Construction Act — Payment Notice Deadlines
Construction Act — Payment Notice Deadlines
Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996 (as amended 2011) — Scheme defaults
Timeline
Day 0→END OF PAYMENT PERIOD
Day 7→DUE DATE (payment falls due)
Day 12→PAYMENT NOTICE DEADLINE (within 5 days of due date)
Day 17→PAY LESS NOTICE DEADLINE (at least 7 days before final date)
Day 24→FINAL DATE FOR PAYMENT (17 days after due date)
Key Rules
| No payment notice given? | You can adjudicate for the full notified sum |
| No pay less notice given? | The payer must pay the full sum in the payment notice |
| Right to suspend | 7 days' written notice to the payer, after the final date has passed without payment |
| Suspension costs | You can recover reasonable costs of suspension |
| Adjudication | You have the right to adjudicate at any time — decision binding until finally determined |
Important Notes
- • These are Scheme defaults — your contract may set different periods
- • Check your actual contract for specific due dates and notice periods
- • Payment notices must state the sum due and the basis of calculation
- • Pay less notices must state the sum considered due and the basis of calculation
- • Oral notices are not sufficient — notices must be in writing
"Smash and Grab" Adjudication
If the payer fails to serve a valid payment or pay less notice on time, you can adjudicate for the sum stated in your own notice. The adjudicator must award that sum.
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