Legal
Terms & conditions
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STL Lofts & Extensions Ltd
Standard Contract Conditions
These Standard Contract Conditions should be read together with the accepted Quotation and Schedule of Works, Contract Acceptance & Payment Schedule, and any drawings or specifications specifically referenced in the quotation. Together these documents form the agreement between STL Lofts & Extensions Ltd ("STL") and the client.
1. Contract Documents & Scope
The works are those specifically described in STL's accepted Quotation and Schedule of Works. Any work, material or service not specifically included is excluded unless subsequently agreed as a variation.
If there is an inconsistency between contract documents, the most recently agreed written variation will take priority, followed by the Quotation and Schedule of Works, specifically referenced drawings/specifications, the Contract Acceptance & Payment Schedule, and then these Standard Contract Conditions, unless expressly agreed otherwise.
2. Contract Price & VAT
The contract price is the amount stated in the accepted quotation. Unless expressly stated as VAT-inclusive, VAT will be added at the rate applicable to the relevant supply.
The contract price may be adjusted only in accordance with these conditions, including agreed variations, unforeseen works, provisional sums, Prime Cost sums and permitted price adjustments.
3. Access, Working Hours & Client Responsibilities
Unless otherwise agreed, normal site working hours are approximately Monday to Friday, 7:30am to 4:00pm.
The client shall provide reasonable access for STL, its employees, subcontractors, suppliers, deliveries, plant, skips and waste removal where required; provide access to mains water and electricity where reasonably required; keep working areas reasonably clear; provide selections, approvals and decisions in a timely manner; ensure client-supplied items are available when required; and advise STL of known defects, concealed services, asbestos or access restrictions that may affect the works.
Previously undisclosed restrictions that cause additional cost or delay may be treated as a variation.
4. Client-Supplied Items
Where the client supplies materials, sanitaryware, appliances, fixtures, fittings or other products, the client is responsible for ensuring they are correct, complete, suitable for their intended use and available when required.
STL is not responsible for defects, shortages, incorrect items, incompatibility or supplier delays relating to client-supplied items. Additional labour, alterations, storage, aborted visits or return visits may be treated as a variation.
5. Existing Property, Services & Unforeseen Conditions
The quotation is based on a visual inspection of reasonably accessible areas and information available at the time of quotation.
Unless specifically included, additional work arising from concealed or unforeseen conditions that could not reasonably have been identified beforehand is excluded. This may include defective construction, inadequate foundations, poor ground, hidden structures, drainage problems, concealed services, damp, rot, asbestos or other hazardous materials.
Existing electrical, plumbing, heating, gas, drainage and other services are assumed to be in reasonable condition and suitable for the proposed works unless stated otherwise.
Necessary additional work will be discussed with the client and treated as a variation.
6. Variations & Additional Works
A variation includes any addition, omission or alteration to the agreed works, including client-requested changes and additional work arising from unforeseen circumstances.
Where reasonably practicable, the scope, price and any effect on the programme will be agreed before the variation is undertaken. Approval may be recorded by signed variation, email or other written electronic communication.
Where immediate work is reasonably necessary to make the site safe, prevent damage or deal with an urgent condition and prior approval cannot reasonably be obtained, STL may carry out the minimum necessary work and will inform the client as soon as reasonably practicable.
Variations may adjust both the contract price and programme.
7. Provisional & Prime Cost Sums
Any provisional sum or Prime Cost (PC) sum is an allowance only.
Once the actual cost or scope is known, the contract value will be adjusted to reflect the actual amount together with any agreed associated labour, delivery, plant or other costs.
8. Payments
Payments shall be made in accordance with the Contract Acceptance & Payment Schedule, which sets the agreed payment stages.
Invoices must be paid by the due date stated on the invoice. Any genuine invoice query should be raised promptly. Any undisputed amount remains payable in accordance with the agreed terms.
9. Late Payments & Suspension
If an invoice becomes overdue, STL may give the client reasonable written notice requiring payment.
If the overdue amount remains unpaid after the notice period, STL may suspend all or part of the works until payment is received. The programme may be reasonably adjusted for the suspension and recommencement, and reasonable additional costs directly caused by the suspension may be charged where appropriate.
STL reserves the right to claim interest and reasonable recovery costs on overdue sums where permitted by law.
Persistent or substantial non-payment may constitute a breach of contract and may lead to termination in accordance with these conditions.
10. Materials & Ownership
Materials and goods supplied by STL remain STL's property until payment relating to them has been received in full, to the extent permitted by law.
This does not affect STL's responsibility for workmanship or other obligations under the contract.
11. Material Price Fluctuations
The contract price is based on material, plant and supplier prices available at the date of quotation.
If a significant and demonstrable increase occurs before the relevant order is placed, STL may propose an adjustment limited to the affected cost.
Where reasonably practicable, evidence of the increase will be available and the client will be notified before the relevant order is placed.
12. Programme & Delays
Any commencement date, construction period or completion date is an estimate unless expressly agreed otherwise in writing.
STL will use reasonable endeavours to progress the works in accordance with the anticipated programme.
Reasonable extensions may arise from variations, adverse weather, supplier or material delays, client decisions, late client-supplied items, inspections, unforeseen conditions, utility companies, client-appointed contractors or other circumstances outside STL's reasonable control.
