Wrongly Installed Plumbing – Advice Needed!

AuntyC

Hi,

I need general advice on a situation that's arisen in my home.
It's a flat in a pre-war block into which I moved just over 12 years ago. The interior needed a total refit, and this was project-managed by a builder I know and trust (he's an old friend). This would have been around 10-11 years ago.

Although he did most of the work himself, he did bring in other contractors to take care of the plastering and plumbing side of things.

On the whole, I've been very pleased, but now a problem has arisen with the plumbing. We recently had the waste-water pipes (the main stacks for the block) flushed, and I ended up with black gunk backing up into my bathtub and also flooding my kitchen floor.

I rang the block's managing agent, and he says the contractors in charge of the stack-cleaning (who, to be fair, were incredibly helpful and professional and assisted me with the basic clean-up), reported back that the plumbing in my flat has been wrongly installed. (Waste pipes running between the kitchen and bathroom which should have just been connected to the main stack, as I understand it.)

It's going to be inspected next week but, worst-case scenario, I may need to get it all redone. Obviously, this could be expensive so I'd appreciate any advice on liability, consumer rights and the best way to handle things, etc. Other details as follows:

As it's been 10+ years since the original plumbing was fitted, is it too late to complain? There have only been minor problems up until now, but going by what the block manager is claiming, it's basically been a "time bomb".

The majority of this work was done by an employee of the plumber, and there were problems with him at the time. He left a pipe leaking in my flat (luckily, this was soon spotted by my builder who, as I recall, got the plumbing boss in to sort it out), but I understand the employee was "let go" shortly afterwards due to too many errors being made.

I've had other plumbers in for minor jobs (just the basic maintenance you'd expect over the years), but nobody has commented on how the plumbing's been installed up until now.

At the moment, I'm planning to see what the block manager says, then if the plumbing needs to be re-installed, to talk to my builder. If this isn't possible (he's been abroad and I'm not certain when he's returning), I may need to approach the plumber directly.

As far as I'm concerned, I acted in good faith when I allowed the plumber to be hired on my behalf, and if he chose to send a subcontractor rather than do the work himself, any problems are still his responsibility. As I've said, I trust my builder 100% – he's very conscientious to the point of taking it personally (in a good way) when things go wrong, so ideally I'd like him to talk to the plumber.

Obviously, I want my plumbing to work efficiently, not just for my own sake but because any problems may affect my neighbours too.

Any advice will be appreciated.

Thanks in advance and sorry this so long-winded!