Use this letter to request an estimate or a quotation from a builder for undertaking building work. An estimate is an educated guess at what a job may cost, whilst a quotation is a fixed price for the work completed. You may find that a builder is more likely to give you an estimate than a quotation - this document includes guidance about how you might convert an estimate into a quotation. There is also information about how to assess whether the estimate/quotation you have been given is a good price for the work involved.

This document is a contract for a contractor to carry out small-scale building work to a residential property. It is intended for use by the owner of the property or the contractor. It should only be used where the owner lives in (or intends to live in) the property as a residence.

It is not suitable for any of the following circumstances:

• The project is a construction of a new house or flat.
• The services of an architect or engineer are being used to manage the building project (there's no issue if either are being used to simply draw up plans).
• The owner is having the building work done in the course or furtherance of a business or to a building used for commercial purposes.
• The property is occupied by tenants or licensees.
• The owners is a business, or there are more than 4 individual owners.

This contract is suitable for use in the UK only.