Adjudication is a way of resolving disputes in construction contracts. It was introduced by the by the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996, and it applies to all construction contracts entered into after 1 May 1998.

It sets out minimum procedural requirements that enable either party to a dispute to refer the matter to an independent person, who is then required to make a decision within 28 days of the matter being referred.

In practice around 80 percent of adjudication decisions are accepted by the parties.