Subcontractor agreements for bricklayers
As the main contractor or builder on a construction project, you have a lot of responsibilities. Ensuring compliance, sourcing the right materials, managing the schedule, and completing the job to a good standard.
The last thing you want on top of all that is unreliable subcontractors letting you down. So when you do find reliable subcontractors who provide a good service, you’ll want to keep them. But how do you work with subbies long-term without putting them on your PAYE or upsetting HMRC?
Do bricklayers need a contract?
Many bricklayers in the UK operate as self-employed subcontractors. This gives them flexibility in when they work, where they work, and how much they charge.
If you’re a construction firm that uses bricklayers regularly, it’s a good idea to have a subcontractor agreement in place.
This will make it clear who is responsible for what, how and when payments will be made, and the terms of service. You can also include clauses for dispute resolution, termination of contract and any specific details around pay, expenses, liability and equipment.
Although there is no legal requirement to have a written subcontractor agreement, it can help prevent misunderstandings.
Not only will a contract ensure clear terms for all parties involved, but it will also demonstrate to HMRC that the relationship is one of contractor and subcontractor and not employer and employee.
Why is it important to have a subcontractor agreement in place with bricklayers?
The construction industry is tough and the last thing a general contractor wants is extra problems because HMRC is enquiring about employment status or because a subcontractor is causing problems on site.
Having a contract in place can help protect your construction business by including specific clauses and provisions. For example, you can add a clause stating that if a subcontractor’s work is defective, payment can be withheld until it is rectified.
The best way to protect your business is to put a bespoke agreement in place. To help you, we’ve created a free subcontractor agreement template.
Check out our sub contractor agreement template here.
What should be included in a subcontractor agreement between you and a bricklayer?
Your contract should reflect the way you work with subbies in real life which is why it is better to have a bespoke agreement rather than use a generic contract template. Having everything in writing reduces the risk of misunderstandings between parties and holds more weight in a court of law.
Scope of work
Your contract should contain details about the scope of work and the service the subcontractor is being engaged for. What is the effective date of the contract and does it relate to one specific project or will it cover multiple projects?
Price and pay
Your contract should document payment terms. Will your subcontractor be paid an hourly rate, a daily rate, by brick or a fixed price per job?
Employment status
Your contract does not have to specify employment status, but the existence of the contract and the terms within it should make it obvious that all parties understand the relationship to be that of contractor and subcontractor.
Dispute management
You might also want to include a dispute management process covering things like mediation and arbitration.
Having clear terms in place for your bricklayer contractors will help you avoid legal fees as you can resolve any disputes by reviewing the terms of the contract.
Industries our contractor-subcontractor agreements can be used for
Our contractor-subcontractor contract template can be used for any main contractor engaging independent contractors within the construction industry, including:
Plumbing
Our subcontractor agreement template can be used if you are hiring subcontractors for domestic or commercial plumbing work.
Electrical engineering
If you’re an electrical contracting company and you use subbies on a regular basis, you can use our contractor to subcontractor agreement template.
Bricklaying
If you’re the main contractor on a construction project and you are bringing in bricklayers, our template will help you ensure that everyone is clear on the terms.
Construction
You can use our agreement template if you’re using labour-only subbies for the following services: bricklaying, scaffolding, plumbing or electrical, groundwork, roofing, landscaping or any other element of a construction project.
Landscaping
Want to bring in other parties to work on landscaping projects? Use our agreement template to make the relationship and the terms clear.
HVAC
If the agreement you have with a subcontractor warrants a formal contract, our subcontractor agreement template covers all the basics for Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning contractors.
Contact HardHats for watertight contracts with bricklayers
Our subcontractor agreement template outlines the various things your agreement should include, but if you would prefer to leave it to the experts, our team can create a bespoke contract for you.
All our contracts come with an insurance-backed guarantee. And, to make life even easier for you, we’ll get your contracts signed by your subbies using our custom software which allows subbies to view and sign the documents electronically.
What’s more, you can also use our software as a subcontractor management tool to store any other subcontractor documents you might need to keep on file.
Find out more about how it works here or book a call to get started.
