Chimney & Roof Repair - Protection from Bankrupt Companies

trevrobwhite

Hi MSE,
I'm after some advice to protect myself & my family.
I live in a Cornish unit house, unfortunately the roof is made of an asbestos concrete mix, so very few companies will touch it especially as I'm mid terrace, the weekend like most people are we started clearing out the loft and found a chunk missing out of the chimney and it's cracked all around, asking a local company it's looking like the chimney will have to come down, I've tried speaking to the insurance company and they are not interested because it's not classified as a "one time event", thanks for that.

The problem I have is removing the chimney will also result in me having to replace the roof because it's old and no one will touch it.

My fear however is bankruptcy and warranty, I'm worried if the local company does a bad job or goes bankrupt I've paid out a huge amount of money and left with a roof I now need to get repaired again, and I wondered if there is anyway I can protect against this.  I'm very nervous because we had windows put in by Safe Glaze with a 15 year warranty, they went bankrupt and left the job damaging my home, luckily I paid on 0% finance so they dumped it onto the finance company who after 3 years are putting things right and I'm terrified to commit to a big job like this without something like this to fall back on as potentially a poor fitting roof could damage mine and my neighbours property.

Is there a way to protect myself where especially as companies seem to be issuing bit warranties, going bankrupt and starting up again under the same or different name and they throw away the warranty liability.

Many thanks from a worried mortgaged home owner.

Doozergirl

Due diligence. 

Recommendation, recommendation, recommendation. 

If you want a proper guarantee, it needs to be insurance backed, which you will need to pay extra for. 

I think roofers have an option available to them.    As members of the FMB we also have the option to sell insurance backed warranties.  I don't know how many people know about it though.   

https://www.fmbinsurance.co.uk/insurance-products/

trevrobwhite

Doozergirl said:

Due diligence. 

Recommendation, recommendation, recommendation. 

If you want a proper guarantee, it needs to be insurance backed, which you will need to pay extra for. 

I think roofers have an option available to them.    As members of the FMB we also have the option to sell insurance backed warranties.  I don't know how many people know about it though.   

https://www.fmbinsurance.co.uk/insurance-products/

Many thank, Is there a way to check if builders are on your list?

FreeBear

Doozergirl said: Due diligence.

If you want a proper guarantee, it needs to be insurance backed, which you will need to pay extra for.

Make sure the insurance policy is underwritten by a well known insurer and/or underwritten by Lloyds of London. There are a few businesses that have their "insurance" policy issued by a sister company underwritten by no one, and as a consequence, worthless.

A well established local company is unlikely to issue dodgy insurance certificates - It would damage their reputation. Paying at least £100 on a credit card (not debit card) would make the CC card jointly liable if there is any problem in the short term - If the builder doing the work will accept CC payments, certainly worth paying a good chunk of the deposit that way.

Doozergirl

trevrobwhite said:

Doozergirl said:

Due diligence. 

Recommendation, recommendation, recommendation. 

If you want a proper guarantee, it needs to be insurance backed, which you will need to pay extra for. 

I think roofers have an option available to them.    As members of the FMB we also have the option to sell insurance backed warranties.  I don't know how many people know about it though.   

https://www.fmbinsurance.co.uk/insurance-products/

Many thank, Is there a way to check if builders are on your list?

https://www.fmb.org.uk/find-a-builder/