Consumer / Property Law advice - Cowboy Builders

grant9588

Hi
First time thread so please be gentle.
My concern regards a cowboy builder who has made my first time house purchase a nightmare.
The background story so far is:
I purchased the house back in October 11, while the purchase was being processed by solicitors the previous owner (an elderly chap) was very kind as to get various bits of work done (roofing). We thought this was a godsend and we were forever thankful to him. However the roofing company were nothing but thieving so and so just taking the old man for a ride and we have been left to pick up the pieces.
First of all the work done (new guttering, "new felted front bedroom bay window roof" repaired ridge tiles and new tiles on the rear extension. I must add none of this work was needed when we viewed the house. Basically the cowboys kept adding jobs and forcing the old man into more work saying it was in desparate need. Since moving in early Dec we have had nothing but bother. The first time it rained the front bedroom roof leaked and we discovered the work done on the rear was a complete shambles (tiles not straight not all the same length boded with concrete and no flashing) and the guttering not straight and even basic errors like fittings inserted upside down.
I have rang the roofing company about 250 times since who at first kept promising to come fix the problems (they did come out one to fix the leak but simply smothered gutter seal which done absolutely nothing and sure enough the next time it rained it like. When calling back they started getting quite intimidating the other day saying that I am not even their customer and that the previous owner was their customer. Despite offering a 10 year warranty on work done and 65 year warranty on materials used. I tried trading standards who said that it has nothing to do with them because I never paid them and that it is a property law issuerranty on work done and 65 year warranty on materials used. I tried trading standards who said that it has nothing to do with them because I never paid them and that it is a property law issue. Now i am stuck in a rut with leaking roof and a poor quality rear roof a cowboy builder who will not follow up the warranty and no legal standing with trading standards and even worse little money to fix the problem.
Can anyone offer any advice?

Optimist

You "might" have a claim on the previous owner or the people who did your survey see your solicitor who did your conveyancing.