Damaged Wallpaper by Electrician - What are my rights?

Exiled_Wiganer

No longer require

Shaun_of_the_Dead

Exiled_Wiganer wrote: »

Background - A feature wall was papered by myself over a weekend recently. This week an electrician whilst fitting sidelights to the wall damaged the wallpaper. The damage was caused by tape he stuck to the paper, which when taken off pulled off the pattern/top layer of an 18 inch area of paper. it is on the third drop of paper.

This is not a repairable job in my opinion. The 4 wallpaper drops on the wall need stripping and repapering. I don't have the time again to do this myself. I have been quoted £100 for someone to do this for myself plus have just spent £26 for 2 new rolls of paper.

The Electrian has offered £20 off his bill in lieu of the damage. I however feel he should pay the £126 this will cost myself to put myself back in the same position or alternatively I claim on his insurance. Am I being reasonable? Also the fact that I initially papered the wall myself but am now using a trade person. Is that relevant as if I charged for my labour at my slow speed it would cost more.

Any advice is appreciated.

If you did it yourself the labour cost would be £0.

The question is in order to fit the lights what did he actually need to do and why was the tape applied to the wall?

If we're talking about running new cables take the discount as you should have papered afterwards.

FtbDreaming

You should have had the lights fitted before papering! You’re actually quite mean increasing the cost to include a decorator when the man is just trying to earn a living.

LilElvis

You're expected to mitigate your losses so the cost of the materials would be deemed reasonable compensation, but not the additional cost of employing a decorator.

Shaun_of_the_Dead

Exiled_Wiganer wrote: »

Ok. If a decorator had done the papering, would it be expected that I would have to the repapering?

At the end of the day I'm looking to be put back into the same position, not have an improved position.

Why are you avoiding the question about the work you employed him to do?

McKneff

But a decorator didnt do it.

Undervalued

LilElvis wrote: »

You're expected to mitigate your losses so the cost of the materials would be deemed reasonable compensation, but not the additional cost of employing a decorator.

Yes and no!

Yes you are expected to mitigate your losses but that doesn't exclude paying a reasonable labour cost.

Also the OP said.....

.....alternatively I claim on his insurance.

You can't do that. Your claim is against him. He can involve the insurance company if he wishes.

KatrinaWaves

Don’t play the child disability card on this. It’s incredibly inappropriate.

Undervalued

McKneff wrote: »

But a decorator didnt do it.

Doesn't matter.

If the electrician is liable then he (or his insurers) must meet the reasonable cost of rectifying the problem. Just because the OP did the original paperhanging himself doesn't mean he has to do it again.

neilmcl

Exiled_Wiganer wrote: »

Ok. If a decorator had done the papering, would it be expected that I would have to the repapering?

At the end of the day I'm looking to be put back into the same position, not have an improved position.

As a parent of a child with a disability I have limited spare time unfortunately.

And yet you found the time to paper it in the first instance. Also, if it just affects one drop I don't see you would need to re-paper the while lot if you took care in removing the damaged piece.

Undervalued

KatrinaWaves wrote: »

Don’t play the child disability card on this. It’s incredibly inappropriate.

Am I missing something? It doesn't matter why the OP feels he doesn't have time. IF big if, the electrician is liable then he should pay the whole of the reasonable cost of rectifying the problem