Construction law in plain English
Building work in the UK runs on contracts, and on a set of statutory rules that sit underneath them. The Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996 (the “Construction Act”) gives most parties to construction contracts the right to be paid in stages, to know what they’ll be paid and why, to suspend work for non-payment and to refer disputes to adjudication at any time. Standard forms such as JCT and NEC then set out who does what, when, for how much and what happens when things change.
BuildLaw turns all of that into practical guides: what the rule is, the deadlines that matter, worked examples and what to do next.
For contractors, builders and subcontractors
- Getting paid: applications, payment notices, pay less notices and your right to suspend.
- Retentions: how they work, getting them released, and the proposed ban.
- Contract administration: variations, extensions of time, practical completion and the final account.
- Adjudication: the 28-day route to a binding decision.
- Free example notices and letters you can adapt.
For clients, developers and homeowners
- Choosing a contract and procurement route: traditional, design and build, management and more.
- Which JCT contract? From Minor Works to Design and Build, and the homeowner contracts.
- Key contract terms: liquidated damages, defects, insurance, termination and design liability.
- Homeowners and builders: your rights under the Consumer Rights Act and how to avoid disputes.
How we write our guides
We start from primary sources: legislation, the Civil Procedure Rules, published contract guidance and court judgments, and link to them at the end of each guide. Pages show the date they were last updated, and changes in the law are covered on our blog. Read our editorial standards.
Our guides are general information, not legal advice. They can’t take account of your contract or your circumstances. For that, use our expert help or speak to a qualified professional.
Last updated: 15 October 2026