Builder asking for independent survey to inspect his job
Anonymous user 03/03/2024 - 3.37 PM
Dear experts I would like to seek your advice on a few things.
Background: I had hired initially to remove a wall, install a stud wall in the kitchen and add some down lights for a fixed fee quote. Along the project we fed used add minor extra bits like changing the worktop, adding a splash back instead of making good of tiles removed (part of the initial job) and replacing laminate flooring. All price agreed verbally and in writing. The gas engineer suggested we replace a window to make it compliant. The very same builder agreed to do the job - order and fit.
The job was supposed to be finished in 7 to 10 days and it is now close to a month and a half. He has been stalling working, not showing up for days and drops in a morning for a chat, apologises and then disappears. All pleading, asking him to finish the job or parting ways has fallen on deaf ears. Finally I had to send him an email giving him 3 days to finish the job or see me in small claims. I have sent him pictures of the job he has done for his records.
In addition to taking a major part of money, he had committed to 2new larders as he felt our previous ones were tatty and chucked them in the skip.
The electrics he agreed cannot be done until the fuse box is moved by the energy company and will pend for some time. The energy company is yet to send the quote for the job.
He’s now come back and twisting the facts and insisting that he would bring in an independent surveyor to inspect his job and take it forward from there.
What are my options here
Am I obliged to agree to the survey?
Can I still serve him a 10 day notice to finish up the job (except the electrics.
Are you a tradesperson and able to answer this question?
Difficult to assess without seeing the before and current situation, and when it comes down to what two people believe is agreed/finished/satisfactory things can get tricky.
I guess the builder wants a surveyor to inspect because he believes the job is done and wants to have someone confirm this. I also guess that his most recent actions are as a result of you demanding the job be completed.
In my opinion, based on your msg, it’s all very well having a ‘surveyor’ assess the work but, more important, what did he agree to deliver for the price. Also he seems to know that he has let you down because of his fleeting visits, apologies and absences. It seems he certainly owes you new larders at least.
If I was you and I felt I was definitely in the right I would gather the paperwork and speak with someone like Citizens advice or Which? before doing anything else. Check the Consumer Rights Act too.
Last thing - Do not pay trades people any more up front than is necessary; Apart from materials there should be no other money exchanged in my opinion. At the very least hold back a sizeable chunk of the agreed fee until the job is finished to the standard agreed. I believe that if a trades person expects significant funds up front then alarm bells should start to ring.
Good luck.
I agree with the other answer, I would also add that from the builders perspective he might have had to take other jobs on to run simultaneously because clearly there is a delay on your job - the electric board moving the meter. I've heard stories of them taking months and charging a huge amount to do this. If you haven't even contacted them yet he might be thinking "it will be months until I can finish this job". I'm not making excuses for him though. The best way to resolve your problem is not fall out with him, all sit round a table, all compromise and work out a solution that you will all inevitably be unhappy about. It's a known fact in negotiations - "you’re unhappy, I’m unhappy too. That’s what a good compromise is all about. A good compromise is when both parties are dissatisfied and I think that’s what we have here.”
