The Hong Kong renovation industry has never had a unified standard for renovation acceptance. Different clients have varying expectations for their unit renovations, leading to numerous disputes and arbitrations each year. DECOLAND, as a Hong Kong renovation platform, offers clients a clear professional guideline. This guideline is the foundation of all projects, and DECOLAND will arrange for specialists to inspect the work both during and after its completion, ensuring that progress and craftsmanship meet the standards.
Our renovation guidelines are transparent and fair, assisting clients and contractors to agree on a shared acceptance standard, aiming for the best outcome.
The three major renovation dispute categories are time, quality, and price. A common perception in the industry is that homeowners and contractors have differing views, making responsibility hard to determine. According to the Hong Kong Arbitration Association and the "Hong Kong Renovation Guidelines," during mediation to devise a mutually acceptable solution, or in arbitration for a fair judgment, the following factors are often considered:
1. Time
- If a renovation isn't completed within the initially agreed-upon period, common causes include additional tasks or delays from suppliers.
- Responsibilities for delays caused by third-party suppliers depend on who placed the order.
- Arbitrators often consider if delays for addressing client concerns are genuinely necessary.
- Compensation for project delays is determined by market rental values or daily wages of workers.
2. Quality
- Common quality issues include craftsmanship, design flaws, and furniture measurement errors.
- Even if clients have approved designs or measurements, contractors and designers might still be held accountable for significant flaws.
- If issues are merely aesthetic and not due to an overtly unreasonable design, designers and contractors may not bear responsibility.
3. Price
- For additional work without a clear price, any disputes might require an expert, like a quantity surveyor, to assess a fair cost.
- If clients are dissatisfied and hire someone else without informing the original contractor, it reduces their chances of recouping the full cost. Contractors should be given the opportunity to evaluate the project first.
- Any changes in design, materials, or electrical socket placements that affect the original price require mutual agreement.
Starting today, once successfully matched, DECOLAND will offer you third-party liability insurance! Contact us now to discuss further!
