Retention bond
Retention is a percentage (often 5%) of the amount certified as due to the contractor on an interim certificate that is retained by the client. The purpose of retention is to ensure the contractor properly completes the works required under the contract.
Half of the amount retained is released on certification of practical completion and the remainder is released upon certification of making good defects. Retention due to subcontractors may in turn be held by the main contractor and so on down through the contractual chain.
The recovery of retention is often a difficult area for parties in the contractual chain and cash flow problems frequently arise resulting from non-payment. In theory, this should be prevented by the Housing Grants Construction and Regeneration Act which disallows ‘pay when paid’ clauses, however, retention is commonly not released on time or in accordance with the contract. For subcontractors in particular, the release of retention may rely on circumstances outside of their contract or their control, for example, defects being remedied under the main contract by other parties.
Retention bonds are way of avoiding problems associated with retention recovery. Amounts that would otherwise have been held as retention are instead paid, with a bond being provided to secure the amount. Similar to retention, the bond’s value will usually reduce after the certification of practical completion.
Only if practical completion is not achieved by the subcontractor or if they prevent a certificate of making good defects from being issued will the retention bond take effect. The contractor is then able to ‘call’ on the retention bond.
A subcontractor is usually allowed a fixed period of time to rectify any defects, and this is stipulated by the retention bond. Should they fail to rectify the defect, the retention bond can be called on by the contractor and the surety must cover the remedial costs, before then pursuing the subcontractor.
Whilst subcontractors must pay the surety’s premiums, the benefit to them is that they do not have to chase retention monies post-completion, and no retention monies will be withheld. This cash flow security is often seen as worth the cost of the premium. Similarly, retention bonds are advantageous to contractors in improving the cash flow and financial stability of the subcontractor, making them less likely to default on the works.
Retention bonds include a fixed expiry date, making it clear when the subcontractor is released from its obligations.
Retention bonds may also be used as an alternative to retention between the employer and the main contractor.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- Advance payment bond.
- Bonds and guarantees (Aviva Insurance Limited v Hackney Empire Limited 2012).
- Bonds in construction contracts.
- Campaign for cash retentions reform.
- Certificate of making good defects.
- Construction (Retention Deposit Schemes) Bill 2017-19.
- Defects.
- Defects liability period.
- Final account.
- Holdback.
- Parent company guarantee.
- Performance bond.
- Practical completion.
- Retainage.
- Retention.
- Retention held in trust fund.
- Sub-contractor.
- The problems with retention.
- Zero-coupon bond.
[edit] External references
Featured articles and news
Deputy editor of AT, Tim Fraser, discusses the newly formed society with its current chair, Chris Halligan MCIAT.
Barratt Lo-E passivhaus standard homes planned enmasse
With an initial 728 Lo-E homes across two sites and many more planned for the future.
Government urged to uphold Warm Homes commitment
ECA and industry bodies write to Government concerning its 13.2 billion Warm Homes manifesto commitment.
Places of Worship in Britain and Ireland, 1929-1990. Book review.
The emancipation of women in art.
CIOB Construction Manager of the Year 2025
Just one of the winners at the CIOB Awards 2025.
Call for independent National Grenfell oversight mechanism
MHCLG share findings of Building Safety Inquiry in letter to Secretary of State and Minister for Building Safety.
The Architectural Technology Awards
AT Awards now open for this the sixth decade of CIAT.
50th Golden anniversary ECA Edmundson awards
Deadline for submissions Friday 30 May 2025.
The benefits of precast, off-site foundation systems
Top ten benefits of this notable innovation.
Encouraging individuals to take action saving water at home, work, and in their communities.
Takes a community to support mental health and wellbeing
The why of becoming a Mental Health Instructor explained.
Mental health awareness week 13-18 May
The theme is communities, they can provide a sense of belonging, safety, support in hard times, and a sense purpose.
Mental health support on the rise but workers still struggling
CIOB Understanding Mental Health in the Built Environment 2025 shows.
Design and construction material libraries
Material, sample, product or detail libraries a key component of any architectural design practice.
Construction Products Reform Green Paper and Consultation
Still time to respond as consultation closes on 21 May 2025.
Resilient façade systems for smog reduction in Shanghai
A technical approach using computer simulation and analysis of solar radiation, wind patterns, and ventilation.