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Restoration & Refurbishment

Hi, my builder has disappeared with the final touches still to do, and more importantly he has not provided paperwork/certificates etc. What do I do?

Anonymous user 28/02/2024 - 2.44 PM

I have been using a sole trader who we have used before, I thought we had a good trusting relationship but after 5 months of largely successful (if somewhat stressful) work, he is now actively avoiding all contact. After several months of this we eventually felt we needed to go to the FMB where he was registered, and let him know via voicemail, text and email that we would be taking action if he didn't come back to us. We have now gone back to the FMB only to discover that he has resigned from their membership. We don't have all that much more to finish, but we're more worried about not having any of the paperwork relating to the work he's done so far (e.g. we had a problem with the boiler and the British Gas guy told us the boiler doesn't conform to a couple of specific regulations). What can we do? We feel totally powerless, let down and done over. Alex

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2 Answers

Anonymous user

It doesnt sound to good, has he gone bust, ? You may end up having to get the relavant trades in, ie a Gas safe plumber to sort the boiler out, your going to need the heating on now.
Answered5 December 2011
2

Anonymous user

Alex, I sympathise. Did you pay him? What paperwork are you lacking? If you're largely satisfied with the standard of work already done, then put it behind you and start from where you are. Either ask an accredited tradesman to sign off or remedy the work for which you need a certificate or go to Building Control and ask for an inspection directly. It's annoying to be ignored but probably fruitless to go on thinking about it. If, on the other hand, you're seeing other signs of bodging, and you know where the builder lives as it were, write to him with a chronology of events and advise him that if he doesn't come back and remediate/ provide paperwork, or provide a satisfactory refund to enable you to do so, you will take action. Take photos and make notes of all examples of negligence and create a schedule. Make sure he get a copy and a clear idea of what you want him to do and, after a reasonable period, if he doesn't respond, sue him. You won't get legal costs under the Small Claims procedure, and won't therefore want to instruct a solicitor, but the process is pretty user friendly and will go some way to compensating you. It might even be enough to prompt some response before any hearing. The secret of success is to have plenty of evidence. Regards Amanda
Answered12 December 2011
2