Who is responsible for damage caused during building work?

matt8787

Sorry, couldn't really find an appropriate forum for this query

I am in the process of having an extension built on my property. During the course of the build the contracted builder has been hiring a skip company to take away the rubble. We’ve had about 7 or 8 skips come and go over the course of the build, and they have been getting stored on the driveway. During this time damage has been caused to my driveway, presumably by the weight of the skip or the loading/offloading process.

Who is responsible for repairing the damage? My main builder? Or the skip company he hired? Or do I just have to accept it?

thanks

lincroft1710

What sort of damage?

ThumbRemote

matt8787 wrote: »

Who is responsible for repairing the damage? My main builder? Or the skip company he hired? Or do I just have to accept it?

Your builder. You have contracted them to do the work; it was they who arranged for the skip to be positioned there.

neilmcl

ThumbRemote wrote: »

Your builder. You have contracted them to do the work; it was they who arranged for the skip to be positioned there.

Where does the OP say the builder arranged for the skip to be placed on the driveway. OP, if you were aware that the skips were to be placed there beforehand then I think you should probably suck it up as it's reasonable to assume there might be some damage caused if that many skips are moved on and off your driveway.

What sort of damage are we talking about, what size skips?

DoaM

Agreed (with TR). Whether they then claim costs from the skip company is their choice, and has no bearing on your claim.

Raise the concern about the damage and see what the builder says. Might be best to avoid upsetting the builder until the job is complete.

matt8787

Thanks for the replies. We are in the final stages of the build now. I did know where the skips would be positioned, but didn't know that risked damage to the driveway. The driveway and pavement paving stones have been cracked. The driveway now has uneven parts jutting out - like you'd see post-earthquake.

I just wanted to know whether I was being unreasonable before entering what will undoubtedly be a bone of contention with the builder

matt8787

Here are before and after pics of the driveway:

BEFORE:
http://s1379.photobucket.com/user/matt878787/media/Before_zpsmafdwfes.png.html?sort=3&o=1


AFTER:
http://s1379.photobucket.com/user/matt878787/media/After_zpsdfmomm4p.jpg.html?sort=3&o=0

matt8787

they've patched over the main breakage area on the left with sand, but as you can probably make out, there's still a big lip where the surface is uneven.

All I want them to do really is repair it back to how it was - nothing fancy, but just level/even

Spicy_McHaggis

And who's going to sort the footpath out?

It's obvious that the footpath and drive are not strong enough to take the weight of the spin wagon lifting a loaded skip.

matt8787

yes, good question - obviously both need repair - the question is, where does the £ responsibility lie.....

The builder has already suggested that it's the LA/water board's fault that the footpath has suffered damage as they weren't strong enough to take the weight of the loading lorry.

But can this argument apply to my property/driveway too?

ess0two

They can patch the drive,as for the pavement?? you want to make sure no one trips over etc as the council will be involved then.