Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Related legal acts

Key definition

Reasonable skill and care definition

What does Reasonable skill and care mean? In practice, “reasonable skill and care” describes the level of competence a service supplier must exercise when performing services: the standard of a reasonably competent provider or professional, not a guarantee of perfect results. Across England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, an implied term is imposed by statute: Consumer Rights Act 2015, s 49 (consumer services) and Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982, s 13 (non‑consumer services). In Ireland, the Sale of Goods and Supply of Services Act 1980 implies a similar term (often expressed as “due skill, care and diligence”); consumer law has since been updated by the...

Reasonable skill and care in construction: SGSA 1982 implied terms, express standards, diligence, duty to warn, fitness for purpose and strict liability for consultants and contractors

Published by a LexisNexis Construction expert

Practice notes

This Practice Note explores the duty on contractors and Consultants delivering services under construction agreements to apply Reasonable skill and care in practice. It reviews the implied obligation under section 13 of the Supply of goods and Services Act 1982 (SGSA 1982) and considers express provisions requiring either ‘reasonable skill and care’ or ‘all reasonable skill and care’ to be achieved. It further assesses what difference the term ‘diligence’ makes when appended to the standard of care, when consultants or contractors face strict liability, and issues concerning fitness for purpose as applicable. It also points to other relevant material on the standards expected of contractors and consultants, including design responsibilities in particular, and fitness for purpose obligations in detail.

Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982

SGSA 1982, s 13 provides that, in a relevant contract for the supply of a service where the supplier acts in the course of business, an implied term arises that the supplier will perform the service with reasonable care and skill (see also the Consumer Rights Act 2015 where the consultant’s agreement is with a consumer). Where an agreement appointing a consultant for a construction project is silent on the standard of care to...

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Web page updated on 21/05/2026

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