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Retention recovery

For main contractors

Check and pursue retention that should be released under your main contract.

What is it?

We distinguish client-held retention from sums you hold on subcontracts, including their different release requirements. Support with retention that has not been released. Choose an assessment, preparation of the agreed claim or response, or one defined response round. Each stage has a separate fee and endpoint; you only commission the work you need.

Wider final-account disputes, later release milestones, enforcement and proceedings are separate.

How does it work?

  1. You explain the work and the decision you need

    You describe the named main contract or subcontract and your position under it, the result you need and any urgent dates. The introductory conversation checks fit and availability; substantive assessment starts under an accepted instruction.

  2. We agree the scope, responsibilities and fee

    We check suitability, conflicts and capacity, then agree the scope, deliverables and timetable in writing, with a fixed fee or agreed hourly or daily basis. We explain payment terms, VAT and any separate costs before you accept. We agree the items, evidence cut-off and assessment, preparation or response stage you need. We assess your position under the main contract, keeping client recovery separate from amounts you owe or retain on subcontracts. Legal advice, representation and specialist analysis are separately appointed. We confirm responsibility for urgent actions and specialist input.

  3. You accept the scope and provide the information

    You accept the written scope and provide the contract, retention ledger, applications and notices, payments, completion and defects evidence, release requests and the other party’s response. You identify missing items and the versions supplied; we agree who will obtain anything still needed.

  4. We check the records and resolve gaps

    We check the documents against the agreed scope, dates and versions, raise queries and record the basis on which work can proceed. Missing evidence stays identified; we agree any limited assessment or pause affected work until essential information is available. Live deadlines continue to run.

  5. We establish the basis and chronology

    We identify the actual release triggers, dates and evidence required by the contract and reconcile what has been retained. We do not assume that one certificate establishes every condition for release.

  6. We assess the evidence and amount

    We check each release amount against deductions, caps, previous releases and payments, identify missing completion evidence and distinguish retention from other account disputes. We prepare the supported balance and required follow-up.

  7. We check the findings and explain the options

    We check calculations, source references and consistency between the evidence, assumptions and proposed position. We issue the assessment findings before your next-stage decision, identifying weaknesses, missing evidence and proportionate actions, including any specialist work needed.

  8. You decide whether to proceed

    You decide whether to stop after assessment, obtain more evidence or instruct preparation or a response. We confirm the next stage’s scope, fee, deadline and authority before proceeding; no dispute route starts automatically.

  9. We prepare the instructed submission or response

    If commissioned, we prepare the reconciled retention schedule, release evidence and agreed release request or response. We check it against the agreed evidence and address one consolidated response only where that stage has been instructed.

  10. You approve external issue and further action

    You approve the position and any external issue. The authorised sender retains the issued version and delivery evidence. Negotiation, offers, admissions, proceedings and enforcement require the appropriate authority and separate scope; unresolved matters remain recorded.

  11. We explain the result and complete the handover

    We issue the output for the stage instructed, supporting calculations and evidence, and the current issue and action record, explain the findings and record unresolved items, next actions, owners and dates. We answer the included clarification and correct our errors. New information, changed scope and later stages need a separate agreement; you decide whether to instruct them.

Timing: the timetable is agreed in writing at scoping and then kept. Working days start when the agreed scope and required information are available.

We confirm timing after checking the scope and available records. Flag any live deadline when you enquire; it continues to run while information is gathered.

Read how we agree the scope, fees and instruction.

What do you get?

You receive the outputs for the stages you choose. Each stage has its own scope, fee and endpoint; later stages are optional.

  • Assessment: a written review of the retained amount, release evidence and reasons given for withholding it.
  • Preparation: A checked retention account and supported release request.
  • Response: a reasoned reply to one consolidated set of comments and a record of what remains open, if separately instructed.

Each fixed piece of work includes one consolidated clarification round requested within 10 working days of issue, unless agreed otherwise. New records or scope need a separate agreement; we correct our own errors without charge.