These Special Conditions have been prepared for use by the builder and the owner, as an alternative form of contract, where:
- the bank or financier imposes on the parties a Housing Industry Association’s HIA NT Building Contract for New Homes as a condition of approving finance, but
- where the parties had already agreed to include the role and functions of the Architect administering a contract under the ABIC Simple Works 2018 H NT contract.
These Special Conditions introduce a number of the definitions and mechanisms familiar from the ABIC SW 2018 H NT contract into the HIA NT New Homes contract.
Note 1: Every bank or financier has a right to impose whatever reasonable or commercial conditions it considers appropriate on an offer or approval to provide financing. We make no representations and cannot guarantee that either these Special Conditions or the HIA NT New Homes contract will be acceptable to all or to any particular bank or financier.
Note 2: The Institute is not affiliated with and does not endorse any HIA contract or product.
Note 3: The Institute cannot and does not guarantee that the HIA NT New Homes contract is a suitable form of contract for the parties to use on their particular project. We recommend that the parties get legal and other professional advice on whether a particular form of contract is suitable for their project and specific circumstances.
Instructions on how to adopt the Special Conditions
Always seek confirmation in writing that the parties and the bank or financier have agreed to adopt these Special Conditions that amend the HIA NT New Homes contract.
To assist the parties to effectively adopt these Special Conditions as binding contract conditions, we suggest you follow these steps when preparing the contract:
- Complete the details of the Architect in the Special Conditions and print two copies to accompany the HIA NT New Homes contract that will be signed.
- Typically, there will be two copies of the contract, one for the Owner and one for the Builder.
- Insert and staple each printed copy of the Special Conditions behind the final page of each HIA NT New Homes contract document.
- Alternatively: Prepare a digital PDF version of the HIA NT New Homes contract document and digitally insert the Special Conditions behind the final page.
- Arrange for the Owner and the Builder to initial the final page and each page of the Special Conditions when they sign the HIA NT New Homes contract.
- Alternatively: the Owner and Builder may prefer to sign only every page that has contract information details and the very last page of the Special Conditions.
- Keep a copy of the HIA NT New Homes contract plus the Special Conditions attached, so you can refer to it when administering the contract.
You should take the time to understand and familiarise yourself with the HIA NT New Homes contract (as amended by these Special Conditions) because the role and functions of the Architect, while similar, differs from the ABIC Simple Works 2018 H NT contract. You should not assume that the provisions from the ABIC contract you are familiar with in your state/territory are adopted in the HIA Special Conditions schedule.
The following downloadable reference table has been prepared as guidance to assist you to understand the provisions in the HIA NT New Homes contract as amended by the Special Conditions and to find a corresponding provision from the ABIC Simple Works contract.
Download the reference table here.
Download the Special Conditions to the HIA NT New Homes contract here.
Disclaimer
This content is provided by the Australian Institute of Architects for reference purposes and as general guidance. It does not take into account specific circumstances and should not be relied on in that way. It is not legal, financial, insurance, or other advice and you should seek independent verification or advice before relying on this content in circumstances where loss or damage may result. The Institute endeavours to publish content that is accurate at the time it is published, but does not accept responsibility for content that may or has become inaccurate over time. Using this website and content is subject to the Acumen User Licence.