Have your say on government e-petitions

Legally prohibit retention clauses in construction contracts.

Submitted by Callum Smith on Monday 23rd February 2026

Published on Wednesday 15th April 2026

Current status: Open

Open until: Thursday 15th October 2026

Current Signatures: 77
(count is updated approximately hourly)

Relevant Departments

Tagged with

Change ~ Companies ~ construction ~ Create ~ Ensure ~ Fairer ~ Industry ~ Legally ~ Payment ~ Pressure ~ Professional ~ Quality ~ uncertainty ~ Unlawful ~ work

Petition Action

Legally prohibit retention clauses in construction contracts.

Petition Details

We want legislative change to prohibit retention clauses in construction contracts. I believe making such retention practices unlawful can create a fairer marketplace where contractors are paid in full and on time, removing the financial burden and uncertainty that I feel plagues the industry.

Additional Information

In my work as a construction dispute resolution professional, I have seen first-hand how retention clauses in construction contracts can be exploited. I see these clauses being misused to withhold payment from contractors for unsubstantiated reasons.

Retention clauses are intended to ensure the quality of work by holding back a portion of payment, but in my experience have become tools for larger companies to exert undue pressure on smaller contractors.


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216.73.217.179 Tue, 23 Jun 2026 05:26:01 +0100