Letter to 'make time of the essence': services by Citizens Advice
The Citizens Advice template letter to make time of the essence helps consumers formally notify a trader that delays may lead to contract termination and recover payments for work not completed. It is part of Citizens Advice’s widely trusted library of open, lawyer-vetted letter templates.
Letter to make time of the essence services
[sender name]
[sender address line 1]
[sender address line 2]
[sender email]
[sender phone]
[recipient name]
[recipient address line 1]
[recipient address line 2]
[letter date]
To whom it may concern,
I am writing to you about the delay to the following work: [work description]
We made the agreement about this work on [agreement date]. We agreed that it would be finished on [agreed completion date].
As this work has not happened, I am therefore making time of the essence in this agreement. This means that if you do not finish the work within [number of days] days I will treat our agreement as at an end and find another trader to finish the work.
This also means that I will claim back from you the sum of [[amount paid in advance]], which is the amount that I have paid in advance for work not done.
Yours faithfully,
[sender name]
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About this template
What is this template?
This document is a formal demand letter that creates a legal condition where a deadline is strictly binding. It is not a standard breach of contract notice, as it specifically focuses on time-based performance and the recovery of advance payments.
When should you use it?
Use this letter when a trader has missed a deadline and you need to set a final cut-off date before terminating the contract. Use a Letter Before Action instead if you are initiating formal court proceedings for damages beyond a simple refund.
What's inside
| Clause | Name | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Paragraph 1 | Identification of Work | Specifies the delayed work description and the original agreement date to establish the context of the breach. |
| Paragraph 3 | Making Time of the Essence | Sets a specific number of days for completion, after which the sender will treat the agreement as terminated. |
| Paragraph 4 | Claim for Refund | Notifies the recipient of the sender's intent to claim back a specific amount paid in advance for work not performed. |
Who it's for
- a consumer facing delays beyond an agreed completion date for domestic trade work
- a customer seeking to recover an amount paid in advance for unperformed services
- a party needing to legally establish a final deadline before hiring a replacement trader
How long it runs and how it's signed
England & Wales note
This version is drafted for England & Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland differ on some points — for example notice periods and tribunal procedure. Tell GitLaw where you hire and it adjusts the draft.
Frequently asked questions
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