Source: https://www.quantsurv.com/resources/glossary/loss-and-expense Content format: Markdown version of the public page. Content reviewed: 2026-09-30 # Loss and expense: definition and example The money you lose when the job is delayed or disrupted by events your contract puts at the other side's risk. By [Jack Butler-Kettle]() ยท Updated 30 September 2026 Guidance for England and Wales. Check the contract, amendments and facts that apply to your job. ## What it means in practice Read this alongside [SCL Delay and Disruption Protocol](). A loss-and-expense claim seeks compensation under the relevant contractual provisions for the financial effect of qualifying events. More time to complete does not automatically produce a money entitlement. The event, conditions, causal link and supported amount need to be considered separately. Keep cost records connected to specific events and periods. [Delay and disruption recovery]() can help distinguish additional cost from the original priced work. ## Worked example ### The facts Late access keeps a site supervisor on a package longer than planned. ### What happens 1. The subcontractor checks whether the event qualifies under its loss-and-expense terms. 2. It links the additional supervisor cost to the affected period and considers any costs avoided. ### What this shows A supported calculation explains the additional loss without assuming that every cost during the delay is recoverable. ## Sources 1. [Delay and Disruption Protocol, 2nd edition, February 2017](). Society of Construction Law.