Designed to be used in conjunction with RIBA’s Architect’s Appointment Agreements for Small Projects (domestic and concise forms); the new contracts are fully aligned with the RIBA Plan of Work 2013.

The new contracts have been designed in response to feedback from RIBA members calling for improvement and innovation within the building contracts currently available.

The RIBA Domestic Building Contract provides a simple, comprehensive and legally appropriate contract solution for all types of non-commercial work, including renovations, extensions, maintenance and new buildings. The contract is endorsed by the HomeOwners Alliance.

The RIBA Concise Building Contract provides a complete contract solution to cover small scale commercial building projects of a standard and straightforward nature.

RIBA said the new building contracts form part of a move towards a holistic suite of project contracts that can be prepared and stored digitally and are more relevant and focused around the needs of those undertaking smaller projects – a more intelligent and flexible suite of documents that are easier to use, yet reduce risks to both parties and the project overall. The RIBA is also working on updating the suite of RIBA Agreements, to be available as an online tool.

The new RIBA Building Contracts will be launched on Wednesday 5 November and will be available in both print and online formats.

For further details on the new Contracts, please visit www.ribacontracts.com.

Stephen Hodder MBE, RIBA President said: “The new RIBA Building Contracts are a major step forward for the RIBA, our members and more importantly our member’s clients. The contracts complement our existing suite of architect’s appointment agreements for small scale residential and domestic building projects and have been written in straight forward language that can be completed with confidence, without the need for legal advice.”

Jane Duncan, director, Jane Duncan Architects and RIBA President-Elect added: “I commend these RIBA forms of contract - designed specifically for ease of use by architects and other industry professionals, but also and particularly by home owners and builders of smaller projects. The RIBA Buildings Contracts are fair and balanced, supporting and enabling the work of the contractor whilst protecting the rights and interests of clients. This offers appropriate provisions for the major risks that either parties may encounter, including the risk to the contractor of failure by the client to pay for the work done and the risk to the home owner of defective or incomplete work.

“I am proud to have been instrumental in the development of these two new forms of building contracts and very much welcome their publication.”