Online Feature Articles for Construction Professionals - Surveyors

Jenny, a building surveyor, was employed as the project manager of a developer which had a portfolio of commercial buildings and shopping arcades. Jenny was responsible for awarding maintenance contracts and issuing work orders to contractors. Jenny's brother-in-law Michael recently became one of the contractors of the developer. Thinking that Michael was not her immediate family members, Jenny believed that it was not necessary to declare this relationship to her company.

Recently, the ceiling of a shopping arcade was damaged by the severe typhoon and heavy rain. Urgent repair work had to be carried out before the large-scale summer event held soon in the shopping arcade. As other maintenance contractors were fully engaged as a result of the typhoon, Jenny asked for Michael's assistance.

Michael assured Jenny that he could complete the job on time, but he had to start working immediately. Michael further suggested that he could provide quotations of other contractors to speed up the procurement process. Jenny agreed with Michael's proposal. The contract was eventually awarded to Michael's company.

Barry, Jenny's husband, was a quantity surveyor of a main contractor. He was well acquainted with the subcontractors after years of working together. They often had lavish meals after work and spend holidays overseas together, sometimes at the subcontractors' cost.

Recently, a subcontractor told Barry privately that his company had to carry out substantial rectification works in another project and therefore encountered a cash flow problem. The subcontractor begged for Barry's assistance to recommend payment for the materials not yet delivered to the site. Otherwise, the subcontractor would go bankrupt.

Barry worried that the progress of his renovation project would be affected if the subcontractor was closed down. In addition, according to his analysis based on their long-term working relationship, in fact friendship, and past performance, Barry believed that the subcontractor would deliver the materials very soon. Barry therefore agreed to assist. To thank Barry for his assistance, the subcontractor offered to renovate Barry's newly purchased flat at a very low cost.

One month later, the subcontractor suddenly disappeared, leaving the works uncompleted and a group of enraged workers urging the main contractor to settle their outstanding wages.