Case study
Payment Notice Recovery for an M&E Subcontractor
Payment notice strategy delivers six-figure recovery for M&E subcontractor.
- Client
- M&E subcontractor
- Issue
- Payment was withheld following a disputed interim application.
Developers and Renovation
Building Contract Dispute, Extra Cost or Delay?
Understand what is owed, what can be challenged and what route is available before further cost is incurred.
When this support helps
We help small developers, property renovators and refurbishment clients understand what is owed, what can be challenged and what commercial route is available.
This service is for extension, refurbishment and development projects where the cost, timing or contractor relationship has started to move away from what was agreed.
Typical Client Situations
Situations We Support
Typical situations include:
- The builder or main contractor is asking for more money than expected
- The quote, contract or scope is unclear
- The invoice does not match the work completed
- The project is delayed or completion keeps moving
- Workmanship, defects or snagging are disputed
- Variations or extras have not been properly agreed
- You are unsure whether to pay, withhold or challenge an invoice
- Finance, refinance, resale or rental dates are under pressure
- The builder or main contractor is threatening to stop work or walk off site
- The final account cannot be agreed
What we review
We review the commercial position using the project information available. This typically includes the quote, contract, scope of works, invoices, payment history, correspondence, programme, photographs, defects list and any variation or extra cost claims.
Contract and Cost Review
Contract and Cost Risk Identified
The review can help identify:
- What was originally agreed
- What has changed
- What has been paid
- What is being claimed
- What appears disputed
- What evidence is missing
- What can be challenged
- What the next commercial step should be
What you receive
You receive a clear commercial summary of the project issue and the recommended next steps.
Written Position Summary
Your Position in Writing
The summary can identify:
- The cost or payment issue
- The delay, completion or workmanship issue
- The documents and records that support your position
- The parts of the builder's claim or invoice that may need to be challenged
- The commercial response to consider
- The options for negotiation, settlement or escalation
Engagement
Project Support Retainer
Developer & Renovation Project Support
Ongoing Commercial Control on Site
From £1,000/month
For extensions, refurbishments, renovations and small developments where disputed costs, delayed works, unclear scope, workmanship issues or builder payment demands need clear commercial control.
Project Cost and Builder Dispute Support
You receive ongoing commercial support to review the project cost position, identify what appears payable, what can be challenged, and set out the next commercial steps before further payments are made or the dispute escalates.
Support may include:
- The project cost position
- The payment or invoice issue
- The quote, contract or scope position
- The extra cost or variation position
- The work completed against the sums claimed
- The delay or completion position
- Costs arising from disputed workmanship, defects or snagging
- The final account or retention position
- The supporting records available
- The further records or substantiation required
- Payment, withholding or escalation risks
- The recommended commercial response
- The negotiation, settlement or escalation route
Common project situations
We can support clients where the project involves:
Projects We Support
Where Commercial Support Adds Value
Project types include:
- Home extensions and larger domestic building projects
- Major refurbishments or renovations
- Loft conversions and structural alterations
- Small residential developments
- Buy-to-refurbish or resale projects
- Projects funded by bridging finance, refinance or private lending
- Delayed projects affecting sale, rental or refinancing plans
- Building contract disputes where the contract, quote or scope is unclear
ICRS Consult
Credentials and Experience
ICRS Consult brings more than 30 years of construction experience across commercial management, contracts, claims, disputes, adjudication and expert appointments.
30+
years' construction
industry experience
MRICS
Chartered Quantity
Surveyor
MCIArb
Chartered Institute
of Arbitrators
JCT, NEC, FIDIC
and bespoke
contracts
- LLM in Construction Law and Arbitration
- Expert appointments in arbitration, litigation and adjudication
- Expert witness in professional negligence proceedings
- Advanced Professional Award in Expert Witness Evidence
- UK and Middle East project experience across JCT, NEC and FIDIC contracts
Client Feedback
What Our Clients Say
Very experienced in claims preparation and defence and has provided valuable advice on complex contractual matters. I would recommend the professional and strategic approach to the resolution of construction claims and disputes.
His technical understanding, level of investigation, and analysis together with the ability to come up with the substance of the case undoubtedly make him the best choice of consultant in the field.
Highly experienced in the preparation of construction claims. He produced a very clear and comprehensive EOT claim for us.
A highly experienced claims practitioner who has an in-depth understanding of complex construction claims.
I reviewed an EOT claim prepared by Matt and his team. It was to a high standard which made it easy to follow and evaluate.
Selected matters
Case Studies
Open each case to see the issue, our involvement and the commercial impact.
Case study
Delay and Disruption Expert Report for a Joinery Subcontractor
Delay and disruption expert report supports high six-figure adjudication recovery for joinery subcontractor.
- Client
- Joinery subcontractor
- Issue
- The subcontractor experienced delay, disrupted access, inefficient working and productivity loss.
Case study
Quantum Expert Report for an M&E Subcontractor
Quantum expert report supports high six-figure adjudication recovery for M&E subcontractor.
- Client
- M&E subcontractor
- Issue
- The dispute concerned valuation, variations, deductions and payment entitlement.
Case study
Retention Recovery for a Brickwork Subcontractor
Five-figure retention recovery secured for brickwork subcontractor.
- Client
- Specialist brickwork subcontractor
- Issue
- Retention remained withheld after completion of the subcontract works.
Case study
Contractual Defence to a Substantial Damage Claim
Contractual defence limited a mid-six-figure damages claim to a minimal commercial settlement.
- Client
- HVAC subcontractor
- Issue
- A substantial damages claim arose following an incident during the construction period.
Case study
Quantum Expert Report for a Civil Engineering Subcontractor
Quantum expert report supports mid-six-figure adjudication recovery for civil engineering subcontractor.
- Client
- Civil engineering subcontractor
- Issue
- The payment dispute concerned delay-related costs and disruption-related losses.
Case study
Final Account Adjudication for a Painting Subcontractor
Approximately £184,000 plus VAT and interest awarded in final account adjudication.
- Client
- Specialist painting and surface preparation subcontractor
- Party representation
- Referring Party
- Issue
- The parties’ final account positions differed by approximately £137,000 across original works, variations and additional works.
Case study
Interim Valuation Adjudication for a Groundworks Subcontractor
Approximately £188,000 awarded in interim valuation adjudication.
- Client
- Specialist groundworks and civil engineering subcontractor
- Party representation
- Referring Party
- Issue
- The parties’ interim valuation positions differed by approximately £215,000, including disputed variations and additional works.
Case study
Delay and Disruption Adjudication for a Cladding Subcontractor
Approximately 65% of the £2 million delay and disruption claim was dismissed.
- Client
- Major specialist cladding and curtain walling subcontractor
- Party representation
- Responding Party
- Issue
- The main contractor advanced a claim of approximately £2 million for alleged delay and disruption on a commercial office development.
Need to know what to pay, challenge or do next?
If your builder or main contractor is claiming extra costs, the project is delayed, the work is disputed or the final account cannot be agreed, talk through the position before making the next payment or escalating the dispute. We can help you understand the cost position, the records available and the commercial route forward.
Developer Support
Send Us Your Details
Name, email and a few lines about your project is enough. We will come back to you within 24 hours.