Construction and Engineering Arbitration Service

The Fast Track Arbitration Service provides an alternative to the County Court and adjudication for the resolution of disputes where the value is £100,000 or less. Parties may agree to use this service even if their contracts do not provide for arbitration, and we have prepared an example ad-hoc arbitration agreement for use in these circumstances.This service requires an award to be published within six months. It allows a more detailed examination of the issues than adjudication usually offers, and strives to achieve better value final and binding decisions than County Court judgments.

Fees and Costs

We charge an administrative fee of £425 (inclusive of VAT) to cover the costs for processing the application for appointment. This fee may be recoverable by the applicant as a cost in the arbitration. Arbitrators appointed under the Fast Track Arbitration Service have a maximum hourly rate and a maximum number of hours for which they can charge. The parties’ recoverable costs are also capped.

The Select Arbitration Service provides a viable alternative to the Technology and Construction Court to determine high value, complex disputes. The Select Arbitration Service is more cost effective than many other arbitration services, and it aims to be quicker and better value for money than litigation.

Fees and Costs

We do not charge an administration fee to the parties; instead we will recover our costs for overseeing the application process and arbitration appointment from the appointed arbitrator.

Parties will be advised of the arbitrator’s hourly rates during the appointment procedure. Parties can suggest what they believe to be reasonable hourly rates in the circumstances, and RICS will endeavour to source an arbitrator who will charge at the agreed rate. Whilst arbitrators’ fees are not capped, arbitrators will be required to provide an estimate of fees at the outset and to update the estimate throughout the course of the arbitration as appropriate.