TERMS & CONDITIONS 

AJS ARCHITECTURE LTD TERMS & CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS
 

1. These terms

1.1 Our Letter of Appointment and these Conditions are the terms and conditions on which we provide our Services to you. They set out how we will provide the Services, the fees we will charge, how you or we may end the Contract and other important information. Please read the Letter of Appointment and these Conditions carefully and speak to the person who is handling your work if you have any questions or if anything is unclear.

1.2 In some areas, you will have different rights under these Conditions if you are a business or consumer. You are a consumer if you are an individual procuring our services for your personal use and not in connection with any trade or profession.

2. Information about us

2.1 Who we are. We are AJS Architecture Ltd a company registered in England and Wales. Our company registration number is 10978812 and whose registered office is at Cleveland House, 39 Old Station Road, Newmarket.

2.2 How to contact us. You can contact us by telephoning our team on 01233 901904 or by writing to us at ajs.design@hotmail.com or AJS Architecture Ltd, Cleveland House, 39 Old Station Road, Newmarket.

2.3 How we may contact you. If we have to contact you, we will do so by telephone or by writing to you at the email address or postal address you provided to us.

2.4 “Writing” includes emails. When we use the words “writing” or “written” in these Conditions, this includes emails.

3.0 Definitions of these conditions

Client - the person(s), firm or company who purchases Services from AJS

Conditions- these terms and conditions as amended from time to time in accordance with clause 18.5.

Contract- the contract, comprising the Scope of Services and Fees and these Conditions, between AJS and the Client for the supply of the Services

Fees- the fees payable by the Client for the provision of the Services in accordance with clause 9.

Intellectual Property Rights - copyright and related rights, moral rights, rights in designs, rights to use, and protect the confidentiality of, confidential information, and all other intellectual property rights, in each case whether registered or unregistered and including all applications and rights to apply for and be granted, renewals or extensions of, and rights to claim priority from, such rights and all similar or equivalent rights or forms of protection which subsist or will subsist now or in the future in any part of the world.

Scope of Services and Fees - the Scope of Services and Fees from AJS to the Client to which these Conditions are annexed.

AJS - AJS Architecture Ltd registered in England and Wales with company registration number 10978812

Project - the Client’s project in relation to which AJS are to provide the Services as specified in the Scope of Services & Fees

Services - the services to be performed by AJS as specified in the Scope of Services and fees or otherwise agreed in writing from time to time.

4.0 Entire Agreement

4.1 This agreement is to offer AJS Architecture Ltd (herein referred to as ‘The Architectural designer’), to perform the consulting services described in the attached Scope of Services and Fees. On acceptance by the Client, the Architectural designer is strictly limited to the attached proposal and these Terms and Conditions for Architectural Services, which when acknowledged in writing, is authorised to proceed. The Client is defined as the person or business entity signed in the Agreement, authorising the Architectural designer to proceed.

4.2 The Client shall return signed acceptance of these Conditions or otherwise provide AJS with written authority to proceed. If the client does not return a signed copy of these Conditions and AJS continues to provide the Services, the Client will be deemed to have accepted the Scope of Services and Fees and these Conditions.

4.3 These Conditions apply to the Contract to the exclusion of any other terms that the Client seeks to impose or incorporate and, if you are a business client, to the exclusion of those terms which are implied by law, trade custom, practice, or course of dealing.

5. Services to be Performed

5.1 The services to be performed are described in the Scope of Services and Fees. Unless otherwise specified in the Scope of Services and Fees or the Terms and Conditions, the Architectural designer shall furnish all technical and professional services, including labour, materials, supplies, equipment, transportation and supervision to perform all tasks listed in the Scope of Services and Fees.

5.2 Supply the Services to the Client in accordance with the Scope of Services and Fees in all material respects and use all reasonable endeavours to meet any performance dates specified in the Scope of Services and Fees, but any such dates shall be estimates only and time shall not be of the essence for performance of the Services.

5.3 It may be necessary to amend the Services or approved design to comply with any applicable law or regulatory requirement, but AJS shall notify the Client in any such event.

6.0 Construction (Design & Management) Regulations 2015

6.1 The Construction (Design & Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM Regulations) set out key health and safety obligations for construction projects and apply to both business and consumer clients, though the obligations for business clients are more burdensome.

6.2 Under the CDM Regulations the Client must make suitable arrangements for managing a project including appointing a principal designer to co-ordinate the pre-construction phase of the project.

6.3 Unless set out in the Scope of Services and Fees, assuming the role of principal designer or any other role under the CDM Regulations is not included within the Services and it is the Client’s responsibility for ensuring it complies with all of its duties under the CDM Regulations.

