As a client, what will my role be during the project?

When you commission a project for your home, you take on an important set of roles within the project process. As well as your original title of home/property owner, you will become known by various different titles during the course of the project. Your knowledge of each of these specific roles and responsibilities, and your success at performing each, can contribute greatly to the overall success of your project.

• When you appoint an Architect, Project Manager and wider consultant team, you will become ‘The Client’ and will likely be referred to by this title for the duration of the project.

  
  

• If your project includes an application for Planning, Lawful Development or Listed Building approval then you will become ‘The Applicant’ to the local authority processing the applications.

  
  

• If Party Wall notices or similar need to be submitted, then you will be known as the ‘Building Owner’ and your neighbours will be described as the ‘Adjoining Owners’.

  
  

• When you enter into a building contract with a building contractor, you will be known as ‘The Employer’.

  
  

• If the project is for your own home, you will become the ‘Domestic Client’ under the Construction Design & Management (CDM) regulations. If the property is owned for commercial purposes rather than as your home, then you will become a ‘Commercial Client’ under the CDM regulations.

  
  

• Similarly, but not to be confused with the CDM regulations, under the Building Regulations (BR) / Building Safety Act (BSA) if the project is for your own home you will become the ‘Domestic Client’. If the property is owned for commercial purposes rather than as your home, then you will become a ‘Client’ / ‘Commercial Client’.

Each of these roles come with specific actions, duties and responsibilities. Your architect/project manager should be able to assist you in understanding what you need to do and provide guidance on how to best to perform your roles.

How do I perform my role well?

Understanding how to perform each of your roles and responsibilities as best as possible is a significant task in itself. Try to work with consultants who have good strategies and materials to guide you through this project process.

Each of your roles is important, but you should pay particular attention to your duties under the CDM regulations, and also under your building contract, as these have particular potential to cause issues if not adhered to correctly.

By keeping well versed and up to date with the information and documents your consultants and contractors give you, taking time to consider their information and guidance and acting in accordance with it, you should greatly improve the process and outcomes of your project, saving money, reducing time, and improving quality.