- Category: contract law, Contracts
When the Client Delays: Buyer’s Default in a Czech Contract for Work
It starts innocently. You show up on time, tools in hand, ready to deliver your part of the deal. But the client isn’t ready. The site isn’t cleared. The design hasn’t been finalized. Or the payment you were supposed to receive upfront never came. What now?
Contractor delays are well-known. But what happens when the client is the one who’s late?
Client’s Default: An Often Overlooked Risk
The Czech Civil Code (in particular § 1968) directly addresses the issue of the creditor’s default – meaning the client fails to cooperate or otherwise obstructs the contractor from fulfilling their duties.
Such situations include, for example:
failure to hand over the construction site,
failure to provide necessary documents or approvals,
failure to make agreed payments on time.
In such cases, the contractor cannot be blamed for delays, and even more: they might be entitled to compensation, adjustment of deadlines, or even terminate the contract.
Practical Implications for the Contractor
If you’re the contractor and your client is dragging their feet, be cautious and act:
Document the delay – send a written notice, ideally with a specific deadline to remedy the situation.
Refer to contract clauses – do you have provisions for this situation? A good contract will foresee this.
Consider suspending work – but only after proper notice and within the bounds of the contract.
Charge extra costs – if the delay causes additional costs, you may claim them, especially if you reserved this right.
Withdraw if necessary – a long-term default may justify contract termination, but only as a last resort.
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- Publikováno:
- Naposledy aktualizováno: 17/06/2025