6.4 The client is responsible of appointing a Principal Designer, AJS will not take this role on by default following noncompliance of the client. Contract will cease if client is non-compliant with CDM regulations.

7.0 Client Responsibilities

The Client shall:

7.1.  Ensure that the terms of the Scope of Services and Fees are complete and accurate and meet its requirements for the Project;

7.2 co-operate with AJS in all matters relating to the Services;

7.3 provide AJS with such information, access, and instructions as AJS may reasonably require in order to provide the Services and ensure that such information is complete and accurate in all material respects. The Client acknowledges that AJS shall be entitled to rely on such information;

7.4 appoint and pay such other contractors and consultants as are required in connection with the Project and require them to co-operate and collaborate with AJS. Such contractors and consultants shall be instructed directly by the Client and AJS makes no warranty as to the competence, performance, work, services, products, or solvency of any such contractors or consultants. The Client shall hold such contractors and consultants (and not AJS) responsible for the proper carrying out and completion of construction works; and

7.5 if the Client is a company or other corporate entity, provide AJS with contact details for a representative of the Client with authority to provide information and instructions to AJS as required.

7.6 AJS shall not be liable for any delays to the Services or Project caused by the Client’s failure to comply with the obligations in this clause 7.

8. Planning permission and other applications for consent

8.1 AJS shall make no enquiries as to the presence of any restrictive Covenants, easements, rights of way or other legal burdens affecting the land or building to which the Project relates or any requirement to comply with the Party Wall Act 1996. The Client should make its own enquiries and satisfy itself in respect of these matters before instructing AJS.

8.2 The Client shall instruct the making of applications for consent under planning legislation, building acts and regulations and such other legislation as may be required in connection with the Services and Project. The Client shall pay any statutory charges and any fees, expenses, and disbursements in respect of such applications.

8.3 The Client acknowledges that AJS cannot guarantee that planning permissions and other approvals from third parties will be granted at all or in accordance with any anticipated timescale. AJS reserves the right to charge additional fees for amending or redrawing any proposal should the Client wish to make significant amendments to the design or should another application for planning permission or other approval need to be submitted. Once decisions have been received from the relevant authorities, it may be necessary to revise the budget and timescales for the Project.

8.4 Should the Client wish to appeal a planning permission decision or other decision, AJS will advise the Client of its additional charges payable in respect of the appeal, including preparing the appeal and the supporting statements and documents required.

9. Payment of Fees, expenses, and disbursements

9.1 Payment shall be as stated in the Scope of Services and Fees or calculated on a percentage of building costs, time charge plus expenses, or a lump sum plus expenses. Invoicing will be as stated on the Scope of Services and Fees and payment will become due prior to submitting any plans to local authority or other parties as detailed or within 30 days of the date of issue of invoice if otherwise stated.

9.2 The service of any invoices shall be sufficient if posted or emailed to the client at the addresses on the letter attached to these conditions, or any other address as may subsequently be agreed in writing.

9.3 Invoices remaining unpaid beyond 14 days of issue shall bear compound interest plus reasonable debt recovery costs, such interest to accrue daily from the date of invoice issue at the rate of 8 percent per annum above the current Bank of England base rate.

9.4 Any invoice or item on an invoice which is disputed shall be brought to our attention in writing within seven days of the date of the invoice failing which it shall be assumed no item is disputed. Our fees do not include for any disbursements or payments to third parties such as payments due to Local Authorities or other statutory bodies as Planning and Building Regulation fees or other charges which will be charged in addition, unless stated to the contrary.

9.5 If there are any changes to the scope of the Services or any of the information supplied by the Client turns out to be incorrect, this may increase the Fees. It may be that the Project becomes protracted or is more complicated than envisaged at the date of the Scope of Services and Fees which will have a knock-on effect on the Fees. Unless agreed otherwise, such additional fees shall be calculated and provided to the client prior to instruction.

9.6 Standard charges for disbursements (travelling, printing, out of pocket expenses, etc.) can be supplied upon request.

10. Intellectual Property Rights and use of drawings and documents

10.1 AJS shall own all Intellectual Property Rights in the drawings, documents and such other work produced in performing the Services (including material in electronic format) and asserts its moral rights to be identified as the author of all such work.

10.2 AJS grants to the Client a licence to copy and use the drawings and documents for the purposes of receiving and using the Services and only in connection with the Project. Such drawings and documents may not be used for reproduction of the design for any part of any extension of the Project and/or for any other project except with the prior written consent of AJS and on payment of a licence fee to AJS.

10.3 The Client shall not sub-license, assign or otherwise transfer the rights granted in clause 10.2 without the prior written consent of AJS. If the drawings and documents are used by third parties for any reason, with or without the consent of AJS, that third party shall be responsible for checking the accuracy of all dimensions, details and other information shown so as to satisfy themselves as to its accuracy.

