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Compensation from builder/council?
Just...Yvette
Posts: 35 Forumite
I hope this is the right place for this thread, if not I apologise but nowhere else seemed appropriate.
I have a ground floor bedroom & bathroom extension because I am disabled; it has been funded by the council in our private house, and built by their approved contractors.
The relationship with the first contractors (a large-ish building company who sub-contracted to another builder and his men) broke down when they continually damaged our property (smashed our front wall, side wall, cement thrown all over our garden) and did several things wrong, such as 'forgetting' to put in the central heating pipes so they then had to go on the outside of the walls, lumpy plastering, uneven floor that had to be redone, exterior doors fitted not level then repaired and still has large gap underneath, central heating inhibitor dropped all over our carpets, I could go on and on). At first we tried to work with the building company and agreed for them to get rid of the first sub-contractor and replace him with another, however, the problems continued and the building company stopped communicating with us or sending people to do the work. Eventually the council agreed to take this company off the job and employ a new builder, this was in June and the finishing date was supposed to be April. At this point the extension was in use by us, decorated etc, and the company had told the council it was finished, even though there were several snagging issues, including leaks on the ceiling from the roof - the company's roofers came and resealed the roof and declared it fixed, but it continued to leak. Mould had appeared in the bedroom and wetroom by this time.
The new builder has found some major problems with the extension. First, the wetroom floor had to come up as it was not level and always had puddles. The toilet was also leaking and was found to be cracked - he thinks they used a second hand one. The shower tray was not suitable for wetroom specifications and was not big enough so that had to be replaced. The sink was the wrong size for a disabled wetroom and was not fixed to the wall and could have fallen on us at any time.
The toilet has had flushing problems since it was installed, and it transpires that the sewer pipes have been installed wrongly, with a bend where there is now a blockage, and not deep enough in the ground. The building inspector said the sewer pipe had to come up and be redone - meaning my ramp from the door will all have to be taken up.
But the biggest issue has happened today when the new roofers took the roof off to repair the leak. They found the insulation and boards soaking wet, mouldy and the correct brackets had not been used to hold the roof on. It could have collapsed on top of us, we have been told. The first builders had used breeze blocks on the side wall which will mean we would always have problems with it, and the extension had not been tied to the house - just cemented together. We've had the council and the buildings inspector out today. They have told us that the bedroom will have to be knocked down and rebuilt, which will take at least another two months.
We don't know what we will do while they build a new bedroom. I have three bedrooms upstairs but three sons in them (one of our sons used to sleep downstairs in a room that has been demolished for the extension). I struggle hugely with stairs and we only have a bath upstairs which I can't get into without equipment. We have a large bed in the extension, bought by mom for our new bedroom, that was assembled by Dreams in the room. This has to come out and I have no idea where it will go. I had blinds made and fitted for the window and door in the extension - I don't know what will happen with them or whether they will be damaged when we take them off (they were fitted by the blind company). They are not reusing the doors and window so no guarantee the blinds will fit the new ones.
Any solution would be difficult for me - I don't want to be put in a hotel or similar away from my teenage sons, cat and all possessions, but staying here is going to be so hard and disruptive. We have already had builders here since January and all the accompanying stress and mess.
I would like to claim compensation for disruption and stress, I am not sure how to go about this or whether we should claim it from the council or the first building company. Will I be able to claim when I have not had to pay anything for the building work? Are there any no win no fee solicitors who deal with this kind of thing?
I think I will also complain to trading standards. The council have told us that the same company have worked on another house which is worse than ours and is having to be put right. The council are still using the building company in the meantime because their lack of a grievance procedure means they can't stop them from bidding and winning tenders to work on other homes!
Sorry this has turned out so long. Any opinions and advice would be very useful please. Thanks.
I have a ground floor bedroom & bathroom extension because I am disabled; it has been funded by the council in our private house, and built by their approved contractors.
