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Construction and property dispute solicitors in Staffordshire and the West Midlands

 

Practical help when a build, a payment or a property matter turns into a dispute.

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Call: 01543 263 456

Speak to our dispute resolution team

Early advice usually means a quicker, cheaper outcome. Tell us what has happened and we will set out your options.

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Resolve a construction or property dispute

Construction and property disputes have a habit of escalating quickly. Money is tied up, work stalls, and the people involved still have to deal with each other. Whether it is a payment problem, defective work, a delay, or a dispute over land or a lease, the priority is to protect your position and get the project or the property back on track.

We act for developers, contractors, sub-contractors, businesses and property owners across Lichfield, Cannock, Sutton Coldfield, Dudley and the wider West Midlands.

We understand both the legal and the commercial pressures, and we advise on the route most likely to resolve things without unnecessary cost or delay.

Make an enquiry

What our construction and property dispute solicitors can help with

From a payment dispute on site to a defect that appears years later, we help you take the right next step.

Payment disputes and applications for payment

Adjudication under the Construction Act

Defective and substandard work

Delay and disruption claims

Breach of building contract (JCT, NEC and bespoke)

Retention disputes

Disputes with contractors, sub-contractors and consultants

Professional negligence in the construction team

Boundary and land disputes

Landlord and tenant and lease disputes

Dilapidations claims

Negotiation, mediation and litigation

Make a confidential enquiry

Tell us what has happened and we will put you in touch with the right person. 

How a dispute is resolved

 

Most disputes settle long before a courtroom. The courts actually expect both sides to try to resolve things first, so a structured, commercial approach is usually the fastest way to a result.

1

Early advice

We review the position, the evidence and your goals, then set out your options and the likely cost.

2

Letter before action

We set out your claim clearly to the other side, which often opens the door to settlement.

3

Negotiation

We try to agree a sensible outcome without proceedings, protecting your position throughout.

4

Mediation and ADR

Where it helps, a structured settlement process can resolve matters faster and at lower cost.

5

Issuing a claim

If settlement is not possible, we issue court proceedings and manage the case for you.

6

Resolution

The dispute ends in a negotiated settlement or, where it goes the distance, a court judgment.

How construction and property disputes work

Construction disputes often turn on the contract and the paperwork. The form of contract, the payment terms, the notices served and the records kept all shape what each side can claim. For many construction payment disputes there is also a fast statutory route called adjudication, which can produce a binding decision in a matter of weeks rather than months.

Property disputes cover a wide range, from boundaries and rights of way to landlord and tenant disagreements and dilapidations at the end of a lease. They tend to turn on the title documents, the lease and the facts on the ground, so early advice and good evidence make a real difference.

In both areas the commercial relationship usually matters as much as the legal position, so we always weigh up settlement against the cost and disruption of a full dispute.

Key things you should know

  • For many construction payment disputes, adjudication offers a quick, binding decision under the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996.

  • The form of contract and the notices served often decide the outcome, so the paperwork really matters.

  • Most construction and property claims must be brought within six years, or twelve where the contract is a deed, under the Limitation Act 1980.

  • Good records of instructions, variations, delays and defects strengthen your position enormously.

  • Property disputes turn heavily on the title and lease documents, so these need reviewing early.

  • Mediation and negotiation resolve a large share of these disputes without the cost of a trial.

Why getting the right advice matters, and why Ansons

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Commercial advice

We keep one eye on the outcome and the other on the cost, so the strategy always makes business sense.

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We aim to settle

Court is a tool, not the default. We push for the sensible outcome wherever we can.

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Experienced disputes team

A team that handles commercial disputes day in, day out.

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Plain English

Clear advice without the legal jargon, so you always know where you stand.

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Costs explained clearly

You will understand the likely cost and the options before you commit to anything.

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Local offices

Offices in Lichfield, Cannock, Sutton Coldfield and Dudley, with clients across the West Midlands.

Ready to talk to a dispute resolution solicitor?

Tell us about your dispute and we will explain your options before you commit to anything

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Frequently asked questions

What is adjudication?

Adjudication is a fast dispute process for construction contracts that can deliver a binding decision in around a month. It is often used for payment disputes and avoids the time and cost of full court proceedings, though either party can still pursue the matter further afterwards.

The work done on my property is defective. What can I do?

You may have a claim against the contractor, and sometimes against the designer or consultant as well. The starting point is the contract and the evidence of the defect, so it helps to document everything and take advice before the position hardens.

How long do I have to bring a construction claim?

Generally six years from the breach, or twelve years where the contract was made as a deed, under the Limitation Act 1980. Latent defects can raise more complex timing questions, so it is worth checking early.

Your Dispute Resolution Team

Our Dispute Resolution team helps individuals and businesses deal with conflict quickly, proportionately and with as little stress as possible. From contract and property disputes to inheritance claims, neighbour issues and workplace disagreements, they focus on practical solutions, explaining your options clearly, weighing up risk and cost, and working towards the outcome that best protects your interests, whether through negotiation, mediation or the courts.

Latest Insights.

Explore Ansons Insights for the latest legal updates, case reviews, and practical advice from our team across commercial, property, family, and private client law.

Serving clients across Staffordshire and the West Midlands

 

Ansons has offices in Lichfield, Cannock, Sutton Coldfield and Dudley, supporting clients across the wider region including Tamworth, Burntwood, Rugeley, Walsall, Birmingham and beyond.

St Mary's Chambers, 5-7 Breadmarket Street, Lichfield, Staffordshire, WS13 6LQ

T: 01543 263 456
E: info@ansons.law

Commerce House, Ridings Park, Eastern Way, Cannock, Staffordshire, WS11 7FJ

T: 01543 466 660
E: info@ansons.law

316-318 Lichfield Road, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, B74 2UG

T: 0121 716 3716
E: info@ansons.law

Unit 10, Castle Court 2, Castlegate Way, Dudley, DY1 4RH

T: 0121 550 0010
E: info@ansons.law

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Ansons Solicitors Limited (trading as Ansons Solicitors and Ansons) is a UK law firm registered in England and Wales as a limited liability company No. 09425410 whose registered office is at St Mary’s Chambers 5-7 Breadmarket Street, Lichfield, Staffordshire, WS13 6LQ. Ansons Solicitors Limited is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority with SRA No. 627635.

A list of directors and their professional qualifications is available for inspection at the registered office. The term director in relation to Ansons Solicitors Limited is used to refer to a director of Ansons Solicitors Limited or an employee of equivalent standing and qualification.