Subcontractor agreements
Set the package scope, work sequence, coordination duties, access and site rules for subcontractors. Useful for subcontractor agreements in Clare and across Ireland.
Project contracts in Ireland
Construction, Property and Energy Contracts
On a construction project, the argument is almost never about the work. It is about what the contract said the work included.
Róisín's Bespoke Contracts prepares and reviews contracts for contractors, developers, architects, engineers, tradespeople, renewable energy installers and solar businesses. Clear terms help keep the project moving when the scope changes or the programme slips.
Clarity belongs in the contract.
Put the key terms in sequence.
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Define the scope
Record the work, exclusions, assumptions and site responsibilities.
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Set milestones
Link stages to inspections, sign-off and the payment schedule.
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Control changes
Set out how instructions, price changes and time impacts are recorded.
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Plan for handover
Agree completion, snagging, defects and close-out documents.
Scope
Milestones
Variations
Payment
Defects
Agreements for the project chain
Appointments, Subcontracts and Supply Agreements
The right agreement depends on who is procuring the work, who controls the site and how each stage is paid for. Each role needs clear limits.
Professional appointments
Define services, deliverables, fee stages, reliance and liability for architects, engineers, surveyors and other consultants.
Main project agreements
Align the main contract with the chosen procurement route, programme, work packages and responsibilities across the project.
Equipment supply
Cover delivery dates, installation, commissioning, acceptance checks, equipment warranties and what happens if supply is delayed.
Installation and maintenance
Set responsibilities for site surveys, system installation, handover, servicing and response times for renewable energy work.
Property development
Address phased works, access, infrastructure delivery and the obligations that need to be met before the next stage starts.
Keep changes accountable
Scope, Milestones and Variations
Unclear scope leaves room for different readings of the same instruction. A project contract can define what is included, what is excluded and which assumptions the price depends on.
Milestones can follow the actual work sequence, with inspections and approvals tied to the relevant payment stage. Coordination duties matter when several parties share a site.
Record changes before work moves.
A variation process should identify who can instruct a change, how it is priced, how it affects time and when written confirmation is needed. Delay notices and extension-of-time terms should fit the project programme.
A practical variation trail
01Describe the proposed change
Identify the instruction, affected work, assumptions and any linked drawings or specifications.
02Price the work and time impact
Set a method for agreeing the additional cost and any effect on milestones or completion dates.
03Confirm authority in writing
Name who can approve the variation and how the decision is recorded before the changed work proceeds.
04Update the project record
Keep the instruction, revised price, programme impact and approvals together with the contract documents.
Close out the details
Payment, Warranties and Defects
Payment and handover terms should work with the project sequence. The contract can make clear how claims are made, what evidence is needed and when retention is released.
Payment and valuation
Set claim dates, valuation steps, supporting records, retention and release conditions. Pay-less and set-off wording should be checked against the applicable rules and the contract chain.
Consider: which work is measured at each valuation, and what information must accompany a payment claim.Warranties and defects
State the warranty period, how defects are notified and the steps and time allowed for rectification. Address any manufacturer warranty passed through with supplied equipment.
Consider: who receives a defect notice, how access is arranged and how completion of remedial work is confirmed.Completion and handover
Set practical completion criteria, the snagging process and the documents required at handover. Account for latent defects and the contract's relationship with insurance cover.
Consider: commissioning records, operating information, keys, certificates and outstanding items on the handover list.
Renewable energy projects
Renewable Energy and Solar Installations
Solar installation agreements need to account for the work before, during and after installation. A site survey, roof condition, customer readiness and grid connection may affect the programme and the installer’s obligations.
Solar installation agreements can also set careful boundaries around output estimates and performance statements. Commissioning is a contract milestone.
- Survey and readinessRecord access, roof condition, electrical readiness and customer responsibilities before work begins.
- Installation and connectionSet the installation scope, connection tasks, commissioning checks and acceptance process.
- Maintenance and responseDefine inspection intervals, monitoring responsibilities, fault reporting and response times.
Before work starts
Prepare Your Project Contracts Before Work Starts
Tell Róisín's Bespoke Contracts about the project type, procurement route and programme. Existing appointment or subcontract terms can also be reviewed before you sign.
Start before the first instruction.