Construction Problem Center
Common Causes of Contractor Disputes — and How to Avoid Them
Most contractor disputes trace back to unclear scope, verbal agreements, or payments not tied to verified progress.
Common causes
- No written contract, or a contract with vague scope of works
- Payments made ahead of verified, measured progress
- Variations agreed verbally with no record of cost impact
- Different expectations on quality or finishes never documented
- No independent party (quantity surveyor / engineer) certifying progress
When to get a professional assessment
- • Contractor requesting large payments before matching progress on site
- • Disagreement over quantities or work already claimed as complete
- • Verbal-only variations with no documented cost
This information is general guidance for planning purposes and is not a substitute for an in-person professional assessment. Every building and site is different — a TEKEEY engineer can confirm the actual cause and recommend next steps.
Request a site inspection
A TEKEEY engineer will visit, assess the issue, and recommend next steps.
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