The Honeywood File(1) is a hilarious account of the catastrophes befalling the design, construction and agreement of the final account for a domestic residence. The book purports to be the architect’s file of correspondence with all parties. It was written in the 1920s and was ready for an updated version. This has now been provided (possibly inadvertently) in the judgment of Mr Justice Akenhead in the case of Walter Lilly v Mackay(2). The judgment starts with many extracts from the client’s emails and letters, as opposed to the architect’s, but tells a similar tale of woe (or disaster, to use the judge’s description) over the design, construction and agreement of the final account on a residential project.
The judgment covers every possible element of a final account but this article is concentrating on just one – extensions of time under the JCT contract. More…