INTRODUCTION

Construction contracts usually include a defects liability period during which the contractor is responsible for repairing or rectifying defects that appear in the works. The period usually commences upon practical completion of the works and runs for a specified time frame (sometimes also known as the maintenance period).

This paper discusses the main elements of a defects liability clause and the considerations for negotiating this clause from both an employer's and a contractor's perspective.

PURPOSE OF A DEFECTS LIABILITY PERIOD

Under a construction contract, one of the contractor's primary obligations is to carry out and complete the works to the standard set out in the contract. The defects liability period is intended to complement this liability by setting out how and when the contractor must remedy defective work which becomes apparent during the defects liability period. In effect, the defects liability obligation recognises that defects will arise in the period following completion and includes the obligation to repair those defects in the general obligation to complete the works to the required standard.

The defects liability period provides a practical mechanism to the employer for the repair or making good of defects which may not be apparent before completion, without resorting to dispute resolution. Making the contractor responsible for carrying out the repairs is usually cheaper and more efficient than either the employer repairing the defect itself or engaging a third party to repair the defect.

In most contracts, the employer will retain either a proportion of the contract sum (cash) or a reduced performance bond as surety for performance of the contractor's obligations during the defect liability period.

ELEMENTS OF A DEFECTS LIABILITY CLAUSE

A defects liability clause will set out the length of the defects liability period, the scope of defects the contractor is obliged to remedy and any part of the contract sum retained by the employer as surety for the performance of the remedial work (although this may be dealt with in the general clause dealing with the provision of security).

A defects liability clause may also deal with the procedures for notifying the contractor of the defects, the circumstances under which the defects liability period may be extended and any caps on such extensions to the defects liability period.

LENGTH OF THE DEFECTS LIABILITY PERIOD

Typically, the defects liability period starts on the completion of the works, which in many contracts will be signalled by the employer's representative's issue of a practical completion certificate. The actual period will vary depending on the nature of the contract; for straightforward building projects it is usually six or 12 months. For complex engineering projects such as a power station, it can be as long as 24 or 36 months. The defects liability clause may also provide for sectional completion, for example:

"The defects liability period is the period of 12 months commencing on the date of practical completion. If the works are taken over by the employer in sections, the defects liability period for each section must commence on the date of practical completion for that section."

However, sectional completion is to the contractor's benefit. An owner will not want sectional defects liability periods, but rather will want the period to commence on completion of the last section.

SCOPE OF DEFECTS

A defects liability clause will require the contractor to repair or make good defects which are the result of the contractor's default. Contractors will generally seek to exclude liability for defects not owing to the contractor's default, for example:

"The contractor is not responsible for the repair, replacement or making good of any defect or of any damage to the works arising out of or resulting from any of the following causes:

  • Any acts or omissions of the employer, its employees, agents and contractors (other than the contractor).
  • Improper operation or maintenance of the works.
  • Use and operation of the works outside the specification."

However, some clauses will require the contractor to make good defects irrespective of the cause of the defect, with appropriate reimbursement where the contractor is not in default. This facilitates quick repairs of the works by the party most familiar with the works and, therefore, best able to undertake the repairs.

In some cases, the contractor may have an absolute liability to make good or repair the defects at its own cost. An example of this is the following clause:

"If during the defects liability period any defect is found, the contractor must, promptly and at its cost repair, replace or otherwise make good (in consultation with the employer) the defect as well as any damage to the facility caused by the defect . . . The contractor will bear all incidental costs, including any costs of removal associated with the repair, replacement or making good of the defect or damage."

Defects are generally regarded to include any deficiency in the quality of the works including defects due to faulty material or workmanship. This may extend to design where it is part of the contractor's responsibilities (for example, in EPC contracts).

The defects liability period usually does not include an obligation to repair defects which occur as a result of fair wear and tear. However, for the avoidance of doubt it is prudent, from a contractor's perspective, to expressly specify this in the defects liability period clause. For example, by adding the following item to the general exceptions clause:

  • Normal wear and tear.

CONTRACTOR'S RIGHT TO REMEDY WORKS AND NOTIFICATION

Another important consideration is determining whether the contractor has an exclusive right to remedy defects which appear during the defects liability period.

From the contractor's perspective, it is beneficial to have the exclusive right to remedy the defects during the defects liability period as the costs of remedying the defects will be cheaper than paying the employer the cost of another contractor performing such works. If the contractor has an exclusive right to repair defects, an employer who proceeds to remedy the works without offering the contractor the opportunity to do so will be in breach of the contract.

Of course, the clause may provide for circumstances where the employer has the right to engage another contractor to remedy the defects at the cost of the contractor, for example:

"If the contractor fails to commence the work necessary to remedy the defect or any damage to the facility caused by the defect within a time agreed with the employer under clause [ ], the employer may proceed to do the work, or engage another party to do the work and the costs, including incidental costs, incurred by the employer as a result will be a debt due and payable to the employer on demand and may be deducted from any payments otherwise due from the employer to the contractor. The employer may also have recourse to the security and retention provided under this contract."

The employer is generally required to give the contractor notice of the defects as soon as practicable, stating the nature of the defect and supporting evidence.

The position under English law is that if the contractor is not in possession of the site, notice of the defects is required (unless the contract provides otherwise), and if the owner rectifies the defects themselves without notice to the contractor, the owner cannot rely on the defects clause as against the contractor.1

EXTENSION OF DEFECTS LIABILITY PERIOD

It may be beneficial for the employer to be able to extend the defects liability period especially where substantial defects occur. This can be achieved by using the following clause:

"Where the employer, acting reasonably, considers that substantial repair, replacement or making good is made under clause [ ], then subject to clause [ ], the defects liability period will be extended by a period equivalent to the defects liability period, from the date of that repair, replacement or making good but only in respect of that part of the works so repaired, replaced or made good."

The contractor should seek to ensure that the defects liability period is capped by the inclusion of this provision:

"Despite clause [ ], the total defects liability period must not extend beyond [24] months after the date of practical completion."

The position under English law is that where the contract is silent on the extension of the defects liability period, the contractor's liability continues until it is barred by the Limitation Act 1980 (six to twelve years).

Under English law, the contractor may still be liable after a defects liability period ends, under other express terms, including a guarantee, warranty or indemnity.2

COMMON LAW RIGHTS

Unless express words are used, a defects liability clause will generally not affect the parties' remedies under common law. For example, an employer can sue the contractor for damages for defects which appear during or after the defects liability period, though its damages may be limited – if the employer has acted unreasonably – to the cost of the contractor performing the remedial works.

Nonetheless, the employer should make this position clear by adopting the following wording:

"The rights of the employer under this clause [ ] are in addition to and do not limit any other rights which the employer has under this contract or under any law."

CONCLUSION

This paper is intended to provide a brief overview of the defects liability period and examples of typical clauses. Subsequent updates will deal more closely with specific issues or problems which may arise, particularly where defects liability clauses are poorly drafted.

Footnotes

1London and SW Railway v Flower (1875) 1 C.P.D. 77; Pearce and High v Baxter and Baxter [1999] B.L.R. 101, CA.

2Adams v Richardson & Starling Ltd [1969] 1 W.L.R 1645, CA

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