Retention and final payment: how contractors protect and recover them
Retention and the final account are often a contractor's margin. They are also the sums most often left unpaid. Here is how to protect them.
5 min readServices
Construction & Real Estate Advisory
Construction and property projects are won or lost in the contract and the paperwork that follows it. We advise contractors, fit-out companies, developers, landowners and investors — with PDC Group's engineers and quantity surveyors behind the technical detail.
What's included
- 01
Construction & engineering contract advisory
Main contracts, subcontracts and consultancy appointments, including FIDIC-based forms.
- 02
Interior design & fit-out contract advisory
Design-and-build and fit-out agreements that control scope, approvals and change.
- 03
Construction claims advisory
Variations, extensions of time, payment and termination — notices, entitlement and quantification.
- 04
Developer, landowner & investor agreements
Development, joint-venture and investment agreements that allocate risk and returns clearly.
When clients call us
“The employer refuses our variation claims.”
We review the instruction trail and the notice requirements, and build the claim with quantity surveyors who can defend the numbers.
“We were delayed by others and face penalties.”
We assess entitlement to an extension of time against the contract and the programme evidence, and respond to delay penalties.
“A landowner and investor want to develop together.”
We structure the agreement so contributions, approvals, exit and disputes are settled on paper first.
How we work
- 01
Enquiry & conflict check
Tell us the matter and the other party's name. We confirm there is no conflict.
- 02
Document review
We review what you have and identify gaps and risks.
- 03
Written proposal
Scope, approach, timeline and fees, agreed in writing.
- 04
Action & reporting
We act, and report at every material step until the matter closes.
What we need from you
- The contract, appendices and particular conditions
- Instructions, variations and site correspondence
- Programmes and progress reports
- Payment applications and certificates
- Notices sent and received
- Your commercial objectives
Questions
Do you work with FIDIC contracts?
Yes. Many UAE projects use FIDIC-based forms with amended particular conditions. We review the amendments carefully, because that is where risk usually moves.
How does PDC Group help on claims?
For construction claims, PDC Consult's quantity surveyors and claims specialists can analyse programmes, measure variations and quantify loss, so the legal argument is backed by technical evidence.
Can you review a contract before we tender or sign?
Yes — this is the most cost-effective time to involve us. We flag the clauses that carry the most risk and suggest amendments.
Insights
Send us the file. We'll tell you where you stand.
Share a short summary and the other party's name. After a conflict check, we review your documents and set out the route, the timeline and the fee — in writing.