Plumber not taking responsibility...

RedfordML

Long story short...

We paid a plumber to install a new en-suite at the cost of £3k.

8 weeks on, its still leaking. Plumber is now refusing to take responsibility and in messages has quoted “I’ve done all I can to find a solution” and “I’m out of ideas”

To us, we’ve paid in good faith for a shower to be fitted and working.

He now states he isn’t going to come out to us anyomore “free of charge” but we argue how can we be left £3k down and with no shower?

What are our options? How do we go about court action if required?

We had to get a mastic guy out as “it’s out of my area of expertise” yet the plumber refused to pay and only offered to pay half.

Absolute at my wits end with it all. Just want it ripped out and down again but at no extra cost as we feel let down.

Would love some advice. Thanks.

Aylesbury_Duck

Get a decent plumber in, get it fixed and take the first plumber to small claims for the cost.

RedfordML

Aylesbury_Duck wrote: »

Get a decent plumber in, get it fixed and take the first plumber to small claims for the cost.

How do we go about putting this into action?

googler

Leaking in what way? From pipework, or at the sealant lines between shower tray and tile/shower panel?

Consider this; if the tray is set upon the floor, and the floor has some movement, the tray will move with the floor. This may open up the sealant.

Can you give more detail about construction, etc.?

tacpot12

Your need to consult at least two and probably three experts to establish what the cause of the leak is and what the cheapest method of remediating the leak is. Although the remediation method should be the cheapest, it should not result in the en-suite being lest durable than a new, correctly installed en-suite.

You need the experts to put their determination of the cause, their recommendation about remediation, and their qualifications and experience into writing so you can submit it to the court.

If you can afford it and you are prepared to take the risk of not winning in court, you can get the en-suite repaired/replaced by someone else, and claim the actual cost back. If you can't afford this, going to court should result in you receiving the average of three quotes for the remediation work, which you can then pay to get done. This is assuming that the plumber can pay.

Did you check that they had liability insurance before letting them undertake a high-risk project? (Any project with a shower tray is a high-risk project because the are prone to leaking when no properly installed). If they did have liability insurance, you should tell the court this, as the insurance company should either defend the claim, or pay out before it goes to court.

Once you have evidence of the cause, and three estimates for remediation or a final invoice, you can start a small claims action via Money Claim Online (MCOL): https://www.moneyclaim.gov.uk/web/mcol/welcome

I forgot to mention that before starting your small claims action, you need to send a "Letter Before Action" to the Plumber. Which magazine and others have sample letters you can refer to.