Myth: We Are a Domestic Client
- Paul Scanlon
- Jul 30
- 1 min read
"We're a domestic client — so the regulations don't really affect us."
Not quite.
CDM 2015 does treat domestic clients differently. But the regulations don't disappear. They transfer.
Where a domestic client appoints a single contractor, that contractor automatically takes on the client's CDM duties. Where more than one contractor is involved, those duties transfer to the Principal Contractor — unless the domestic client formally appoints a Principal Designer, in which case the PD takes on the client duties in the pre-construction phase.
The practical implication: if you are a homeowner commissioning a loft conversion, extension, or major renovation involving multiple contractors, CDM 2015 is active on your project. You are not personally holding the duties — but someone is, whether or not they know it.
For property developers building one-off homes, the position is more complex. If the development is connected to a business or commercial purpose, the developer may be treated as a commercial client, not a domestic one.
And for commercial landlords or managing agents commissioning work in residential buildings, client duties may sit with the organisation, not the occupier.
If you are unsure which category applies to your project, it is worth taking advice before work begins rather than after an incident.
Get your free Client Guide to CDM 2015 here: cdm2015.co.uk/resource-download
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