Builder not removing rubbish

m0t

Our extension is now finished and the last part of that was installing a new soil pipe underground. This resulted in about 15 bags of soil and rubble being dug up, they did this 4 weeks ago.

The builder has said a couple of times now that he would be along to collect it but it's still there and blocking our access to the garden from the front of the house (frustrating given the current restrictions).

I still owe him a couple of £k for the last part of the build. Is there a point where I can get someone else to take all this rubbish away and take it out of the final payment?

neilmcl

m0t said:

Our extension is now finished and the last part of that was installing a new soil pipe underground. This resulted in about 15 bags of soil and rubble being dug up, they did this 4 weeks ago.

The builder has said a couple of times now that he would be along to collect it but it's still there and blocking our access to the garden from the front of the house (frustrating given the current restrictions).

I still owe him a couple of £k for the last part of the build. Is there a point where I can get someone else to take all this rubbish away and take it out of the final payment?

Why not just ask him when he wants paying to come round and collect the rubbish and you'll pay him then and there.

TELLIT01

Write to him giving him a deadline to remove the rubbish or you will get somebody else to do it and deduct the amount from his final bill.  He's probably far more interested in the latest job he's doing than in cleaning up the rubbish.

twopenny

As you want to keep on good terms with a good builder and the trades he's alied to I agree with Neilmc. It was my first thought.

Ask when he will be removing it as you'd like to get the payment done because you appreciate his work.

With trades being so busy at the moment they are keen to get into the next job and take advantage of this situation before we all start getting out of our homes and holidaying and forget about jobs that need doing/spending the money on family visits.

Wanderingpomm

Just tell him to remove it or you will at his cost. This is sadly quite common peace with trades people. They have to pay to get rid. My electrical filled my black bin with rubble which I was unimpressed with 

Rosa_Damascena

I had similar with a roofer years ago.

I refused to settle the last (and small) part of the bill until it the debris was removed and made it clear that if he wasn't going to do it then I would spend the money owed to him on it instead. 

comeandgo

Is in the contract that he removes and disposes of the waste?  Out tips have just reopened for builders waste so mayb3 the tips in your area are not working to full capacity 

TELLIT01

It does seem to be a growing problem.  Somebody posted on another site that a builder had removed their old garage but only broke the base up and hadn't removed the rubble.  He advised the customer to bury the rubble in the garden!  He did eventually agree to remove it.