How long do we have to wait before we get another builder in to finish the work?!

VKS_2

Hi everyone

We have had a lot of work done on our house - started nearly a year ago. Included an extension and the majority of the work was completed within four months. We moved back into our house in September with work that was outstanding. Our contract is with the project manager who gave us a quote, got the builders etc

However, in September the builders moved onto another job and so the project manager basically came back every now and then to finish another little bit off. So six months on the work is still not finished. There is very little left to do and we only have £2,000 left to pay.

The upstairs bathroom shower has been leaking since September. He keeps coming back to fix it. It is usually fine for a couple of weeks, then leaks again. He won't bring in a plumber - he does all the work himself.

The project manager is desperate to get the remaining money off us - but we compromised a couple of months ago and paid him some extra money so we have less than the 10 % to pay. I don't want to pay him anything else now until everything is done.

My question is, am I within my rights to tell him where to go and bring in someone else to finish off the work and fix the leak etc? We have had promise after promise that all the work would be completed months ago. And six months with a bathroom shower that leaks water into the kitchen - it is beyond a joke.

Any advice, much appreciated.

Thanks

Vicki

bobhawke

Depends on whether you have signed any paperwork with the current builders or not.

You could send them a recorded delivery letter with a detailed snag list giving them a couple of weeks to comply. If they don't then go ahead, get new builders in.

VKS_2

Unfortunately can't find the contract - apparently it was a standard industry one. I will ask them for another copy.

We've done the listing the jobs etc. It was meant to be finished last September! We keep agreeing new dates - then they don't stick to them.

We need the shower fixed, because until that is done, we can't plaster the ceiling in the kitchen etc. It obviously needs a plumber to look at it - the project manager has supposedly fixed it more times than I care to count!

dampdaveski

VKS,
regardless of your contract, it sounds like they've broken it.
Send a letter by recorder delivery with your snag list and a reaonable time frame for carrying out the snagging (ie 2 weeks as bob has already indicated).
Inform them this is non negiotable and that you will employ another contractor if the works arn't completed within the time period you set.
I also suggest that you instruct a decent plumbing contractor to assess the shower, so that you have an idea of what needs to be done to make your shower leak free.
You should also be threatening your project manager with additional costs you have incurred for the shower leaking etc

Good luck with it all
DD