Letter before action

wardy86

Hi All,

Would anyone have an example letter that I could send to a roofer that's failed to complete work before attempting to take him to court?

I've posted previously but brief summary of the issue, is we instructed a roofer to complete a full re roof including new gutters etc to our property which started in December 2020. The work didn't get completed pre Christmas, so he finished for the break with the promise he'd return in the New Year to complete the work. At the point he finished in December he'd received a total of £2600 of the quoted £3100 to complete the works via both bank transfers and cash payments. 
All communication with him has been via FaceBook messenger, WhatsApp or traditional text messages, although we do also have his full address.
Since January we've attempted to make contact with him using all the methods mentioned above to establish when he'll be back to complete the works. Initially at the start of January he replied he was isolating due to being incontact with someone with COVID but would return following the recommend isolation period. After that he then sent 3 messages promising he'd be back on certain days to finish the work, but he never materialised. At the end of January he advised us again that he was really sick but not to worry as he was getting someone else to complete the work ASAP. We stressed that it was important the work was completed ASAP as he'd not left the house water tight and following periods of rain, we can see water is entering the property in 3 different rooms. Since the 11th February and his promise that the work would be completed that week, we've not been able to get any further replies from him. 
Whilst we do sympathise if he is indeed sick or has COVID, however we can see that all the messages we are seeing are being read but simply ignored. We're also aware that since the start of the year he's been active on social media, including replying to post on facebook for roofers too. 
We now have another roofer finishing the work before the damage gets any worse at a cost of £1000. We then need to have ceiling re-decorated in 3 rooms due to damaged caused by his work.

Do I bother sending him a letter, when I have copies of the messages asking him to either:
Finish the work
Provided the outstanding materials so we can get someone else to finish
Tell us that he is not able to finish the work

Thanks

Jenni_D

Which forum name did you post using previously? (It wasn't this one as this is your first post). Seeing the previous thread may help prevent us going over old ground.

wardy86

Jenni_D said:

Which forum name did you post using previously? (It wasn't this one as this is your first post). Seeing the previous thread may help prevent us going over old ground.

Hi Jenni,
My partner posted the other post, but I've given you all the information in the post above if you can help
Thanks

Diamandis

Did you give him a date that if he hadn't returned by you would get someone else to complete the work? 

You will need to send a letter before action if you plan to take them to court. Remember to gather evidence, photos, reports from the other roofer etc. You may also have to prove the damage to the ceiling is directly related.