10.4 If at any time the Client is in default of payment of Fees or other amounts due under the Contract, the licence granted under clause 10.2 shall cease immediately and automatically. Use of the licence may be resumed on receipt by AJS of such outstanding amounts.

10.5 No part of any design by AJS may be registered by the Client without the prior written consent of AJS.

11. Data protection

11.1 AJS may process, transfer, or disclose personal information about the Client for the purposes of providing the Services, complying with the Client’s instructions and complying with its legal obligations.

12. Insurance and limitation of liability: THE CLIENT’S ATTENTION IS PARTICULARLY DRAWN TO THIS CLAUSE.

12.1 AJS maintain professional indemnity insurance cover in the sum of £1 million provided such insurance continues to be offered on commercially reasonable terms. The limits and exclusions in this clause reflect the insurance cover AJS has been able to arrange, and the Client is responsible for making its own arrangements for the insurance of any excess loss.

12.2 The Client agrees that they will not bring any claim against any employee or director of AJS in respect of any loss or damage they or any person or company associated with them suffer or incur, directly or indirectly, in connection with the provision of the Services. Accordingly, any claim the Client wishes to make can only be made against AJS.

12.3 Nothing in the Contract limits any liability for:

12.3.1 death or personal injury caused by negligence;

12.3.2 fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation; and

12.3.3 any other liability which cannot legally be limited.

12.4  Subject to clause 12.3:

12.4.1 AJS shall not be liable for any loss of profit, or any indirect or consequential loss arising under or in connection with the Contract; and

12.4.2 AJS’s total liability to the Client arising under or in connection with the Contract including liability in contract, tort (including negligence), misrepresentation, restitution or otherwise, shall not exceed the amount of AJS’s professional indemnity insurance in force at the time of the claim.

12.5 No action or proceedings arising out of or in connection with this Contract shall be commenced after six years from the last date on which the Services were performed or, if earlier, the practical completion of construction of the Project.

12.6 The Client shall hold the contractor or contractors responsible for the proper carrying out and completion of the construction works and for health and safety provisions on site. It is expected that all contractors appointed will be competent in their profession.

12.7 AJS shall not be liable for any increased liability falling on it by reason of any limit which the Client may have agreed with any contractor or consultant or which may otherwise have fallen upon AJS by reason of the contributory negligence of any other person against whom the Client does not make recovery for any reason. This is relevant in circumstances in which AJS and other persons may be liable in respect of the same damage. In these circumstances, AJS’s liability shall be limited to such sums as it ought reasonably to pay having regard to its responsibility for the damage (within the meaning of section 2(1) of the Civil Liability Contribution Act 1978) and on the basis that such other parties are deemed to have paid the Client such sums as they ought reasonably to have paid:

12.7.1 having regard to that party’s responsibility for the damage; and

12.7.2 disregarding any limitation, the Client may have agreed with such party or that such party has ceased to exist.

12.8 This clause 12 shall survive termination of the Contract.

13. Consumer client’s right to cancel

13.1 Consumer clients (individuals procuring the Services for personal use and not for commercial gain) who enter into the Contract away from AJS’s offices have the right to cancel the Contract within 14 days under the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013. Cancellations must be made by giving notice in writing, in each case sent by email or post to AJS.

13.2 If AJS were instructed to perform any Services before the Client ended the Contract, AJS shall be entitled to any fees and expenses properly due before receipt of the Client’s notice of cancellation.

14. Termination

14.1 The Client or AJS may terminate the Contract or suspend performance of the Services at any time by giving the other party seven days’ prior written notice, stating the reasons for doing so.

14.2 Without affecting any other right or remedy available to AJS, AJS may terminate the Contract with immediate effect by giving the Client written notice if:

14.2.1 the Client fails to pay any amount due under the Contract on the due date for payment;

14.2.2 the Client commits a material or persistent breach of the Contract and (if such a breach is remediable) fails to remedy that breach within seven days of AJS asking the Client in writing to do so;

14.2.3 the Client (or either of them where there is more than one Client), being an individual, is the subject of a bankruptcy petition; or

14.2.4  the Client, being a company or LLP, takes any step or action in connection with its entering administration, provisional liquidation or any composition or arrangement with its creditors (other than in relation to a solvent restructuring), being wound up (whether voluntarily or by order of the court, unless for the purpose of a solvent restructuring), having a receiver appointed to any of its assets or ceasing to carry on business or, if the step or action is taken in another jurisdiction, in connection with any analogous procedure in the relevant   jurisdiction.

