Clarity in Construction
We understand that construction governance and forensic auditing can be complex. This FAQ guide is designed to provide clear, plain-language answers to your questions about project oversight, protecting your capital, and ensuring every technical specification meets elite safety standards. Whether you are a homeowner, developer, or institutional client, we are here to provide the insights you need for absolute project assurance.
Who We Are & Our Value
Understand how COMS Consulting serves as a dedicated legal and financial shield for your assets. We provide elite Construction Operations Management and Risk Advisory to ensure your project is delivered with absolute precision and integrity.
What exactly does COMS Consulting do?
We serve as an independent, non-manual advisory firm. Led by NVQ Level 6 professionals with CSCS Black Cards, we ensure your project meets architectural specs and schedule while protecting you from contractor over-charging or legal safety liabilities.
Doesn’t my architect already handle this?
Architects focus on design, and contractors protect their margins. COMS filling the critical gap as a third-party referee. We don't build or design; we ensure every pound spent matches verified value on the ground, with sole loyalty to the client.
When is the best time to engage COMS?
Ideal engagement is immediately after receiving Detailed Planning Approval. This 2-4 month lag allows us to vet tenders, draft safety files, and structure JCT contracts, preventing hidden cost variations before ground is ever broken.
Want to learn more about how our elite construction governance can protect your specific commercial or domestic investment?
Services, Retainers & Contract Support
Discover how our specialized frameworks and professional administration protect your construction investments. We provide independent technical checkpoints and forensic expertise to ensure contract compliance and project continuity.
What is the "Project Guardian" framework?
Project Guardian is our signature construction monitoring framework. It is broken into tiered options based on the scale and complexity of your development:Project Guardian Lite: Engineered for domestic extensions or distance investors who require an independent monthly technical checkpoint and desktop invoice verification.Project Guardian Professional: Our core service for premium builds. It includes weekly physical site technical/safety walkthroughs, geotagged progress reporting, and full physical Valuation Audits before contractor invoices are certified for payment.
What is an Employer’s Agent, and do I need one?
If your development is utilizing a formal JCT Design & Build Contract, you are contractually required to appoint an independent professional to administer the terms. COMS steps into this corporate role as your official Employer's Agent. We independently manage contract execution, handle formal contractor Requests for Information (RFIs), issue JCT Interim Payment Certificates, manage change orders, and enforce cash retentions.
My project has stalled. Can you help?
Yes. We provide specialized Forensic Rescue Audits for developments facing contractor insolvency, severe delays, or quality failures. Our senior directors will physically walk the troubled site to map out defect liabilities, audit historical billing discrepancies, and compile court-admissible Scott Schedules to give you the technical evidence required for insurance claims or legal recourse to get your site safely restarted.
Are these services suitable for homeowners?
Absolutely. Whether you are a private homeowner undertaking a large renovation or a commercial developer, our tiered Project Guardian options are designed to provide the exact level of technical governance and payment security required for your specific build size.
Have specific questions about JCT administration or site rescue services? Our consultants are ready to help you secure your development and restart stalled projects with forensic precision.
Scope & Legal Mandates
To maintain total transparency regarding our advisory functions and insurance limits, we detail our statutory positions and the precise boundaries of our professional consultancy below.
Who manages statutory CDM roles?
For objectivity, COMS does not fill statutory roles. Duties like Principal Designer or Contractor remain with your build team to ensure our auditing remains completely impartial.
Do you engage in onsite work?
No. Our firm remains strictly non-manual. Site interactions are focused on visual technical inspections and verifying contract compliance rather than physical construction.
What is my legal responsibility?
Client Obligation
As a domestic homeowner commissioning building works, you still carry legal duties under UK health and safety and building regulations. You must appoint competent designers and contractors, make sure they have appropriate insurance, and ensure that key documents such as risk assessments, method statements and building control approvals are in place. COMS helps you understand these obligations in plain language and puts governance frameworks around your project so you can demonstrate that you have acted as a responsible, informed client.
Risk Coverage
Construction Operations Management Services is secured by a £2,000,000 Professional Indemnity policy via Hiscox, validating our oversight on projects up to £5,000,000 in value.
Safety Exclusions
Our insurance specifically excludes the technical design and auditing of fire strategies or external cladding systems, which must be certified by a registered fire engineer.
We assist in aligning your project with CDM 2015 standards, ensuring you fulfill your role as an informed client while we maintain our independent oversight functions.
Ready to Start COMS?
We make onboarding completely friction-free. Simply click the button to register a brief, 10-minute technical review with one of our directors. We will look over your live project location, review your current planning status, and build an itemized, transparent fixed-fee proposal mapped precisely to your timeline.