[2007] EWHC 1573 (TCC). 27 June 2007. Highlights that good communication is essential in dispute management, otherwise addition costs may well be incurred due to unnecessary delays. The case involved no new legal principle, but provided important lessons in dispute management. Facts: Claimants (C) asked for damages for breach of contract arising from alleged defects in the new house bought from the F. F had made a number of agreed payments to C and accepted liability for most of the alleged defects. As F was about to make good the defects, C decided they did not wish F to do the work. Part of the ensuing delay occurred while C was considering an offer by F to repurchase the property. F argued C acted unreasonably in failing to allow him to carry out the repair works, so no sum should be awarded. Held: F was ordered to pay compensation althopugh C was not entitled to compensation for the three years of delay caused by them: payment for costs not known; a late application for amendment to claim refused.