The relationship with the first contractors (a large-ish building company who sub-contracted to another builder and his men) broke down when they continually damaged our property (smashed our front wall, side wall, cement thrown all over our garden) and did several things wrong, such as 'forgetting' to put in the central heating pipes so they then had to go on the outside of the walls, lumpy plastering, uneven floor that had to be redone, exterior doors fitted not level then repaired and still has large gap underneath, central heating inhibitor dropped all over our carpets, I could go on and on). At first we tried to work with the building company and agreed for them to get rid of the first sub-contractor and replace him with another, however, the problems continued and the building company stopped communicating with us or sending people to do the work. Eventually the council agreed to take this company off the job and employ a new builder, this was in June and the finishing date was supposed to be April. At this point the extension was in use by us, decorated etc, and the company had told the council it was finished, even though there were several snagging issues, including leaks on the ceiling from the roof - the company's roofers came and resealed the roof and declared it fixed, but it continued to leak. Mould had appeared in the bedroom and wetroom by this time.
The new builder has found some major problems with the extension. First, the wetroom floor had to come up as it was not level and always had puddles. The toilet was also leaking and was found to be cracked - he thinks they used a second hand one. The shower tray was not suitable for wetroom specifications and was not big enough so that had to be replaced. The sink was the wrong size for a disabled wetroom and was not fixed to the wall and could have fallen on us at any time.
The toilet has had flushing problems since it was installed, and it transpires that the sewer pipes have been installed wrongly, with a bend where there is now a blockage, and not deep enough in the ground. The building inspector said the sewer pipe had to come up and be redone - meaning my ramp from the door will all have to be taken up.
But the biggest issue has happened today when the new roofers took the roof off to repair the leak. They found the insulation and boards soaking wet, mouldy and the correct brackets had not been used to hold the roof on. It could have collapsed on top of us, we have been told. The first builders had used breeze blocks on the side wall which will mean we would always have problems with it, and the extension had not been tied to the house - just cemented together. We've had the council and the buildings inspector out today. They have told us that the bedroom will have to be knocked down and rebuilt, which will take at least another two months.
We don't know what we will do while they build a new bedroom. I have three bedrooms upstairs but three sons in them (one of our sons used to sleep downstairs in a room that has been demolished for the extension). I struggle hugely with stairs and we only have a bath upstairs which I can't get into without equipment. We have a large bed in the extension, bought by mom for our new bedroom, that was assembled by Dreams in the room. This has to come out and I have no idea where it will go. I had blinds made and fitted for the window and door in the extension - I don't know what will happen with them or whether they will be damaged when we take them off (they were fitted by the blind company). They are not reusing the doors and window so no guarantee the blinds will fit the new ones.
Any solution would be difficult for me - I don't want to be put in a hotel or similar away from my teenage sons, cat and all possessions, but staying here is going to be so hard and disruptive. We have already had builders here since January and all the accompanying stress and mess.
I would like to claim compensation for disruption and stress, I am not sure how to go about this or whether we should claim it from the council or the first building company. Will I be able to claim when I have not had to pay anything for the building work? Are there any no win no fee solicitors who deal with this kind of thing?
I think I will also complain to trading standards. The council have told us that the same company have worked on another house which is worse than ours and is having to be put right. The council are still using the building company in the meantime because their lack of a grievance procedure means they can't stop them from bidding and winning tenders to work on other homes!
Sorry this has turned out so long. Any opinions and advice would be very useful please. Thanks.
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Comments
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No one will pay out without a fight.
That means solicitors and TBH it just isn't worth the money especially as YOU have to prove everything you say.SECRET OF SUCCESS IN LIFE:
Patience, patience & patience.0 -
You should claim from the council and they should claim from the builder. The builder's side of the contract is only with the contractor, yours should be with the council.
If you have legal advice cover with your home insurance, now is the time to use it.Everything that is supposed to be in heaven is already here on earth.
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I like the sound of that Doozergirl, I am going to get the insurance documents out and have a look. Thanks.
We were woken at 2.30am by rain pouring through the (live) light fitting onto the bed. So tired and fed up now.0 -
I've checked and we don't have legal cover.0
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Can anyone recommend a no win no fee firm who would take this on? All I can find is personal injury solicitors. Thanks0
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Just...Yvette wrote: »Can anyone recommend a no win no fee firm who would take this on? All I can find is personal injury solicitors. Thanks
That's because it's clear cut.
This could go either way so no one will offer no-win-no-fee.0
This discussion has been closed.
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