Landscape gardener work is awful, where do I stand?

Grumpycat

Hi
I'm looking for some advice if possible please. I've employed a landscape gardener to redo my garden, he advised it was a two week job and that he would start in February. It's now July and he still hasn't finished, he has worked maybe half a day a week with numerous apologies but no real reason for not finishing the work.

I have asked two other landscape gardeners to look at the work and they have advised that it is of a terrible standard. I am very upset and want to get the work rectified, although preferably not by the original Gardner who hasn't finished.

I didn't sign a contract and only have an email with his quote along with multiple text conversations promising the work would be done when I've requested it finished with 7/14 days.

Does this count as a contract with him? Can I go through the consumer act and request money back or the works rectified? Do I have to offer him the opportunity to rectify the works or can I get someone else to and give him the bill?!

Any advice on the matter would be greatly appreciated! Thank you.

hollydays

You've paid him?
There are landscape gardeners , there are gardeners and there are cowboys.
How did you find him?

Grumpycat

We paid half upfront and then a further £1500 as he said he'd be able to get the job done quicker (massive lie!), still a bit left to pay.
He was recommended by my boss who had a good experience with him, he had even ubderwuoted but refused to take more money from my boss so I thought he'd be ok!

hollydays

What work did he do for your boss?

Alter_ego

Ubderwouted has got me beat.

Grumpycat

He laid a patio, only a couple of days work in comparison

hollydays

You need to explain in more dtail what you asked him to do and also what the problems are

Grumpycat

He was hired to lay two patio areas, build a patio wall then render it with two steps up to the garden. Lay new turf, shed base, path, veg patch and raised flower bed with sleepers. About half the work has been done since February, the patio it too high in relation to the damp course, it's stained, has crosses and straight lines in the pattern which it shouldn't, it slopes one way and has no drainage so water will pool. The wall isn't tied at each end so could fall over and the render looks awful, the steps are wonky, the sleepers have nails sticking out so stuff could get caught on then, that's a few of the main issues!

LilElvis

So how much was his quote and how much have you paid him?

tykesi

Drip drip drip...

DoaM

Alter_ego wrote: »

Ubderwouted has got me beat.

Underquoted