ELMTREE ENTERPRISES LTD – STANDARD TERMS AND CONDITIONS
1.DEFINITIONS
In these Conditions:
"Client" means the person named as such in the Quotation;
“Completion Date” means the date on which the Works are completed;
“Contract” means the contract between the Client and the Contractor for the Works comprising the Quotation, these Terms & Conditions and the other documents specified in the Quotation;
"Contractor" means Elmtree Enterprises Ltd.
"Contract Price" means the price payable by the Client to the Contractor for the Works, as shown in the Quotation, (and as varied in accordance with the Contract);
"Quotation" means the Contractor's signed Quotation referring to these Conditions;
"Works" means the works described in the Quotation (as amended in accordance with the Contract).
2.CONTRACT FORMATION
2.1 Acceptance of the Contractor's Quotation by the Client constitutes the contract for the Contractor to carry out the Works in accordance with these Terms & Conditions.
2.2 Should a quoting error occur due to a mistype of a quote or a misquote given by telephone and/or electronic means, the contractor is not liable for any resulting errors in account balances and reserves the right to make necessary corrections or adjustments on the account involved. Any dispute arising from such quoting errors will be resolved on the basis of the fair market value, as determined by the Contractor, in its sole discretion.
3.GENERAL OBLIGATIONS
3.1 The Contractor will exercise reasonable skill and care in the performance of the Works.
3.2 The Client will give the Contractor access to his premises as reasonably required by the Contractor to enable them to carry out the Works without interference by the Client or by other contractors of the Client.
3.3 The Client is responsible for obtaining any planning permission required for the Works. Unless otherwise agreed, the Contractor will be responsible for obtaining permits and licences needed in the course of the Works and the Client will give reasonable assistance as required by the Contractor. The Client is responsible for the cost of acquiring these permits unless otherwise stated by The Contractor.
3.4 The Contractor shall not be liable for any delay or failure to perform any of its obligations under the Contract due to events beyond its control, including but not limited to acts of God, war, terrorism, embargoes, fire, floods, accidents, strikes, or any other natural or man-made disasters. This includes adverse weather conditions that significantly impact the progress of the Works.
3.5 The Contractor shall comply with all applicable laws, statutes, regulations, and codes relating to anti-bribery and anti-corruption, and shall not engage in any activity, practice, or conduct which would constitute an offence under such laws.
4.VARIATION
4.1 If the Client wishes to omit or vary any of the Works (or any design or materials) he must inform the Contractor in writing. The Contractor will then supply to the Client an estimate of the cost of the variation and the likely effect on the Contract period and Completion Date.
4.2 Unless the Client withdraws his request for a variation when he receives the Contractor's estimate, the Contract Price will be adjusted in accordance with the Contractor's estimate (or as otherwise agreed between the Client and the Contractor) and an appropriate extension of time for completion of the Works shall be agreed.
4.3 If a variation is agreed verbally, either the Contractor or the Client will confirm it in writing within 3 working days.
4.4 The Contractor will notify the Client if he encounters any difficulties which he could not have reasonably foreseen when submitting the Quotation and, in those circumstances, a fair and reasonable adjustment to the Contract Price and Completion Date will be made.
4.5 The Contractor reserves the right not to comply with any request for a variation.
4.6 If the cost of materials or labour increases by more than 10% due to market fluctuations, the Contract Price will be adjusted accordingly, subject to the Client's approval, which shall not be unreasonably withheld.
4.7 The Client shall bear the additional costs for any work or materials required due to unforeseen site conditions that necessitate changes to the Works, provided that the Contractor has notified the Client of such conditions and obtained the Client's consent to the additional costs.
4.8 Any variations provided by Elmtree Enterprises ltd. are subject to Value Added Tax (VAT) and contractor preliminary costs at the prevailing rates.
5.CONTRACT PRICE & PAYMENT
5.1 The Contract Price is stated in the Quotation and it may be varied in accordance with these Conditions.
5.2 The Client shall pay the Contractor the Contract Price in accordance with the payment terms in the Quotation. Unless otherwise stated in the Quotation, the due date for payment is the 14th of each month for work carried out and materials purchased in the previous month. The Contractor will submit an invoice on or before the due date to the Client specifying the amount due to the Contractor in respect of the previous month.
