For UK construction

Construction subcontractor agreement for the UK

Works scope, programme, payment notices, retention, CIS and site rules — a subcontract that reflects UK construction payment law.

4.9
|eIDAS · ESIGN · UETA aligned|Free to start

Who it's for

Built for the people who actually use it

Main contractors

Consistent subcontracts across trades and packages.

Subcontractors

Payment dates and notice rights that actually protect you.

Developers

Clear scope, programme and defect liability on site.

What's in the contract

Every clause you actually need

Drafted in plain English by AI, jurisdiction-aware, editable line-by-line. No legalese unless you want it.

Scope of works

The package, drawings, specification and exclusions.

Programme

Start date, sequencing, access dates and completion.

Payment mechanism

Applications, payment notices and pay less notices under the Construction Act.

Retention

Percentage held, release on practical completion and after defects.

CIS & tax status

Construction Industry Scheme deductions and verification.

Variations

How instructed changes are valued and recorded.

Insurance & CDM

Required cover and duties under CDM Regulations 2015.

Defects liability

The rectification period and making good defects.

How it works

From blank page to signed PDF in 3 steps

Describe in plain English

Tell SigningVault who's involved and what you're agreeing. The AI drafts the right contract with the right clauses.

Tweak in seconds

Edit any line, swap clauses, change jurisdiction. Add signature fields with a click.

Send & sign

Recipients get a private signing link by email. They sign in-browser — no account, no app. You both get the sealed PDF.

Legal & compliance

Payment under the Construction Act

The Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996, as amended, gives most UK construction contracts a statutory payment framework: an adequate payment mechanism, payment and pay less notices, a right to suspend for non-payment, and a right to adjudicate at any time.

Signatures captured on SigningVault are Simple Electronic Signatures under the Electronic Communications Act 2000 and the UK eIDAS Regulation. Every signature is stored with the signer's name, email, IP address and a UTC timestamp in a tamper-evident audit trail, so the agreement stands up if it is ever challenged.

  • Legally binding in England & Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
  • Tamper-evident audit trail with IP address and UTC timestamp
  • Signed PDF and certificate of completion for both parties
  • Fully editable — change any clause before you send it

FAQ

Common questions

What are payment and pay less notices?+

The payer must issue a payment notice stating the sum due, and any reduction requires a pay less notice served before the final date for payment. Missing them can make the applied-for sum payable in full.

Can a subcontractor suspend for non-payment?+

Yes. Under the Construction Act a subcontractor may suspend performance on seven days' written notice if a notified sum is not paid.

How much retention is normal?+

Typically 3% to 5%, with half released at practical completion and the balance after the defects period. The template lets you set both.

Does CIS apply?+

For most construction operations, yes. The template records CIS verification and gross or net payment status.

Draft yours in under 60 seconds

No credit card. No templates to wade through. Just describe the agreement and SigningVault writes it.