Where delay is caused by the client, reasonable additional costs directly incurred may be treated as a variation.
13. Matching Existing Materials, Protection & Making Good
STL will use reasonable care when selecting materials intended to match existing finishes, but exact matches to existing bricks, tiles, timber, stone, flooring, render, paint or other materials cannot always be guaranteed due to age, weathering, manufacturing variation and availability.
STL will take reasonable precautions to protect areas immediately affected by the works. The client should remove or secure valuable, fragile or sensitive items.
Unless specifically stated otherwise, making good is limited to areas reasonably disturbed by STL's contracted works.
14. Waste, Parking & Site-Specific Charges
Unless otherwise stated, STL will remove waste generated directly by its contracted works and leave working areas reasonably clean and tidy on completion.
Pre-existing or unrelated waste is excluded.
Unless specifically included, parking charges, permits, parking suspensions, congestion or clean-air charges, skip permits and similar site-specific charges are excluded and may be charged at cost where incurred for the works.
15. Building Control, Planning & Professional Fees
Building Control fees, planning fees, structural engineer's fees, architect's fees, Party Wall surveyor fees and other professional or statutory charges are excluded unless specifically stated as included.
Additional work required by Building Control, an engineer or another authorised professional outside the agreed scope will be treated as a variation.
16. Subcontractors & Client-Appointed Contractors
STL may use appropriately skilled subcontractors and remains responsible to the client for work undertaken by subcontractors engaged by STL.
STL is not responsible for the workmanship, acts, omissions or delays of contractors, suppliers or trades appointed directly by the client.
Where client-appointed contractors affect STL's work or programme, reasonable additional time and associated costs may apply.
17. Health & Safety
STL will take reasonable steps to manage its works safely and in accordance with applicable health and safety requirements.
The client and client-appointed contractors must cooperate with reasonable site safety requirements and must not interfere with barriers, temporary protection, scaffolding, equipment or other safety measures.
Children and pets should be kept away from active working areas.
18. Insurance
STL shall maintain appropriate Public Liability and Employers' Liability insurance as required for its business and works. Details can be provided on reasonable request.
The client remains responsible for appropriate buildings and contents insurance and should notify their insurer of the proposed works where required by their policy.
19. Workmanship, Defects & Statutory Rights
STL will perform its services with reasonable care and skill. Where STL supplies goods or materials, applicable statutory standards will apply.
Any workmanship defect for which STL may be responsible should be reported within a reasonable period after it becomes apparent so that STL has a reasonable opportunity to inspect and, where appropriate, rectify it.
Manufacturer warranties will be passed to the client where available.
Nothing in these conditions excludes or restricts the client's statutory rights.
20. Practical Completion, Snagging & Final Payment
The works will be practically complete when the contracted works are substantially complete and capable of their intended use, notwithstanding minor snagging items that do not materially prevent such use.
Legitimate snagging items attributable to STL will be completed within a reasonable period, taking account of access, material availability and the nature of the item.
Minor snagging items do not of themselves prevent practical completion or postpone a final payment that has otherwise become due under the agreed Payment Schedule, subject always to the client's statutory rights and any genuine dispute concerning the amount due.
21. Damage & Responsibility
STL is responsible for physical damage directly caused by its failure to exercise reasonable care and skill, subject to applicable law.
STL is not responsible for pre-existing defects or damage arising from matters outside its reasonable control.
Nothing in these conditions excludes or limits liability where it would be unlawful to do so.
22. Termination
Either party may terminate the contract where the other commits a serious breach and, where the breach can be remedied, fails to remedy it within a reasonable period after receiving written notice.
On termination, the client shall pay amounts properly due for work completed and materials reasonably ordered or supplied for the project up to the date of termination, subject to applicable law and the client's statutory rights.
23. Consumer Cancellation Rights
Where the contract is a distance or off-premises consumer contract and statutory cancellation rights apply, STL will provide the client with the required cancellation information and model cancellation form.
For a service contract, the statutory cancellation period is generally 14 days beginning the day after the contract is made.
If the client wants work to begin during an applicable cancellation period, STL will obtain the client's express request before starting.
If the client then cancels within the cancellation period, the client may be required to pay a proportionate amount for services properly supplied up to cancellation where the law permits.
This clause does not replace any separate statutory cancellation notice or form that STL is required to provide.
24. Disputes
If a disagreement arises, both parties should first try to resolve it through reasonable discussion and written communication.
If it cannot be resolved directly, either party may propose an appropriate independent mediation, conciliation or other dispute-resolution process before court proceedings where appropriate.
Nothing in this clause prevents either party from exercising legal rights or remedies.
25. Data Protection, Severability & Governing Law
Client information will be handled in accordance with applicable UK data protection law and kept confidential except where disclosure is reasonably necessary to carry out the works, comply with legal obligations or obtain professional advice.
If any provision of these conditions is found invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions continue to apply.
The contract is governed by the laws of England and Wales, subject to any mandatory consumer rights concerning jurisdiction.
Acceptance
Acceptance and signatures are recorded on the Contract Acceptance & Payment Schedule.
By signing that document, the client confirms receipt and acceptance of the contract documents referenced in clause 1.