5.3 The final date for payment of each payment notice shall be 14 days from the date of the payment notice.
5.4 If the Client is dissatisfied with any part of a payment notice and wishes to pay less than the amount shown in the payment notice, he must at least 5 days before the final date for payment give notice to the Contractor specifying the amount he considers to be payable and the basis on which that amount is calculated. The undisputed parts of the payment notice must be paid by the final date for payment and any disputed amount will be dealt with under clause 9 (Disputes). Except as stated in this clause, the Client has no right to withhold any money or set off any amount against a payment notice or invoice of the Contractor.
5.5 If the Client fails to pay any amount properly claimed, the Contractor may suspend all or any of his obligations under the Contract until the payment is received after giving at least 7 days’ notice to the Client of his intention to suspend with reasons. Any period of suspension will entitle the Contractor to any reasonable costs he incurs as well as an extension of time for completion of the Works.
5.6 Late payment entitles the Contractor to interest at the statutory rate of interest under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts Regulations from the due date until the date of actual payment or 8% p.a. above Bank of England base rate if the Act does not apply.
5.7 Any quotations provided by Elmtree Enterprises ltd. are subject to Value Added Tax (VAT) and contractor preliminary costs at the prevailing rates. Any variations to the quoted price, including but not limited to changes in scope, specifications, or materials, may result in adjustments to the final invoice to reflect these additional costs.
6.INSURANCE & LIABILITY
6.1 The Contractor shall procure and sustain insurance coverage as required by applicable laws and regulations, including but not limited to Employer's Liability Insurance, Construction All Risks insurance, and Public Liability Insurance.
6.2 The Contractor will provide the Client with details of the insurances upon request.
6.3 Where the Works are to be carried out in an existing building, the Client will be responsible for insurance of the Works with the Contractor named as co-insured and the Client will provide details of the insurance to the Contractor upon request.
7.DURATION, HANDOVER & DEFECTS LIABILITY
7.1 The Contractor will notify the Client within 5 working days of becoming aware of any event beyond his control which may prevent or delay completion of the Works by the Completion Date. The notice will specify the cause of the delay, the likely effect on the Completion Date and the Contractor's proposals for dealing with the matter. The Completion Date will then be extended as agreed by the parties or, failing agreement, decided under clause 9. The Contractor acknowledges that he must take reasonable steps to mitigate or reduce any delay.
7.2 The Contractor will give the Client notice of his intention to hand over the Works on completion and will give the Client the opportunity to inspect the Works before handover. The Contractor will then confirm the Completion Date to the Client.
7.3 The Contractor will be responsible for remedying defects in the Works which appear within 3 months from the Completion Date and the Client must inform the Contractor as soon as he becomes aware of any defects for which the Contractor is responsible. Defects in design or materials supplied by the Client and defects attributable to fair wear and tear or to misuse or failure by the Client to comply with any operating or maintenance manuals will not be the responsibility of the Contractor.
7.4 Where equipment or materials used in the Works have the benefit of a manufacturer’s warranty, the Contractor will take steps to procure that the Client has the benefit of that warranty. The Contractor will not be liable for any defect in the equipment or materials except to the extent that this is due to the Contractor’s negligence.
7.5 Except for his liability to remedy any defects for which he is responsible and which are notified to him within 3 months of the Completion Date, the Contractor will have no liability to the Client, in contract or in tort, for any other direct, indirect or consequential loss incurred by the Client, including but not limited to loss of use or loss of profit. However, liability for death or injury of individuals due to the Contractor’s negligence is unlimited.
7.6 The Client may retain 1% of the Contract Price until the expiration of the defect liability period, after which it will be paid to the Contractor, provided that no defects have been identified that are the responsibility of the Contractor.
7.7 The Contractor warrants the Works against defects in workmanship and materials for a period of 4 years from the Completion Date, subject to the terms of the Contract.
8.TERMINATION
8.1 The Contractor may terminate the Contract if the Client fails to make any payment to the Contractor within 30 days of the payment date, provided that the Contractor has given the Client at least 14 days' notice of such default before terminating the Contract.
8.2 The Client may give notice to terminate the Contract if the Contractor commits a material breach of the Contract and, in the case of a breach capable of remedy, fails to take steps to remedy the breach within 28 days of being requested to do so in writing.
