JCT contract cheat sheet for clients
Understand your JCT client duties: appoint the right administrator, make decisions on time, control changes and pay through the agreed procedure.
by Jack Butler-Kettle · About 5 min readShare
Before you start
Use this as a quick operational checklist, not a complete contract summary. Keep the signed form, amendments and project dates beside it.
For employers under JCT Standard Building Contract (SBC) or Design and Build (DB), including 2016 and 2024 editions. Minor Works and homeowner forms need their own checks. JCT's contract families distinguish the forms. Contractual and statutory rights also depend on the project and jurisdiction.
Working in another role? See the sheet for subcontractors or main contractors.
Step-by-step guide
1. Set responsibilities before work starts
Do this: Confirm who designs, administers, supplies information and approves spending. Appoint the contract administrator or employer's agent appropriate to the form. Agree decision dates, access and authority limits.
Watch for: Using an adviser does not transfer all your contractual duties. Late access, information or decisions can create time and cost exposure.
Client contract management support can help turn the agreed terms into a working diary of duties and notices.
2. Assess and pay through the proper sequence
Do this: Arrange timely valuation or certification under the selected form. Check the amount and basis, required notices and final date for payment. Read the JCT payment guide.
Watch for: Disagreeing with a valuation does not stop the payment clock. Retention and deductions need a contractual basis and any required notice.
3. Route changes through authorised instructions
Do this: Give requested changes to the appointed administrator or agent. Ask for cost and time implications, approve against the budget and record the instruction and resulting assessment.
Watch for: A casual request to the site team can create disagreement over authority and extra cost. A fixed price does not make every change free.
4. Make decisions and assess delay fairly
Do this: Log required client decisions and contractor delay notices. Arrange assessment under the contract, request supporting information and record the extension decision and any separate cost assessment.
Watch for: A completion extension and loss-and-expense entitlement are different. Do not deduct delay damages without checking the necessary decisions, certificates and notices.
5. Separate handover from the final account
Do this: Arrange the completion inspection and record defects, handover information and outstanding actions. Track retention, the defects period and final certification. Use the practical completion guide.
Watch for: Moving in, practical completion and final settlement are different events. Obtain advice before terminating, taking over unfinished work or replacing the contractor.
Before you finish: Write down the next action, its owner, deadline and delivery method. Get advice on uncertain rights before an irreversible step.
Worked example
The facts
Fictional example: a JCT client requests a different kitchen finish during construction without first checking the price or programme.
What happens
The client routes the request through the authorised administrator and asks for the cost and time implications.
The approved instruction and budget adjustment are recorded; the valuation follows the contract's rules.
What this shows
The decision has a traceable instruction and commercial record instead of an unresolved conversation on site.
JCT client briefing template
Fill the blank briefing from the executed agreement and its amendments. Have the contractual contact, deadlines and responsibilities checked, then issue a dated version to the team.
Free blank template for your own project. The completed example is shown below. No email address required.
View the completed example
Completed fictional example
Westhaven refurbishment · 14 October 2026 · Version 1.0
Project and contract
- Project / package
- Westhaven refurbishment / internal works
- Our role / party
- Client / Westhaven Property Ltd
- Selected form / edition
- JCT Design and Build 2024
- Amendments / controlled copy
- Signed contract plus amendments schedule rev 2, held in contract folder
- Briefing owner / checked
- Commercial lead; checked 14 October 2026; briefing revision 1
- Contractual contact / route
- Employer’s agent; named contact and notice category in signed communications schedule
Site-team operating sheet
Scroll across if needed to read the whole record. A dash means no value has been entered.
| Area | Completed project briefing | Record / owner |
|---|---|---|
| Scope and authority | Confirm the brief, approvals, funding and delegated authority. Issue instructions through the appointed contractual route rather than informal site requests. | Scope rev C; document register / project lead |
| Payment | Confirm who assesses and issues notices, review the valuation and arrange payment under the contract. Keep authority and funding available for each cycle. | October application deadline 20 Oct 12:00; checked project diary / QS |
| Changes | Record the authorised instruction and value the change under the agreed rules. Notify time and loss/expense effects through their separate procedures. | CH-07: relocation instruction I-07; price and time unresolved / QS |
| Delay and records | Check the relevant grounds for time and money separately. Keep the delay notice, particulars, mitigation and completion assessment together. | Access restriction 7–8 Oct; D-07/08, AL-07/08, programme P-02 / planner |
| Completion | Record the contract completion decision, handover information and defects. Reconcile final valuation, retention and unresolved claims before settlement. | Handover HR-01; as-built drawing outstanding / project lead |
Live actions and dates
Scroll across if needed to read the whole record. A dash means no value has been entered.
| Action | Checked project date / source | Owner / evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Confirm CH-07 submission | 16 Oct 2026; review action, not a universal notice period | QS / issued submission and receipt |
| Submit October application | 20 Oct 2026 12:00; project payment schedule P rev 2 | Accounts lead / APP-10 and delivery proof |
| Resolve incomplete handover | 16 Oct 2026; close-out action CO-02 | Design lead / accepted as-built drawing |
Fictional project briefing. Dates and responsibilities shown are illustrative project entries, not standard-form defaults. This original summary does not reproduce or replace the contract. Check every clause, recipient and deadline in the actual executed documents.
Sources
- JCT construction contract families. The Joint Contracts Tribunal.