Builder paid £16k then leaves house half done

hollydays

Goodness.

It almost sounds like you are saying people deserve to get ripped off,,

What a shame that someone of your " alleged" superior knowledge

Can't admit wrongdoing,

I wonder why?!!
( remind me not to do business with people like you)

djc2015

thearchitect wrote: »

Some questions, before I give you a moe detailed answer.

1. Who prepared the necessary drawings? Did you have this done yourself, or was it the builder?

2. Likewise who applied for statutory consents - planning, warrant, and so on? Some of these may not be required depending upon the size of the extension and where you are in the UK.

3. What was the basis of his quote? Was he provided with said plans and povided a lump sum price, or was this a design & build/turnkey contract?

4. You pesumably haven't had an architect or building surveyor monitoring the works on site?

Thanks for message..
Originally i was dealing the building inspector as we managed to avoid planning and go with a building notice. Inspector came out on a gew site visits and i left all further communication with the builder.

It was oringinally a 7 week contract with a plan and timetable with list od jobs in included, every time something changed such as extras etc i got him to do a revised timetable.
I got him to build a single story back extensiom.

I believe i have enough evidence etc to hold a solid case... As all of the work stipulated has clearly not been done.
I paid him weekly and was ment to keep 10% behind until all finished and snags where complete. But we have 60% of the work still left to do

thearchitect

djc2015 wrote: »

Thanks for message..
Originally i was dealing the building inspector as we managed to avoid planning and go with a building notice. Inspector came out on a gew site visits and i left all further communication with the builder.

It was oringinally a 7 week contract with a plan and timetable with list od jobs in included, every time something changed such as extras etc i got him to do a revised timetable.
I got him to build a single story back extensiom.

I believe i have enough evidence etc to hold a solid case... As all of the work stipulated has clearly not been done.
I paid him weekly and was ment to keep 10% behind until all finished and snags where complete. But we have 60% of the work still left to do

Who did the original design/drawings and did they form the basis of the contract with the builder?

djc2015

There was no drawings or designs. He simply came along and spent 30mins going around the house with me and me telling him what i wanted doing and before i allowed him to start i wanted a letterheaded quote stating everything

thearchitect

djc2015 wrote: »

There was no drawings or designs. He simply came along and spent 30mins going around the house with me and me telling him what i wanted doing and before i allowed him to start i wanted a letterheaded quote stating everything

How detailed is the written quote?

djc2015

thearchitect wrote: »

Some questions, before I give you a more detailed answer.

1. Who prepared the necessary drawings? Did you have this done yourself, or was it the builder?

2. Likewise who applied for statutory consents - planning, warrant, and so on? Some of these may not be required depending upon the size of the extension and where you are in the UK.

3. What was the basis of his quote? Was he provided with said plans and povided a lump sum price, or was this a design & build/turnkey contract?

4. You presumably haven't had an architect or building surveyor monitoring the works on site?

thearchitect wrote: »

Who did the original design/drawings and did they form the basis of the contract with the builder?

thearchitect wrote: »

How detailed is the written quote?

Thank you for choosing A M Contractors to provide you with a quote for the renovation List below

• Strip out property
• Re roof new felt batten tiles ridges
• Erect scaffolding
• New Windows
• Lintels above Windows
• Re plaster house and new ceilings
• Erect conservatory on back
• Knock kitchen through install steels
• Repair floor in places by front door
• Fit kitchen and bathroom excluding tiling
• New ring main upstairs for sockets




Total cost for works labour only
£ 10,100.00 minus £ 600.00 for conservatory new total is £ 9500.00

Kind regards

(Text removed by MSE Forum Team)

A M Contractors

This is just 1 quote i have to hand all of the others are basically the same but say revised plan.. And say erect single story extension and price

djc2015

Its very mentally draining. I have a house that needs about £8k spending and also rectifying his problems he has done, but also trying to look into small claims court. I have sent him 2 emails saying i give him the opportunity to get someone else to rectify all works but do not want him entering the houses again.. Because he has removed a gas meter and also done some electrical work - which i found out he is not an approved Electrician

thearchitect

Okay, initial thoughts, all subject to to the caveat that I've not seen the detailed papers and you should be considering commissioning face-to-face professional advice.

You were, frankly, ill-advised to poceed without drawings or the like however the English building contol system is notably more relaxed on this issue and it probably isn't going to make much of a difference. The builder's key wok headings should probably give enough infomation for you to pursue him.

The first thing you need to do is clealy specify all the work required to complete the project and which were included in the contract works, or as might arise directly from the contractor's default. My advice is that you have an architect or building surveyor carry out this on your behalf, providing a clear expert report which can either be used as a basis for (a) any legal action or (b) obtaining tenders for said operations.

Secondly you need to price this work. That can either be done by a quantity surveyor or seeking competitive tenders for the works. This will allow you to ascetain whether you are looking small claims court or a summary action.

Now some people will suggest to you that you could just go to one or more contractors for both these services. That is an option. If you are going to court it is probably not a good one as the court will typically prefer an unbiased expert view, which surveyors and architects are usually better placed to provide.

Once you have that information, place it before the contractor (use special delivery hard copy post) and advise that unless he finishes all work within a reasonable period (typically 14 days) then you will determine your contract and employ others to complete the works, recovering any monies so arising from his company or alternatively against him as a director of same under tort.

Prepare yourself for a bumpy ride. And consider speaking to your household insurer, who may provide you with assistance.

thearchitect

djc2015 wrote: »

Because he has removed a gas meter and also done some electrical work - which i found out he is not an approved Electrician

The gas meter belongs to the gas company, who must be notified. What happened to the meter and has the supply been temporarily secured against leakage?

As regards electrics, there is no equirement for those installing cabling to be SELECT approved or similar, however whoever certifies the finalised installation must be. If the job is not completed then there will a limit what you can do at this stage as he will just claim he was going to commission a test.

And do not refuse him access, it will count against you in court - he must be given reasonable opportunities to corect defective wokmanship.

djc2015

I have found out today from a contractor who done a full rewire on a previous house i had where the builder was working that he has been doing a full roof install for the past 4 weeks.
I have started getting quotes for all of the works done so will get that all together and send that to him.
Seems that there is so much for people to do to get justice. Not suprised there are so many people getting ripped off.