out in the contract.
- The client (or specified person) must issue a payment notice within five days of the date for payment, even if no amount is due. Alternatively, if the contract allows, the contractor may make an application for payment, which is treated as if it is the payment notice.
- The client (or specified person) must issue a pay less notice (previously a withholding notice) if they intend to pay less than the amount set out in the payment notice, setting out the basis for its calculation.
- The notified sum is payable by the final date for payment.
- If the client (or specified person) fails to issue a payment notice, the contractor may issue a default payment notice. The final date for payment is extended by the period between when the client should have issued a payment notice and when the contractor issued the default payment notice. If the client does not issue a pay less notice, they must pay the amount in the default payment notice.
- Pay when certified clauses are no longer allowed, and the release of retention cannot be prevented by conditions within another contract. So for example work contractors on a management contract project must have half of their retention released when their part of the works reach practical completion, not when the project as a whole reaches practical completion. This also applies to trade contractors on construction management contracts.
- There are also changes to the right to suspend work for non-payment or to suspend part of the works and to claim costs and expenses incurred and extension of time resulting from the suspension.
[edit] Retentions
The Construction (Retention Deposit Schemes) Bill 2017-19 proposes amending the Act to ensure that retentions are held in a third party trust.
For more information see: Retentions reform.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- Adjudication.
- Arbitration.
- Causes of construction disputes.
- Collaborative practices.
- Common law.
- Construction contract.
- Construction (Retention Deposit Schemes) Bill 2017-19.
- Construction supply chain payment charter.
- Down payment chain.
- Egan report.
- Fair payment practices.
- Government construction strategy.
- Hybrid construction contract.
- Latham report.
- Local Democracy Economic Development Act 2009.
- Pay less notice.
- Payment schedule.
- Prompt payment code.
- Remedies for late payment.
- Scheme for Construction Contracts.
- The Late Payment of Commercial Debts Regulations 2013.
[edit] External references
Featured articles and news
BSRIA Briefing 2024: Sustainable Futures speakers
Redefining Retrofit for Net Zero Living 22 Nov.
Wall of support for post-Grenfell regulation of electricians
Call for a shake-up of the construction industry highlighted on radio.
Digital sustainability through future AEC tools
Bringing together industry and academia to meet challenges.
Skills gap for net zero highlighted to Minister for Industry
ECA convenes roundtable discussion at Portcullis House.
Evidencing Net Zero with the new UK buildings standard
Pilot version with detailed excel proforma out now!
Scottish Building Safety Levy, in consultation
From direct remediation and the RPDT, to the costs and alternatives.
Waves of warmer homes grants for the rental sector
Boosting energy efficiency standards for all rented homes.
A refocus of the National Planning Policy Framework
Key terms described in brief, as the consultation closes the evening of the 24th.
Fortified farmhouses of the unruly 16th-and 17th-century borders.
ECA shares advice for those who may be exposed to risks.
How to revolutionise UK housing with MMC
CIC and Supply Chain Sustainability School unveil a plan.
From the UKs largest manufacturer and supplier of lime.
From mud bricks to smart concrete
A brief history from 7000BC to a future on the moon.
Regulator of Social Housing publishes latest fire safety report
Covering remediation of 11 metre plus social housing sector buildings.
Apartment and Duplex Defects Remediation Bill 2024
Approved for priority drafting by Government of Ireland.
The long list with in the frame of key historical events.
Competence frameworks for sustainability in the built environment
Code of practice, core criteria consultation draft for comment.
New Floods Resilience Taskforce
With a wet met office autumn prediction.
Comments
To start a discussion about this article, click 'Add a comment' above and add your thoughts to this discussion page.