Escalating roofing costs

Huxley71

My elderly mother and her upstairs neighbour are currently having work done on their roof.

Having obtained quotes from two tradesmen they - somewhat naively - opted to engage the chap who gave the lower quote, apparently without stopping to consider why they were so widely diverging (C10K).

Upon visiting my mum over the weekend alarm bells are immediately ringing; he's from several hundred miles away, all reviews relate to jobs supposedly carried out in that area, multiple mobile numbers, and the only landline I can find is from a picture online of his van - it's dead. No address details or VAT registration on the contract they've signed (which frankly looks as though it's been drawn up by a primary school child and gives no detail whatsoever of the work to be undertaken) and there's a pile of slate in my mum's garden with no evidence of a chute, which leads me to believe they may well be just lobbing it down from the roof, some 50 feet up.

Meanwhile, costs are rapidly spiralling as the bloke in question "discovers" further problems, such as a chimney purportedly in imminent danger of collapse, which he somehow failed to notice during his initial inspection! 

I suppose it's possible the guy (who also appears to moonlight as a bare knuckle boxer...) is entirely legit, but given the myriad red flags, any practical advice on our best course of action here would be massively appreciated.

Alderbank

What does 'opted to engage' mean?

What state is their roof currently in? 
You mention a pile of slate. Rain is possible, indeed likely, in January and February.

Have they actually paid him anything yet? If so how much and did they pay cash, credit card, bank transfer?

With perhaps help from you the two ladies should be able to break the contract. They will however be liable for the reasonable cost of any work already done. Under consumer law he is only entitled to the costs he has actually incurred so far.

My concern would be for the state of their house. Getting someone else in to fix the roof might be needed but good roofers are  currently booked up for months.

Huxley71

Thanks for your reply @Alderbank.

I meant that they've signed a contract and work has begun. In all honesty I'm not sure of the current state of the roof, scaffold is up, and there's a pile of baton (?) and smashed slates in the garden. I can only assume the roof is water-tight - let's hope so. 

My understanding is that they've stopped work while they wait for more scaffolding to be put up to chimney level. I'm fairly certain my mum hasn't parted with any cash yet, but despite the contract stating "payment on completion" her neighbour, has, I believe, already made a substantial payment. 

diystarter7

Hi OP
It happens, ie more work noted as roof replacement started.
However, seek A-Sap pictures of work required on the chimney and decide.

The 10k, cant say much on that as I don't know which part of the country it is, type of house, access to roof, tpye of materials etc to be used and if it inc vAT

Please ensure no money is paid up front!!!!
Seek timescales/etc

(NB - once only and recently we paid for the materials and not the scaffolding, skips/labour until work is completed. The materials was from a well established outlet i was aware of and I paid direct and this was part of the quote. In the past paid for everyhting at the end and never before rood completed)

Thnaks

diystarter7

Huxley71 said:

Thanks for your reply @Alderbank.

I meant that they've signed a contract and work has begun. In all honesty I'm not sure of the current state of the roof, scaffold is up, and there's a pile of baton (?) and smashed slates in the garden. I can only assume the roof is water-tight - let's hope so. 

My understanding is that they've stopped work while they wait for more scaffolding to be put up to chimney level. I'm fairly certain my mum hasn't parted with any cash yet, but despite the contract stating "payment on completion" her neighbour, has, I believe, already made a substantial payment. 

Get on the phone and tell mum dont do that not matter what sob story they gove - then bank transfers only

Does mum have building regs involved - if not get on to them ASAP (they will to an extent ensure works completed are accpetable as I've met a building reg guy onces refused to go up the ladder as he deemed it not safe - but they should be contact - this may wind up the roofer if not already done but its problem)

Huxley71

Thanks for this @diystarter7 - I've tried to impress upon my mum not to make any payments until we've verified firstly, whether the work is indeed necessary, and if so that it's of an acceptable standard.

She's not always inclined to listen, which is partly why she's in this predicament, on top of which her neighbour has obviously fallen for the charm offensive and despite all of the fairly glaring issues remains very defensive of the guy.

MikeJXE

It sounds like a scam to me, typically starting at a low price and building it up with extras as you go along.

Happens more with old vulnerable people who eventually get threatened when they don't pay up

Huxley71

Thank you @MikeJXE - this is exactly what I'm worried about. The whole saga seems to have all the crucial elements of an episode of Rogue Traders.

diystarter7

Huxley71 said:

Thanks for this @diystarter7 - I've tried to impress upon my mum not to make any payments until we've verified firstly, whether the work is indeed necessary, and if so that it's of an acceptable standard.

She's not always inclined to listen, which is partly why she's in this predicament, on top of which her neighbour has obviously fallen for the charm offensive and despite all of the fairly glaring issues remains very defensive of the guy.

Thank you. Please at least if not already covered the build regulations tell her if you wish that telling the coucil is the correct way forward theis ensures she gets a decent, half decent job and it will be easier to sell her place etc as buyers solcitors often ask question like if roof was changed etc and building reg cert ensures work was ok. However, I know where you are coming from and often older parents do not listen to their adult kids but strangers, therefore with her consent a coucil officer from building regs may help (I worked for a public body and often clients children would tell me what you are saying, "does not listen to me.."

Good luck

MikeJXE

You could speak to citizens advice or even Trading Standards,

If it was me I would stop the job, make it waterproof and discuss the issue with the builder and Building control 

eskbanker

diystarter7 said:

Huxley71 said:

I'm fairly certain my mum hasn't parted with any cash yet, but despite the contract stating "payment on completion" her neighbour, has, I believe, already made a substantial payment. 

Get on the phone and tell mum dont do that not matter what sob story they gove - then bank transfers only

If/when payment is made, doing so via credit or debit card would seem a more obvious means of securing some additional protection via s75 or chargeback.