Housing

Prepare a written agreement for the renovation project. If the agreement has only been concluded orally, there is no evidence to require that the decorator or service provider sticks to the agreed price and timetable.

The written agreement should cover at least

• a description of the renovation work
• the price, pricing basis and a payment schedule
• what materials, and of what quality, will be used
• any arrangements and measures taken by the customer, e.g. dismantling old structures
• the dates when work will be commenced and concluded
• the consequences of delays
• information on subcontractors, if any

Where necessary, make use of the agreement template for minor renovation projects prepared by the Consumer Agency.

For larger renovation projects, make sure that the contractor's terms of contract are approved by the Consumer Ombudsman. When such terms of contract are used, the provisions of the agreement are compliant with the Consumer Protection Act and include a mention of the Consumer Ombudsman's approval.

• General conditions for special work contracts in building services (HVAC, electrical installations, water insulation, roofing and painting) REYS-8 1995
• General terms for consumer contracts in building services, RYS-9 1998: contract form, offer form and enclosures
• General terms for consumer contracts for building joiner work and the general terms of contract for assembly work related to the same
• General terms for consumer contracts and installation for prefabricated houses and building elements
• General terms of contract for prefabricated log homes and log products

Written agreements should also specify subcontractors

If the renovation work involves several actors, e.g. a primary contractor, an electrician, a plumber and a painter, make sure you have written contracts for every relevant aspect of the project. For instance, redoing a kitchen is a project which involves a decorator to install furniture as well as a plumber and an electrician. 

A written agreement is usually only concluded with the primary contractor, but he may get ”an electrician or plumber he happens to know” to the site to make some necessary minor installations. The renovation agreement should include the names and business information for anyone working at the site, even if the work they do is included in the price of the primary project.

The primary contractor is liable for the work done by subcontractors he uses. If, for instance, the customer is unable to reach the primary contractor and there is a defect in the work done by the subcontractor, the consumer is entitled to make a claim directly to the subcontractor.