Contract for Services
A contract for services sets out the work a contractor will carry out for a client, the price, the timetable and what happens if the work is defective or delayed. Use it for building and repair work, design, IT, consultancy or similar services provided by an independent contractor in Ireland. The Sale of Goods and Supply of Services Act 1980 implies terms on skill, care and materials; for consumers the Consumer Rights Act 2022 adds statutory remedies, and most construction contracts are also subject to the payment and adjudication rules of the Construction Contracts Act 2013.
Contract for Services
CONTRACT FOR SERVICES
THIS AGREEMENT is made on [date]
BETWEEN
Client: [full name / company name and registered number], of [address] ("the Client")
AND
Contractor: [full name / company name and registered number], of [address] ("the Contractor")
1. THE SERVICES
The Contractor shall carry out the following services / works: [detailed description of the work, scope and specification] ("the Services"), in accordance with the specification and any drawings attached to this Agreement.
2. TIME
The Contractor shall commence the Services on [date] and complete them by [date], subject to any agreed extension of time.
3. PRICE AND PAYMENT
The price for the Services is EUR [amount] [plus VAT where applicable], on a [fixed price / time and materials] basis. Payment is due [in stages as set out below / within [X] days of invoice]. [Payment schedule / milestones: ________.]
4. CONTRACTOR'S OBLIGATIONS
The Contractor shall carry out the Services with due skill, care and diligence, using suitable materials, and in compliance with the term implied by the Sale of Goods and Supply of Services Act 1980 that a service supplier will act with proper skill and care. The Contractor shall comply with all applicable safety and building requirements.
5. CLIENT'S OBLIGATIONS
The Client shall provide access, information and any materials it has agreed to supply, and shall pay the price in accordance with clause 3.
6. VARIATIONS
Any change to the Services must be agreed in writing, together with any adjustment to the price and the completion date.
7. DEFECTS AND WARRANTY
The Contractor shall, for a period of [X] months after completion, remedy at its own cost any defect in the Services caused by faulty workmanship or materials.
8. INSURANCE
The Contractor shall maintain adequate public liability and, where relevant, professional indemnity insurance for the duration of the Services.
9. TERMINATION
Either party may terminate this Agreement for material breach not remedied within [X] days of written notice. On termination the Client shall pay for Services properly carried out up to the date of termination.
10. GOVERNING LAW
This Agreement is governed by the law of Ireland.
Signed by the Client: ______________________ Date: __________
Signed by the Contractor: ______________________ Date: __________
Legal basis
Frequently asked questions
What standard of work can the client expect?
Where a supplier acts in the course of business, section 39 of the Sale of Goods and Supply of Services Act 1980 implies terms that the supplier has the necessary skill, will supply the service with due skill, care and diligence, and will use sound and suitable materials. For consumer contracts the Consumer Rights Act 2022 gives the consumer the right to have a defective service brought into conformity or to a price reduction.
Do I need a written contract for building works?
A written contract is strongly recommended. For most construction contracts the Construction Contracts Act 2013 requires a clear payment mechanism and gives each party a statutory right to refer a payment dispute to adjudication; the Act does not apply to contracts worth €10,000 or less or to certain contracts for a dwelling the client occupies. Builders should be registered with the Construction Industry Register Ireland.
How are changes to the work handled?
Any variation to the scope should be agreed in writing before the extra work is done, together with its effect on the price and the completion date. Clause 6 of this template requires written agreement for variations, which avoids the most common dispute in building and IT projects: payment for unrecorded extras.
Is a contractor an employee?
Not necessarily, and the label in the contract is not decisive. Revenue, the Department of Social Protection and the Workplace Relations Commission look at the real relationship – control, integration, who bears the financial risk and whether the person must do the work personally. If the arrangement looks like employment, employment and tax rules apply regardless of this template.
What can the client do if the work is defective?
Notify the contractor in writing, describe the defect with photographs and give a reasonable period to remedy it under clause 7. If the contractor does not respond, the client can have the defect repaired by others and claim the cost, use the small claims procedure for consumer claims within its limit, or bring proceedings in the District or Circuit Court.