Free templates

Construction contract templates for subcontractors

The letters a UK subcontractor needs most when something on site starts to go wrong — a verbal instruction, a late payment, a delay you didn't cause. Free to copy, written in plain English, grounded in UK construction law. Fill in the highlighted fields and send.

Variation confirmation letter

Got a verbal instruction to do extra work? Confirm it in writing before you lift a tool — or risk doing it for free.

Late payment notice

Payment overdue? Demand it under the Construction Act, with statutory interest and your right to suspend work.

Delay notification letter

Something outside your control is holding you up. Notify promptly to protect your right to more time and money.

Extension of Time (EOT) notice

Formally claim the extra time a Relevant Event has cost you — and protect yourself from delay damages.

Why writing it down wins disputes

Subcontractors rarely lose disputes because they were in the wrong. They lose because they can't prove they were right. A variation done on a nod, a delay nobody logged, an invoice chased by phone — none of it survives contact with a solicitor. A short letter, sent at the right moment, turns a "he said, she said" into a documented fact.

These templates are a starting point. Shield Index writes them for you automatically — it reads your project email, spots the moment a variation or delay is raised, and drafts the confirmation with the dates, references and evidence already filled in.

Stop drafting these by hand. Let the AI catch the moment and write the letter.

See how it works

These templates are provided for general guidance only and are not legal advice. Construction contracts vary — check the specific notice provisions, timescales and definitions in your subcontract, and take professional advice before issuing anything in a live dispute.