Source: https://www.quantsurv.com/quantity-surveying/residential-developers/development-contract-administration Content format: Markdown version of the public page. Content reviewed: 2026-10-19 # Development contract administration For residential developers Appoint a contract administrator for the agreed development phase and building-contract duties. ## What is it? We agree the authority, reporting, site attendance and completion responsibilities for the phase, including independent assessments required by the contract. A defined appointment to administer the procedures in your building contract. The appointment sets our authority, duties, programme, visits, meetings and responsibilities through completion and any agreed defects period. Design, continuous site supervision, statutory dutyholder roles and dispute representation are outside this appointment unless separately and expressly agreed. ## How does it work? 1. ### You explain the work and the decision you need You describe the named development phase, plots and contract packages, 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 mobilisation, attendance, reporting and the duties through completion and any defects period. We identify decisions requiring independent judgement under the contract. 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 and amendments, appointment and delegated authority, programme, design responsibilities, current instructions, payment records and completion requirements. 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 mobilise the appointment We establish the document baseline, communication and notice routes, authority limits and diary of contractual actions. We map phase, sectional and plot handovers and interfaces with other appointments. 6. ### We administer the live contract procedures We review submissions and progress evidence, coordinate the agreed information and meetings, and manage instructed payment and change procedures. We make assessments impartially where the contract requires and issue only documents within our appointment. Site attendance is limited to the appointment. 7. ### You make the decisions reserved to you You provide required information and make spending, design or other reserved decisions in time. We record instructions and approvals, flag delay and cost consequences and escalate matters outside our authority without treating silence as approval. 8. ### We check assessments and maintain the record We check evidence, calculations, contractual procedures and authority before issuing instructions, assessments or certificates. We record issue and receipt, track outstanding actions and administer time-related decisions within the accepted duties, obtaining specialist input where needed. 9. ### We manage the agreed completion duties We assess completion requirements using the required inspections and evidence, deal with the instructed handover and defects procedures, and record outstanding work. Final certification, retention and final-account actions follow the actual contract and appointment; completion is not assumed from a target date. 10. ### We explain the result and complete the handover We issue the appointment records, issued documents and completion or termination handover, identifying any duties and dates that remain after our appointment ends, 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. 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? - A mobilisation record identifying authority, procedures, information requirements and responsibilities. - Instructions, assessments, certificates and project records required by the accepted appointment. - Completion and handover records for the duties expressly included.