Contract for self employed tradesman

TomsMom

I can't think which forum to put this on, hopefully someone here will point me in the right direction.

My DS is a self employed kitchen/bathroom fitter and tiler. He wants to have some sort of contract for when he takes on jobs. We've been trying to get him to do this for some time and he now has a possible job where he foresees potential problems with the husband of the couple. We've advised him not to touch the job with a barge pole but we think he'd rather have the money coming in.

He's decided a formal contract would be the right way to go for this job.

Does anyone know where he can find information/advice on what to put in his contract or even a contract template.

A bit short notice but he'd like to get something sorted tomorrow if possible when he's to have yet another conversation with this guy.

spirit

Hmnn, that's a tricky one tomsmum :wave:

I've had a lot of work done here as you know from the other thread. I've not been asked to sign a contract from any of the workmen.

If this potential customer is a bit tricky then I'm not convinced that a contract is going to be of benefit to your son. Should this customer turn out to be awkward then your son would have to go to the hassle and expense of trying to uphold the contract through the legal system.

Might be better just to walk away from this one.

iamcornholio

https://www.fmb.org.uk/find-a-builder/free-contracts

https://www.building-contract.co.uk

Or search for JCT 'minor works' or 'domestic' contract

But it does not have to be anything flash. Just type your own up and include things like start and end dates, what is to be done, payment terms and stage payment dates, warranty period (if any), and include daywork rates as a basis for any extra works. Don't fill it up with superfluous words or try and make it legaleze - just plain and simple

TomsMom

spirit wrote: »

Hmnn, that's a tricky one tomsmum :wave:

I've had a lot of work done here as you know from the other thread. I've not been asked to sign a contract from any of the workmen.

If this potential customer is a bit tricky then I'm not convinced that a contract is going to be of benefit to your son. Should this customer turn out to be awkward then your son would have to go to the hassle and expense of trying to uphold the contract through the legal system.

Might be better just to walk away from this one.

Thanks Spirit. We've told him to walk away, especially as he's not short of work ATM. We can understand why he'd rather keep it with the ££££ involved but the trouble he's had so far with this guy ought to tell him it smacks of problems. His call at the end of the day but I think he must be quite worried to want a contract! D-i-l doesn't want him to take it either as he will be away Mon-Fri for 4 weeks as job is not local.

Will try again with the advice to let this one go.

TomsMom

iamcornholio wrote: »

https://www.fmb.org.uk/find-a-builder/free-contracts

https://www.building-contract.co.uk

Or search for JCT 'minor works' or 'domestic' contract

But it does not have to be anything flash. Just type your own up and include things like start and end dates, what is to be done, payment terms and stage payment dates, warranty period (if any), and include daywork rates as a basis for any extra works. Don't fill it up with superfluous words or try and make it legaleze - just plain and simple

Thanks very much Iamcornholio. I'll pass this on to him and help him get something sorted. Both of us googled but didn't find those sites, probably searching for "self employed tradesman contract" was the wrong phrase.

Your help is much appreciated.

keystone

You sometimes get a gut feel about a potential client being trouble down the track. In those casesits better to walk away. It doesn't matter how nice you are, how accommodating you are, how professional you are they will still find fault and it will cost you both emotionally and financially. Been there done that. My advice would be walk away from it - a contractreally isn't going to protect him from this type of cowboy customer.

Cheers

vaio

another vote for walk away (actually run!) especially as it's not local so any revisits will mean lots of travelling.

I used to work with the JCT minor works, it's quite a good contract but is really aimed at jobs where there is a supervisor (architect or engineer) between client and contractor

TomsMom

keystone wrote: »

You sometimes get a gut feel about a potential client being trouble down the track. In those casesits better to walk away. It doesn't matter how nice you are, how accommodating you are, how professional you are they will still find fault and it will cost you both emotionally and financially. Been there done that. My advice would be walk away from it - a contractreally isn't going to protect him from this type of cowboy customer.

Cheers

Completely agree Keystone. We're still working on trying to get him to walk away.

You are spot on with the "how nice", "how accommodating", that describes him perfectly. I think this is why he's hesitating, plus it's our local shop who gives him most of his work that's arranged this job (sold the tiles and bathroom to the couple who happen to live 2 doors away from the owner of the shop!) so again another reason to hesitate.

He had a very awkward customer that caused him lots of grief last year so he should have learned his lesson then!

TomsMom

vaio wrote: »

another vote for walk away (actually run!) especially as it's not local so any revisits will mean lots of travelling.

Thanks Vaio. I'll add that to the ammunition for not taking this job .

gavcradd

Looking at this from the other side as a customer, I'd love to have some form of written document that says exactly how much will be paid, what will be done and timescales. I've never had this from any trades people that have done work for me (decorators / carpet fitters / etc), it's always just been a verbal quote which has turned out fine in the end. I'm a natural worrier, a clear statement at the start of the job would be a brilliant thing.

At the moment we're having a conservatory built and I've had to battle to get this from them - even now, it's only a scribbled note on letter headed paper but I feel much better.