Trouble with builders

welshsusie

This is my first post, so apologies in advance. We're in the throes of having our loft converted into a large bedroom and ensuite. We've had various problems, such as the house not being weatherproofed properly. I know the rain was VERY heavy that day, but still wasn't happy with leaks in the attic, on the first floor and the ground floor for a whole weekend, with the builders uncontactable.
We had to redesign the ensuite, because the way it was on the drawings left approx 2 feet between the sink and the shower, to get to the toilet. It shold be much roomier the other way around. Also lots of standard builder niggles, such as promises to consult on details and then they just went ahead anyway.
This evening, after a bath, we discovered the plumber, on Monday had turned off the feed to the new water tanks, so we had very low pressure water, and little heat. He apparently isn't due back til the end of next week.
We regard this as something approaching sabotage. The question is, what do we do now? We've paid 90% so far in stage payments, with the rest held for satisfactory completion. Any ideas, please, or any questions?
Thankyou

ameliarate

First suggestion, hang on tight to the 10% until you are happy with everything.
Second suggestion, can' t you get hold of the plumber and get him back sooner to sort the water pressure up.
How far from completion are you?

missile

Sounds like the usual cowboy builder scenario and it is very difficult to get them to rectify work after you have paid. A competent builder will not demand money in advance.

brownbake

Firstly for what sounds like such a large job you would have needed planning permission. I can only assume you didn't get that in the first place.

You would also need architects drawings for what sounds like a large project. To change your mind halfway through is obviously going to delay and cause problems.

A typical loft conversion costs at least 20K even a small one and with a bathroom added you are looking at considerably more.

If we assume it has cost 20K then you say you have paid £18K without the job being completed to your satisfaction!! You should have paid between 50 - 75 % with the balance being paid on the work being completed to the agreed written contract. I assume you have a written contract??!!

If you have paid significantly less than £20K, if you have paid in cash, if you have no written contract - they saw you coming!!

Sorry but you have been had and realistically you can't do a thing unless you fork out a load of money in solicitors fees. Ya money is gone and you have been left with a cowboys turd. Did they even have a landline number or did they just come a knockin??

brownbake

In regards to the water pressure it probably isn't what you thinking. In old houses the water pressure from the tank comes from the water being stored higher up - usually a few metres so gravity causes the pressure.
I am guessing that the tank hasn't been moved and you are now in line with it - seeing that you have gone up into the loft.
The only way to boost it is to get a suitable combi boiler - v expensive - or to fit a pump from the tank that will need to be wired in and signed off by a part P qualified electrician who will give you a certificate.
As the other poster said any competent tradesman will not be asking for all the money upfront - materials is OK and then the rest in installments in line with how the job is going.

To Pay 90% is silly and if they can't be contacted surely it has made you wonder? Get hold of trading standards and citizens advice. Obviously they aren't gonna be helpful and will go after you if you decided to do it on the cheap and avoid planning permission and building regulations!! Which it sounds like you have.

welshsusie

The " loft conversion specialists" are apparently not cowboys, or at least we didn't think so. We didn't need full planning permission, as it's within permitted development levels, and that's from the local council, in writing. Drawings were done, but it seems not by a very competent outfit (chosen by the loft people). We do have a contract.
it seems the plumber, or someone, has turned back up the water pressure today, as we now have hot water! The problem was in the existing bathroom and kitchen, with the new water tanks in the dormer of the loft conversion, so plenty of gravity. When we left this morning, the crew leader was busy failing to get hold of the plumber.
We're not avoiding buildings regs, and are expecting an inspector at some point soon.
Thanks for your advice, folks

andrew-b

Don't be so sure...just because they are working within the rules of building regs and acceptable developments not needing planning permission and have a contract doesn't mean anything.

My sister took well over a year trying to get one of these "loft conversion specialist" outfits to resolve the many problems left behind when they disappeared off the job. Fortunately they had more bargaining power by not having paid quite as much and in the end an agreement was come to by all parties involved with a small amount of help from Federation of Master builders (of whom they were a member - goodness knows how!) to help resolve the dispute (not that they could do much really other than advise). The agreement was a reduction in price rather than completion of work. Even now several years later they can't fully use their loft bathroom fully. Their builders were taking the p*** literally ..proven when my sister found a mug used in place of a toilet!

All the niggles can be very frustrating and stressful when your trying to live on what becomes a building site. How the niggles are dealt with are what sets apart the good builders from the rest.

Fortunately i have heard not all builders are the same....