A new kitchen is one of the larger contracts a household signs, and it is unusual because it bundles two very different things: the supply of goods — units, worktops, appliances — and a building job to install them. When something goes wrong, it matters which part of the contract is at fault, because the supply of goods and the quality of the workmanship are protected separately. Kitchen contracts also tend to demand large deposits and staged payments, so understanding the payment terms is as important as the design.
What is a Supply and Fit Terms?
A kitchen fitting, or supply-and-fit, contract covers the design, supply, and installation of a fitted kitchen. It should specify the units, worktops, and appliances by make and model, the price, the payment schedule, the installation start and completion dates, who is responsible for related trades such as plumbing, electrics, plastering, and tiling, and the warranties. Because it combines a contract for goods and a contract for a service, the Consumer Rights Act 2015 applies to both elements — goods must be of satisfactory quality, and the fitting must be done with reasonable care and skill.
Red flags to watch for
A deposit of a substantial share of the price, paid before any goods or work, is at risk if the company fails. Look for staged payments tied to delivery and milestones, or deposit insurance.
If the contract is vague about who handles plumbing, electrics, gas, plastering, flooring, and tiling, you can be left coordinating and paying for gaps between trades.
Kitchen jobs commonly overrun. Without a completion date and a consequence for delay, you have little leverage if the work drags on while you have no kitchen.
If appliances and worktops are not specified precisely, the company can substitute cheaper items and you will struggle to prove what was promised.
Handing over the full balance before you have inspected and signed off the work removes your strongest incentive for the fitter to fix defects.
If the fitter stops trading, an unbacked guarantee is worthless; an insurance-backed guarantee survives the company's insolvency.
Your legal rights
The Consumer Rights Act 2015 covers both halves of a supply-and-fit kitchen contract: the goods must be of satisfactory quality, fit for purpose, and as described, and the installation service must be carried out with reasonable care and skill within a reasonable time where no time is fixed. If goods are faulty you have a short-term right to reject, and if the work is defective you can require it to be redone or seek a price reduction. The Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013 give a 14-day cancellation right for contracts agreed in your home or at a distance, although you may owe payment for goods made to your specification or for work you asked to start within that period. Paying a deposit of more than 100 pounds by credit card brings Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 protection, making the card provider jointly liable if the company fails.
Questions to ask before you sign
- 1What is the deposit, when are subsequent payments due, and how is my money protected if the company fails?
- 2Exactly which units, worktops, and appliances am I getting, specified by make and model?
- 3Who is responsible for plumbing, electrics, gas, plastering, flooring, and tiling — the company or me?
- 4What is the agreed start and completion date, and what happens if the work overruns?
- 5Can I withhold the final payment until snagging is complete and I have signed off?
- 6Is the workmanship guarantee insurance-backed, and how long does it last?
- 7If I signed at home, do I have a 14-day cancellation right, and how does it apply to bespoke items?
Disclaimer: This guide is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Contract law varies by jurisdiction and individual circumstances. Always consult a qualified legal professional before making decisions based on this information.