Practical completion certificate template
A practical completion certificate confirms that building work has been finished apart from minor items, and starts the defects period. It is issued by the contract administrator or the client once the works are ready for use. The contract, the date, the defects period, the retention and the outstanding items are different for every project.
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What changes each time
17 values. Everything else is your wording, kept exactly.
The contract
- Contract name or reference, and date
- Client (employer)
- Contractor
- Site address
- Short description of the works
- Contract administrator's name, firm and position
Certification
- Date of practical completion
- Contract clause defining practical completion
- Section or part of the works covered
What follows
- Defects period length
- End date of the defects period
- Retention released now and balance later
- Completion date under the contract, as extended
Outstanding items and documents
- Date of the snagging list and date for completing it
- Documents handed over: document and whether received
Signing
- Signatory name, position and date of issue
- Contractor's acknowledgement: name and date
The rules it usually needs
Written in plain English when the template is set up.
- One of several wordings
“State that the certificate is issued by the contract administrator, or by the client.”
The administrator's name, firm and position appear only on the first form.
- One of several wordings
“Either state there are no outstanding items, or refer to the minor items on a snagging list with a date to complete them.”
The list date and the completion date appear only on the second form.
- One of several wordings
“Release half the retention now and the balance at the end of the defects period, or set out another release arrangement.”
Only the chosen wording appears.
- Only when…
“Include the section wording only when completion is of a section of the works.”
The certificate covers only that section.
- Only when…
“Include the retention line only when retention is held.”
The amounts released now and later appear.
- Only when…
“Include the damages for delay line only when the contract provides for liquidated damages.”
The damages stop running on the date of completion.
- Only when…
“Include the contractor's acknowledgement only when the contractor acknowledges receipt.”
The contractor signs and dates.
- Once for each item
“One row in the documents handed over table for each document.”
Four rows, such as a building control completion certificate, an electrical certificate, guarantees and keys, each marked received or to follow.
Questions people ask
What is practical completion?
The point at which building work is finished, apart from minor items that do not stop the property being used, as defined in the contract.
What happens at practical completion?
The defects period starts, half of any retention is usually released, responsibility for insuring the works passes to the client and any delay damages stop.
Is it the same as a building control completion certificate?
No. A practical completion certificate is issued under the building contract. A building control completion certificate is issued by building control and confirms the work meets the Building Regulations.
Who issues it?
The contract administrator named in the contract, or the client where there is none.
What is the defects period?
A set period after practical completion in which the contractor must put right defects in its work, often six or twelve months.
Use this template
It opens in DocuWeave as a template you can check, change and publish. Nothing is used until you do.