Contracts Flashcards
(101 cards)
What do contract documents typically consist of?
- The conditions of the contract and articles of the agreement;
- Drawings;
- Specifications;
- Bill of Quantities;
- Preliminaries;
- Risk Assessment
What is a Specification?
‘It is a written description of the quality of the built product and its component parts.’
Performance Specification - define the characteristics of the final product… clients will state what quality of finish they are after in essence or brief.
Descriptive Method Specification - A written document providing detailed descriptions of the quality required in terms of construction, Workmanship and materials.
Whats the role of Clerk of Works?
To visit the site during construction phase and produce progress reports for the Client.
When does the Rectification period starts?
When practical completion is achieved.
How much of the Retention fee is returned to the Contractor at Practical Completion
Half of the withheld amount.
What is a valuation?
It is the process of the Contract Administrator visiting the site during the construction phase to verify works progress and issue certificates.
Which is a dispute resolution method based in Court based?
Litigation
In a Local Planning Authority would always accept the lowest tender?
Yes, would always accept the lowest one, since it’s all about cost savings
How would you request for a minor change on the design during construction?
Through a variation.
When does the Defects liability period start and how long does usually last?
12 months after Practical Completion and last 12months
When do you need to produce the snagging list?
At the Practical Completion
When is the Penultimate Certificate issued?
At Practical Completion
Which certificates needs to be issued right before issuing the Final Certificate?
The Making good defects certificate
What is novation?
Novation is a mechanism whereby one party can transfer all its obligations under a contract and all its benefits arising from that contract to a third party.
What is discussed at a pre-contract meeting?
Roles & responsibilities. Agree lines of communication. CDM regulations & responsibilities. Programme of work & dates. Issuing outstanding pre-start information, e.g site details that weren't included in tender documents. Nominations of suppliers, subcontractors. Agree progress meeting schedule etc. Construction phase plan.
How are contracts discharged?
A Pear Fell Bounce Bounce Bounce
- Agreement
- Performance
- Frustration
- By contractual stipulation/terms of contract
- By lapse of time
- Breach
What is a collateral warranty?
A side legal agreement with a 3rd party that runs alongside an existing contract between two parties. LAs typically encounter them when working with a developer or occupier.
e.g. Dock 9: Architect, Landscape Architect, Developer and Tenant
What does the term “agent” mean in a contract?
“Agency” = the relationship that comes into being when one party is employed by another to make legally binding contracts with a 3rd party on behalf of the principal.
The client is giving permission for LA to act on their behalf.
It is an obligation of the LA to behave as a ‘responsible agent’ and to:
- Act in the best interests of the client
- Not to make underhand profits / take bribes
- Not to delegate their responsibilities
What branches of the law should landscape architects be aware of?
- Criminal Law
- Civil Law
- Contract Law
- Law of Tort
What is the privity of contract?
- principal feature of contract law is that it defines the rights of and obligations between the parties of a contract
- = only a party to a contract can take the benefits of that contract or is subject to its obligations
- defines whether someone can be sued or not
- JCLI and JCT exclude above - instead provide for the use of traditional common law rules and collateral warranties
Current court structure
Court of Justice of the European Communities
Supreme Court of the UK
Court of Appeal
Criminal Division Crown Court- Magistrates Court
Civil Division High Court - County Court
What is the difference between latent defects and patent defects?
The difference between latent and patent defects is that latent may not become apparent until a few or many years after the completion of the project whereas patent defects, on the other hand, are the ones that are immediately obvious and are included in the snagging report.
How would you agree terms of appointment in a private practice?
As required by the CoC, all agreements should be in writing.Whether a LA uses the standard Landscape Consultant’s Appointment (LCA) form or a custom one that has been thoroughly checked by a lawyer before being used, is up to the individual professional. This contract of appointment should clearly set out the scope of works that the LA will deliver based on the client’sbrief, the expected output in terms of provision of drawings material and the fees required to complete these services.
What is the Landscape Consultants Appointment (LCA)?
The Landscape Institute’s official document that: advises Landscape Consultants and their Clients in the execution of landscape commissions & sets out the Memorandum of Agreement as well as the standard and additional services provided, conditions of service which apply and a schedule of services and fees