Terms & Conditions for Trades

Written by Richard O'Shea, Solicitor TEP · Mary Molloy Solicitors, established 1981 · Last reviewed 21 August 2026

The problem with working on quotes alone

A bare quote creates a contract with almost no terms: nothing on deposits, access, variations, materials ownership, call-out cancellations or when payment falls due. Every gap gets filled by argument. Standing terms of trade — a page or two, referenced on every quote and invoice — fill those gaps once, in your favour, for every job you ever do.

What trade terms should cover

• Quote validity and price escalation — quotes lapse after 30 days; materials price increases beyond your control can be passed through before acceptance
• Acceptance — the client accepts by confirming in writing or by giving you access to start, so late paperwork doesn't mean no contract
• Payment — due dates, staged billing on bigger jobs, interest on late payment, and card/transfer details on the face of the invoice
• Retention of title — fittings and materials remain yours until paid for in full (how these clauses work)
• Variations — extra work only against written confirmation, even by text, at agreed rates
• Access, cancellation and call-outs — charges where access isn't provided or a booked day is cancelled late
• Warranty and defects — what you'll return to fix, for how long, and the exclusions (client-supplied materials, third-party damage)
• Consumer compliance — clear, fair language; where you contract with consumers at their home, statutory cancellation rights and information duties arise, and your terms must work with them, not pretend they don't exist

One document, every job

Trade terms are the smallest document in the Builder's Contract Pack and the one used most often. Drafted once for your trade — a landscaper's terms are not an electrician's — and reused on every quote. When a job is big enough for a full building agreement, the terms step aside; for everything else, they're your contract.