Unpaid professional fees on a construction project?
For architects, structural and building services engineers, quantity and building surveyors, principal designers, planning consultants and building control inspectors.
How can an architect, engineer or surveyor recover unpaid fees from a developer?
Refer the fee dispute to Dispute Neutral as a low-cost alternative to adjudication or court. An independent lawyer decides on your appointment, fee stages and correspondence, with a binding decision within 10 business days of the matter being ready.
Disputes we decide
Common reasons payment stops in your sector.
Stage fees withheld
Fees for a completed work stage held back by a developer or contractor.
Additional services
Redesigns, extra site visits and extra planning work outside the original appointment.
Abortive projects
Fees for work done on a project that did not go ahead.
Quality allegations
A client who blames design issues for withholding payment.
Why use Dispute Neutral
- Your appointment or fee letter sets out the scope and stages.
- Fixed fee from £650 + VAT, far below the cost of adjudication or court.
- Private, which protects your professional relationships and reputation.
- A binding written decision within 10 business days of the matter being ready.
Both businesses must agree to use Dispute Neutral, either through a clause in your terms or once the dispute has arisen. How to ask them.
What about adjudication?
Appointments for architectural, design, surveying and engineering services on construction work are generally construction contracts, so either party has a statutory right to adjudication. Neither side has to use it, and the parties can agree to use Dispute Neutral instead.
Claims about professional negligence that need expert evidence are not suitable for Dispute Neutral.
- Example
- An engineering practice is owed £22,000 in stage fees on a residential development for a developer. The Dispute Neutral fee is £1,200 + VAT, fixed.
- Amount in dispute
- £22,000
- Dispute Neutral fee
- £1,200 + VATfixed; can be split 50:50
- Decision
- 10 business daysfrom when both sides’ documents are in
Settle future disputes before they start
Add our clause to your appointment terms and fee letters.
Questions
What about work for private homeowners?
Work for homeowners is a consumer contract, so consumer law applies and Dispute Neutral cannot currently decide it.
How much does it cost?
One fixed fee set by the amount in dispute: £650 + VAT up to £4,000, £900 up to £10,000, £1,200 up to £25,000 and £1,500 up to £150,000. For example, a £22,000 dispute costs £1,200 + VAT. The fee can be split 50:50.
Does the other business have to agree?
Yes. Both businesses must agree, either through a Dispute Neutral clause in your terms or once the dispute has arisen. We provide a ready-made invitation you can send, and free clauses you can add to your terms so future disputes come to us automatically.
Is the decision binding?
Yes. Both businesses sign an agreement to accept the decision before the case starts. It is final and binding except for fraud or manifest error. If it is not followed, it can be enforced; depending on the matter, by applying straight for summary judgment or serving a statutory demand.
How long does it take?
The decision is issued within 10 business days of the matter being ready, meaning both businesses have signed and uploaded their documents. There is no hearing.
Useful guides
- Recovering unpaid professional feesFor accountants, architects, engineers, agencies, consultants and freelancers.Article
- Add Dispute Neutral to your contractsFree clauses for your business terms, so any dispute comes straight to an independent decision.Clauses
- Court costs vs Dispute NeutralA side-by-side cost comparison for claims from £4,000 to £150,000.Guide
Get a binding decision in 10 business days
Fixed fees from £650 + VAT. Both businesses agree, send their documents, and an independent lawyer decides.
Prevent the next one: add our free clause to your terms of business.