Whether it’s a large American barn with all the fancy trimmings or a couple of wooden field shelters, building new stables is a major outlay, and you really can’t have it going wrong.
There are a few things you can do to protect your cash and your horses.
Planning
Ensure that you have planning. Different local authorities take a different approach, so make sure that you’re complying with the rules. Building without planning – as every fan of Clarkson’s Farm knows – is a very risky and expensive business. The last thing you want is a prosecution and having to take down your lovely new yard.
Landlords’ permission
If you don’t own the land, ensure that you have agreed the situation with your landlord. Not only will you need their consent – in writing – which is called a licence to alter, but you also need to agree what happens to the buildings or the value of them when your lease ends or one side terminates it.
Construction considerations
Thirdly, the buildings and construction work themselves need to be carefully researched and planned. For example. you will need to look at:
- Who are you buying from – are they a legitimate company? Last year we assisted a yard owner when they paid a hefty deposit but no buildings arrived…and it turned out to be a scam. The money was recovered, but it wasn’t easy and the horses nearly had to winter out without any shelter;
- Do you have a full, agreed specification for both the goods and materials and the work? The building industry, much like the equine one, has its own conventions and practices, and most people are completely unaware of them. Make sure you have it written down exactly what you are paying for – design, size, materials, everything – as well as what the builder is expecting you to have prepared at the site or to supply, for example foundations or water or power;
- Have a contract. Whilst there is nothing wrong in law with an oral contract, in the event of a dispute a written contract is evidence of what was agreed by way of each party’s rights and obligations, and what the consequences are of a breach;
- Make sure you include timescales in the contract. If you need the buildings to be useable by a particular date, include it as a requirement. If the builder is late in delivery, you will be able to recover your losses, but that’s not much help if your horses are homeless;
- Consider access. Some of the part of the building, like steel beams, will be delivered on very large lorries. Just because you can get your 18t into your yard doesn’t mean that you will be able to get an artic in, and failed deliveries will cost additional money and wasted time;
- Make sure you consider what happens if you later find defects in the buildings, either the materials or in the workmanship. Will the builder provide a warranty? Is it insurance-backed? If not, and the builder becomes insolvent, then you will have nobody to turn to, so make sure you include in the contract – and actually get – warranties. It’s best to agree that these will be provided before you pay the last part of the cost.
Every building project is different, but all disputes are similarly awful to be stuck in. Before you part with your hard-earned cash, think about protecting your position and your ponies. Please don't hesitate to get in touch with the team at Roythornes for any queries or support.