What is an excessive hardship?

Excessive hardship (or excessive oreousness) is a legal concept, it is an unforeseen and extraordinary change in the circumstances that existed at the time of the conclusion of the contract that seriously alters its balance.

The consequence of this change is that it is much more expensive for one of the parties to comply with the provision initially provided for in the contract. Thus, this term allows requesting a modification or resolution of the contract to restore the altered contractual balance.

For example, considerable inflation.

Related concepts

• Excessive hardship clause
• Force majeure
• Force majeure clause
• Rebus Sic Stantibus Clause
• What are the differences between force majeure and excessive hardship?
• What are the differences between the force majeure clause, rebus sic stantibus and excessive onerousness?