Contractor Ordered to Pay Client for Delays and Faulty Workmanship
TDT | Manama
Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com
The High Civil Court has ruled in favour of a client who sued a contractor for delays and substandard work on a two-story villa construction project. The contractor, a sole proprietorship, was ordered to pay the client 12,580.31 Bahraini dinars in compensation, plus interest and legal fees.
According to the lawyer representing the client, Mohammed Al Mahdi, the lawsuit stemmed from a contract signed between his client and the contractor. The contract stipulated the construction of a two-story villa for 46,300 Bahraini dinars, with a completion deadline of six months. The client later agreed to additional work valued at 3,500 Bahraini dinars, extending the deadline by two months.
However, even after more than eight months, the construction remained incomplete, and significant defects were identified. The client then hired a structural engineer to assess the work. The engineer's report determined that the value of the completed work was 39,525 Bahraini dinars, plus 3,115 Bahraini dinars for the additional work.
According to the lawyer representing the client, Mohammed Al Mahdi, the lawsuit stemmed from a contract signed between his client and the contractor. The contract stipulated the construction of a two-story villa for 46,300 Bahraini dinars, with a completion deadline of six months. The client later agreed to additional work valued at 3,500 Bahraini dinars, extending the deadline by two months.
However, even after more than eight months, the construction remained incomplete, and significant defects were identified. The client then hired a structural engineer to assess the work. The engineer's report determined that the value of the completed work was 39,525 Bahraini dinars, plus 3,115 Bahraini dinars for the additional work.
The client had already paid a total of 54,720.31 Bahraini dinars. The report also detailed defects in the electrical and plumbing systems, estimated to cost 520 Bahraini dinars to repair.
The court case proceeded with the client and her lawyer present, but the contractor failed to attend. The court relied on the engineer's report and the contract, which included a daily penalty of 50 Bahraini dinars for delays, up to a maximum of 10% of the contract value. The contractor’s absence and failure to present any defense or evidence of payment contributed to the court's decision.
The court's judgment ordered the contractor to pay the client the aforementioned sum, representing the difference between the payments made and the value of completed work, plus the cost of rectifying defects and the delay penalty.
The judgment also includes interest at a rate of 2% annually from the date of the claim until full payment, along with expert fees, translation costs, and legal fees. The total amount awarded, including all fees and interest, is significantly higher than the initial 12,580.31 Bahraini dinars.
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