8.3 Either party may terminate the Contract if the other party becomes insolvent or has a receiver, manager or administrative receiver or liquidator appointed.
8.4 Termination will not affect the accrued rights and liabilities of the parties at the termination date.
8.5 The Contractor may terminate the Contract for convenience upon giving 2 months' written notice to the Client. The Client shall compensate the Contractor for all work performed up to the date of termination, including costs incurred by the Contractor as a result of such termination.
9. DISPUTES
9.1 The parties will endeavour to settle any dispute or difference amicably by direct negotiation.
9.2 If they are unable to settle the dispute, it may be referred by either party to adjudication in accordance with the CEDR (Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution) Adjudication Rules. The decision of the adjudicator will be final and binding on the parties unless a notice of dissatisfaction is served by either party on the other within 28 days of the decision.
9.3 Any dispute that is not resolved by negotiation or adjudication will be finally settled by the courts of England and Wales.
9.4 The Contract is governed by the laws of England and Wales.
10.MATERIALS
10.1 Where the Client provides materials to the Contractor free of charge, those materials shall remain the property of the Client and shall be used solely in connection with the Contract. Any materials surplus to requirements shall be returned to the Client or disposed of at the Client’s direction.
10.2 Client materials stored at the Client’s property shall be insured by the Client and if lost or damaged while in the custody of the Client shall be replaced or made good at the Client’s expense.
10.3 Materials that are lost or damaged while in the custody of the Contractor shall be replaced or made good at the Contractor's expense.
11.GENERAL
11.1 Notices. Every notice required under these Terms & Conditions shall be in writing and delivered by hand or sent by first class post to the address of the recipient.
11.2 Assignment. Neither party will assign any of his rights or obligations under the Contract without the prior written consent of the other.
11.3 Subcontracting. The Contractor will not sublet all of the Works but he will be entitled to sublet parts of the Works. Subcontracting will not relieve the Contractor of his obligations under the Contract.
11.4 Entire Agreement. The documents comprised in the Contract including the Quotation and these Terms & Conditions constitute the only agreement between the parties and supersede any previous arrangements, agreements or understandings relating to the Works.
11.5 Amendment. Any amendment to the terms of the Contract shall only be effective if it is in writing and signed by an authorised signatory of the Client and the Contractor.
11.6 No Reliance on Representations. The Client acknowledges that he has not relied on and will have no remedy in respect of any statement, representation, warranty, or undertaking of any person (whether a party to this Agreement or not) other than is expressly set out in the Contract. However, nothing in this clause shall limit or exclude liability for fraud.
11.7 Severance. If any provision of the Contract becomes illegal or unenforceable, this shall not affect the legality or enforceability of any other provision of the Contract. In that situation the parties shall, where possible, use reasonable endeavours to agree an alternative provision(s) which is legally enforceable.
11.8 Waiver. The waiver by either party of a breach by the other in the performance of its obligations under the Contract shall not constitute a waiver of any subsequent breach. Failure to complain of a breach does not constitute a waiver of the right to act on that breach.
11.9 All designs, plans, and bill of quantities created by the Contractor for the Works shall remain the property of the Contractor. The Client shall have a license to use these materials solely for the purposes of the Works under this Contract.
11.10 Both parties agree to keep all designs, plans, and bill of quantities confidential and not to disclose them to any third party without the prior written consent of the other party.
12.PLANNING PERMISSION
12.1 The Client is responsible for obtaining any planning permission required for the Works. Unless otherwise agreed, the Contractor will be responsible for obtaining permits and licences needed in the course of the Works and the Client will give reasonable assistance as required by the Contractor. The Client is responsible for the cost of acquiring these permits unless otherwise stated by The Contractor
12.2 The Contractor is not responsible for any rectification works ordered by the local authority. The Contractor reserves the right to refuse or charge for any rectification works.
12.3 The Contractor is not liable for the administration, payment or exemption submission of Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL). Also, the contractor is not liable for the completion of all forms including but not limited to the assumption of liability, the commencement of development, the completion of the development, and the eligibility or otherwise of self-build exemption.
12.4 Unless otherwise agreed, the Client is responsible for obtaining Building Control approval, including any related costs.