Advice on CDM2015 and the new Domestic Client duties

From 6th April 2015, a change in the Construction (Design & Management) Regulations means that, if the project is likely to involve more than one contractor, domestic clients now have a legal duty to appoint a competent Principal Designer to be in charge of planning, managing and monitoring the health and safety aspects of their project during the pre-construction phase. Clients also need to ensure that they appoint a Principal Contractor to plan, manage and monitor the construction phase of the project.


For the majority of domestic projects the most likely organisation to take on the Principal Designer role will be their architect or surveyor who is designing the scheme. The client needs to make sure that their designer has sufficient health and safety skills, knowledge and experience to discharge their legal duties satisfactorily and provide good advice to the client if required.


The good news for domestic clients is that their other client duties under the CDM2015 Regulations will automatically be the responsibility of the Principal Contractor to discharge on behalf of the client unless the client chooses to appoint their Principal Designer to undertake the client duties instead.

Confused? Then give James a call on 07785 915687.

Further clarification of these changes can also be obtained by contacting James Ritchie on james@jamesritchie.com.