Contract Administration Under the JCT – Why Procedure Matters

The JCT suite of contracts remains one of the most widely used in UK construction, valued for its structured approach to managing rights, obligations, and risk allocation between the parties. Yet, in practice, many disputes under JCT contracts don’t stem from unusual clauses or unforeseen events, they arise because contract administration has not been carried out correctly.

At Quigg Golden, we help employers, contractors, and subcontractors get JCT contract administration right the first time, protecting projects, relationships, and entitlements. Get in contact with our team today here to safeguard your position from the outset.

The Role of the Contract Administrator

A JCT Contract Administrator (CA) is far more than a messenger between parties. The CA’s role involves issuing instructions, certifying payments, granting extensions of time, and making determinations in accordance with the contract. They must balance the interests of the employer with the duty to act impartially when exercising certain decision-making functions. This impartiality is not just good practice, it is a contractual and, in some cases, legal requirement.

Why Notification Is Critical

Under the JCT forms, many rights, whether to claim time, money, or other relief, are contingent on proper notification. This means meeting deadlines, supplying the required level of detail, and following the correct format. Failing to do so can undermine a valid entitlement, leaving parties exposed to delay damages, cost overruns, or contractual penalties.

Procedure as Protection

Robust contract administration is as much about protecting the project as it is about protecting each party’s position. For employers, it means certainty and compliance; for contractors, it means maintaining entitlements and defending against unjust deductions; for subcontractors, it means ensuring their interests are not lost in the contractual chain.

Real-World Experience

Over the past several years, I have seen first-hand how procedural missteps under JCT contracts can escalate into disputes, adjudications, and even terminations. In every case, the cost, in both time and money, far outweighed the effort it would have taken to get the administration right from the outset.

Get in touch with Stephen McKenna at stephen.mckenna@hf.law for any JCT contract queries.