Would you trust cheap casual Eastern European workers for house work (external)?

paddy's_mum

I wouldn't trust a workman of any nationality who just "happens to be free" since almost without exception, I have to wait for the tradesmen I use to finish the job/s they are already on or committed to.

Generally speaking, good workmen are booked up for days or weeks ahead so deduce from that what you will.

robatwork

AlexMac wrote: »

In which case, you will have a legal obligation to establish whether they are nice, 'legal' EEA Eastern Europeans (from Bulgaria, Romania, Latvia, Slovakia, etc...) or dodgy 'illegals' from further east (Albania, Bosnia, Belarus...)

Think you need a bit of a geography lesson if you think Bosnia or Albania is further East than Romania or Bulgaria.

To the OP - I would gladly bring across someone from Europe to do major work on my house - would probably work out cheaper and just as good as a local builder depending on the size of the job. Plus they would be less likely to eat all my Jaffa cakes.

As to employing some herbert who was wandering past....well no. Ask them to show you examples of work they have done at your neighbours, and get the neighbour to verify it.

[Deleted User]

robatwork wrote: »

Think you need a bit of a geography lesson if you think Bosnia or Albania is further East than Romania or Bulgaria.

To the OP - I would gladly bring across someone from Europe to do major work on my house - would probably work out cheaper and just as good as a local builder depending on the size of the job. Plus they would be less likely to eat all my Jaffa cakes.

As to employing some herbert who was wandering past....well no. Ask them to show you examples of work they have done at your neighbours, and get the neighbour to verify it.

Preferably work that is still standing or lying still three months after completion.

marksoton

It never ceases to amaze me the number of people who are prepared to allow these chancers to carry out work.

When i was running tarmac crews doing legitimate LA work we'd get approached on a daily basis to put a bodged job by these cowboys right. And of course it was always for cash.

torbrex

LiveOnce wrote: »

Hi all,

Would you trust cheap casual Eastern European workers for house work (external)?

Ie. One day you are fixing your car outside and they come approach you offering all kinds of work like painting, pavements, garden etc.

I would need to see proof of a genuine business address and also proof that they were paying tax in this country.

oystercatcher

As said by others, I wouldn't trust anybody who just wandered past or was going from door to door offering to do work. Doesn't matter where they are from or what they look like.

lush_walrus

Nope I would never use anyone who happened to be passing to do anything. The jobs you describe are simple labour tasks however as with everything one person will do it better than another and someone at your door you know nothing about is least likely to be the safest bet.

DKLS

I have used polish plumbers and romanian builders in the past and have been more than happy with their work. I always asked for local companies to quote and would either not turn up or not quote.

Stereotypically the ones I hired, had a work ethic like a mule, were skilled and took pride in their work.

scoot65

To put it simply…….. NO!

teddysmum

If you use someone who happens to 'be in the area' , chances are that there are no business headquarters or insurance, so no comeback, should a fault/problem later emerge.