14.3 Without affecting any other right or remedy available to AJS, AJS may suspend the supply of Services if;

14.3.1 the Client fails to pay any amount due under the Contract on the due date for payment;

14.3.2 the Client commits a material or persistent breach of the Contract; or

14.3.3 AJS are prevented from or impeded in performing the Services for reasons beyond AJS’s reasonable control.

15. Consequences of termination

15.1 On termination of the Contract:

15.1.1 the Client shall immediately pay to AJS all of AJS’s outstanding unpaid invoices, interest and any other costs incurred and, in respect of Services supplied but for which no invoice has been submitted, AJS shall submit an invoice, which shall be payable by the Client immediately on receipt; and

15.1.2 a copy of the drawings and documents produced in performing the Services not previously provided to the Client shall be delivered on demand to the Client by AJS, subject to the terms of the licence under clause 9 and payment of all outstanding Fees, expenses, and other amounts due to AJS.

15.2 Termination of the Contract shall not affect any rights, remedies, obligations, or liabilities of the parties that have accrued up to the date of termination, including the right to claim damages in respect of any breach of the Contract which existed at or before the date of termination.

15.3 Any provision of the Contract that expressly or by implication is intended to come into or continue in force on or after termination of the Contract shall remain in full force and effect.

16. Complaints

If any issues arise concerning the provision of the Services that the Client is not able to resolve with their day-to-day contact at AJS, the Client should refer the matter in writing to Antony Smith, a director, at Cleveland House, 39 Old Station Road, Newmarket, CB88QE.

17. Photography and publicity

AJS shall have the right to publish photographs and images relating to the Client’s project on AJS’s website, social media platforms and in any other marketing publications or magazines. The Client shall give AJS reasonable access for this purpose for two years after practical completion of the Project.

18. General

18.1 Force majeure. Neither party shall be in breach of the Contract nor liable for delay in performing, or failure to perform, any of its obligations under the Contract if such delay or failure result from events, circumstances or causes beyond its reasonable control.

18.2 Assignment. Neither AJS nor the Client shall assign, transfer, mortgage, charge, subcontract, delegate, declare a trust over or deal in any other manner with any of its rights and obligations under the Contract without the prior written consent of other, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed.

18.3 Confidentiality.

18.3.1 Each party undertakes that it shall not at any time disclose to any person any confidential information concerning the Project and the business, affairs, and commercial contacts of the other party, except as permitted by clause 18.3.2.

18.3.2 Either party may disclose the other’s confidential information:

1. a) to its employees, officers, representatives, contractors, subcontractors or advisers who need to know such information for the purposes of carrying out its obligations under the Contract;

2. b) to take professional advice in relation to the Contract or Services, or in order to obtain/maintain insurance cover; and

3. c) as may be required by law, a court of competent jurisdiction or any governmental or regulatory authority.

18.3.3 Neither party shall use the other party’s confidential information for any purpose other than to perform its obligations under the Contract.

18.4 Entire agreement. If the Client is a business client, the Contract constitutes the entire agreement between the Client and AJS and supersedes and extinguishes all previous agreements, promises, assurances, warranties, representations, and understandings between them, whether written or oral, relating to its subject matter. The Client acknowledges and agrees that it has not relied on any undertaking, promise, assurance, statement, representation, warranty or understanding (whether in writing or not) of any person (whether party to the Contract or not) relating to the subject matter of the Contract, other than as expressly set out in the Contract.

18.5 Variation. Except as set out in these Conditions, no variation of the Contract shall be effective unless it is in writing and signed by the parties (or their authorised representatives).

18.6 Waiver. A waiver of any right or remedy under the Contract or by law is only effective if given in writing and shall not be deemed a waiver of any subsequent right or remedy. A failure or delay by a party to exercise any right or remedy provided under the Contract or by law shall not constitute a waiver of that or any other right or remedy, nor shall it prevent or restrict any further exercise of that or any other right or remedy. No single or partial exercise of any right or remedy provided under the Contract or by law shall prevent or restrict the further exercise of that or any other right or remedy.

18.7 Severance. If any provision or part-provision of the Contract is or becomes invalid, illegal, or unenforceable, it shall be deemed modified to the minimum extent necessary to make it valid, legal, and enforceable. If such modification is not possible, the relevant provision or part-provision shall be deemed deleted. Any modification to or deletion of a provision or part-provision under this clause shall not affect the validity and enforceability of the rest of the Contract.

18.8 Third party rights. Unless it expressly states otherwise, the Contract does not give rise to any rights under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 to enforce any term of the Contract.

18.9 Governing law. The Contract, and any dispute or claim (including non-contractual disputes or claims) arising out of or in connection with it or its subject matter or formation shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of England and Wales.

18.10 Jurisdiction. Each party irrevocably agrees that the courts of England and Wales shall have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any dispute or claim (including non-contractual disputes or claims) arising out of or in connection with the Contract or its subject matter or formation.

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