Tools — Contracts NEC & JCT deadline calculator
Enter a date to see the key contract deadlines that follow it, from NEC4 compensation events and quotations to JCT payment and pay less notices.
Indicative only. Our free tools and information are a general guide to help you think about your project. They are not advice on your specific project. Every project is different, so we can only give firm advice once we have spoken with you and fully understand your requirements and scope. Book a conversation
- NEC4 Engineering and Construction Contract (unamended). Periods are in calendar weeks.
- JCT 2016 standard forms (unamended), such as the Standard Building Contract, Design and Build and Intermediate. Periods exclude public holidays in England and Wales.
- Using JCT 2024? The payment periods are the same, but JCT 2024 calls the Employer the “Client”.
If your contract has been amended, or the Contract Data sets different periods, those take priority. Always check your own contract.
This tool is a guide, not legal advice. Need help with a live issue? Talk to us.
Construction contract deadlines and time bars
Missing a contractual deadline can cost a contractor or client real money. Under the NEC4 ECC, the Contractor must notify a compensation event within eight weeks of becoming aware of it, or lose its entitlement to more time and money. Quotations, Project Manager replies and programme acceptance all have fixed periods too.
On JCT contracts, the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996 (the Construction Act) requires clear payment mechanisms, including payment notices and pay less notices. Getting these dates wrong can mean paying a sum you dispute, or losing the right to withhold it. Our NEC Project Managers and contract administrators help clients and contractors stay on top of every deadline.
Frequently asked questions
What is the NEC4 time bar for compensation events?
Under clause 61.3 of the NEC4 ECC, the Contractor must notify a compensation event within eight weeks of becoming aware that it has happened. If it does not, it loses the right to a change in the Prices, Completion Date or Key Dates, unless the event is one the Project Manager should have notified.
When must a pay less notice be issued under JCT?
Under the JCT 2016 standard forms, a pay less notice must be issued no later than five days before the final date for payment. The final date for payment is normally 14 days after the due date.
What happens if no payment notice is issued?
If the payer does not issue a payment notice on time, the payee’s interim application, or its own payment notice, becomes the sum due. Unless a valid pay less notice is then issued, that sum must be paid by the final date for payment.
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