What is Assignment in Construction Contracts?

A legal assignment is transferring an interest from one party, called the assignor, to another, the assignee. An assignment entitles the assignee to the performance of a particular contractual obligation conferring a benefit. It’s not usually possible to assign burdens, obligations or debts under a construction contract.

An example of the assignment of a benefit in a construction contract is transferring a collateral warranty to the tenant or purchaser of a building either during construction or after completion. 

An employer can assign their right to have the building constructed and the subsequent right to sue the contractor if the works are not up to standard or delayed. Sometimes, financial investors want the developer to assign contractual rights as security for their investment.

To be legally valid, an assignment must satisfy the requirements of Section 136 of the Law of Property Act 1925. An assignment that doesn’t comply can still be effective as an equitable assignment, but it is harder to prove.

• Parties to construction contracts can only assign benefits and not obligations

• An assignment should comply with the provisions of Section 136 of the Law of Property Act 1925

• A construction contract may contain restrictions on the right to assign, so only permitting the assignment of certain rights or a limit on the number of assignments