'Handover-ready' means the site has reached the standard of cleanliness contractors normally achieve on the way to practical completion under JCT contracts -- debris cleared, trades' residue removed, the space safe and presentable for the client to take over -- though JCT itself does not set out a fixed cleaning checklist. In practice, the standard is usually agreed through a project-specific pre-practical-completion checklist.
What does 'handover-ready' mean in construction?
It ties directly to practical completion (PC): the point at which the works are complete for all practical purposes, save minor items that do not stop the building being used. JCT's standard forms do not define practical completion or set out a cleaning checklist -- as JCT's own guidance notes, it is 'easier to recognise than to define'. Where the term is not defined, project teams commonly write a pre-practical-completion checklist that includes leaving the site clean and clear of debris as one of the agreed items.
What's on a typical snagging-list cleaning checklist?
Items commonly included: removal of protective film, masking and labels; removal of construction dust and debris; cleaning of sanitaryware, fixtures and fittings; internal glazing cleaned; floor finishes vacuumed or mopped; and the site and any skips or waste cleared. Exactly what is included should be agreed and written down -- see our guide to what each cleaning term covers.
What does the clerk of works or contract administrator check?
A clerk of works or contract administrator (CA) inspects the works for patent defects before certifying practical completion. The courts have set the bar for this: in the Mears case, cited on JCT's own practical-completion guidance, 'if there is a patent defect which is properly regarded as trifling then it cannot prevent the certification of practical completion, whether the defect is capable of economic remedy or not.' Outstanding cleaning items that are more than trifling, however, can hold up certification.
Who is responsible for reaching handover-ready standard?
Usually the main contractor, as part of the general obligation to bring the works to practical completion -- see our detailed guide on who pays for the builders clean for how this is typically split between contractor and client.
Typical snagging-list cleaning checklist
| Item | Typical requirement |
|---|---|
| Protective film / masking / labels | Removed from glazing, appliances, fittings |
| Construction dust and debris | Cleared from all rooms, ledges and voids |
| Sanitaryware, fixtures and fittings | Cleaned and free of residue |
| Internal glazing | Streak-free, both sides where accessible |
| Floor finishes | Vacuumed, mopped or otherwise cleaned to finish type |
| Site and skips | Cleared of waste and rubbish |