What if a domestic client doesn't appoint a principal contractor?

• A. The designer becomes the principal contractor
• B. Contractor in control assumes the role
• C. The client becomes the sole contractor
• D. The site manager takes over

Answer: (B)

In domestic projects, if the client does not appoint a principal contractor, the responsibility falls to the person who has overall control of the construction work—the contractor in control. This person then takes on the principal contractor duties for planning, managing, and coordinating the construction phase to protect health and safety on site. The designer isn’t automatically elevated to principal contractor, the client doesn’t become the contractor by default, and the site manager doesn’t automatically assume those duties unless they are the contractor in control.