Builder won't return keys or finish work

helpjack

Hi,

I'm not sure whether this is the right area but wanted some advice.

We have had a lot of work done by a local carpenter/builder and were recently really pleased and even recommended him but the last two bits of work he has done haven't been great. I think this is mainly because he subcontracted it out. Anyway, the final piece of work isn't quite finished. Not massive things but the quality isn't that good and some things are beyond my skill level to make good. For instance he was supposed to replace the skirting in a room along with the floor but he's left a big gap and there is an air brick the other side so the whole downstairs is now freezing. There's also door bars missing from the floor, a couple of kitchen units that aren't right and door that doesn't close properly among other things.

Foolishly I paid the final bill because he sent it me and was pressuring me and assured me he would come back and fix things. We live near to each other so I wasn't particularly concerned that he wouldn't come back especially as we had a good relationship over a couple of years. Anyway, he won't come back. He keeps saying he will come but never turns up. To make it worse he has a set of keys that he won't return.

I'm stuck what to do now. I've advised him after 4 months of contacting him about this that I will change the locks, and get someone else to complete the work and will send him the bill but he just doesn't respond now.

The thing I don't get is it would take him 20 mins probably to fix everything and he lives 2 mins away so I don't understand why he would treat a good customer like this.

I don't want to ever work with him again but I would like him to fix what we've paid for and of course get my keys back.

I can leave a review on Google as he does a lot of promotion on the internet. He even has my house and some comments that I never actually said but I'm worried if I do that I'll never be able to get a tradesman again and he also still has my keys.

On a more positive note, it's inspired me to the rest of the small jobs myself. I'm handy enough but have always struggled for time with a young family but even so it will be easier than this.

chili1496

why will he not return your keys?

Carrot007

How big a gap with the skirting. There is meant to be a gap to fit the laminate/carpet under. but not a lot.


Sounds like he won't givethe keys back because he does intend to do it. But fit it in to his convienience.


Itr will likely go on "for ever". Give him a letter before action to either do the work within a month or return the keys. Then take action if he does not.

scd3scd4

Pop around his home and ask for the keys!

helpjack

I don't think he is intending to come back as he doesn't even respond to me anymore.

I'm going to ask my other half to go round to his house tonight and try and get the keys.

Where do you stand legally if someone refuses to return your property especially something as critical as house keys.

The gap is a vertical gap not a horizontal gap. There's a break in the skirting between the box work piping and the start of the skirting. It probably actually needs some boxing built but I paid for it all to be finished.

gettingtheresometime

Personally I wouldn't care about getting my keys (not that I would have given a non family member my keys) back - I'd be changing the locks.

chili1496

if he is paid in full then he has no real reason to hold onto your keys, i would ask a copper for advice on getting him to return them, report him for theft if need be. As others have said i would be looking into getting the locks changed.

charlotte1994

chili1496 wrote: »

if he is paid in full then he has no real reason to hold onto your keys, i would ask a copper for advice on getting him to return them, report him for theft if need be. As others have said i would be looking into getting the locks changed.

Agree!! go to his house, say that if he is done then you would like your keys back, you have paid after all. Make sure he knows that you will be getting someone else to finish the job (even if this isn't true). There's no reason for him to keep your keys

hollydays

He's probably wondering why you don't just call round and ask for them
It looks like your relationship has broken down irretrievably.

helpjack

It's the missing door bars that are the pain. They are from Howdens and I've never been able to set up an account because I'm not trade. I can get different ones but they won't match the rest of the house. It will just look a bit odd and then even more annoying because we've paid for them.

I might see if I can pick them up on Saturday morning. I've picked stuff up from his account before but only when something has been missing from an order.

It's just all a bit strange. He must go past my house nearly every day. All he would have to do is drop them through the letter box.

We were going to get a new front door but just not quite yet but I think the answer is to expedite that process and just change the other lock.

helpjack

hollydays wrote: »

He's probably wondering why you don't just call round and ask for them
It looks like your relationship has broken down irretrievably.

It's a good shout. Maybe I'm being unreasonable. I can't get a lot of perspective on it.

But for 3 months he's been setting a date to come round and sort it and then never showing up. So by this point I've got annoyed.

I think go round and try and get keys back. Sort new front door that was going to be done anyway and find a new builder and move on.