I employed a tradesperson to refit a kitchen in a small holiday rental, I am being invoiced with a company name, although I can’t find any business details registered or advertised. (He was recommended)
The kitchen taps have been plumbed wrongly and the hot is on the right, cold on the left.
I could live with this irritation if necessary in my home but as a rental, I am worried about the possibility of being liable for a burn from guests, particularly as universal fitting is to benefit partially sighted people.
Can I get it fixed and deduct charge from the original builders final invoice or do I have to have home back in the property?
This is not the only issue, there are many but this is the only hazardous one.
I really don’t want him back.. ever!
*Thank you for replies.
I believe the tap itself is wrong, there is a small screw to the front, in the middle between the taps, which I think, as pointed out by Albion bathrooms & Kitchens in their response, means it is wrong. Is this difficult to change? (I could probably manage the flexi pipe swap but I’m no plumber )
Are you a tradesperson and able to answer this question?
It’s an easy fix the hot and cold pipes just need changing over. There will be two flexible 1/2” pipes connected to the hot and cold water pipes, he just got them the wrong way round 10 min job
Same thing easy fix, just loosen the brass nut and disconnect the flexible pipes, turn tap so that the tap is the right way round, tighten the nut reconnect the pipes, hot on the left cold on the right, ( looking from the front edge of sink)
If you don't want him back then get someone to do the work and just pay him half as half the job has to be done again but properly. To swap over the hot and cold should only take up to half an hour
My advice would be to give the trade person who fitted the kitchen, the opportunity to rectify the faults first. Do this in writing and if they do not respond within a time scale, explain your next course of action will be to have the work done and deduct the costs from their invoice, this is, if you haven't already paid it in full. Most tradesman would want to correct any issues highlighted to ensure they retain their reputation and of course to ensure all safety regulations are followed. You could also mention you will be reporting them to trading standards if they do not respond! Hope this helps?
I know you don't want the tradesman back but you need to give him the opportunity to rectify his mistake otherwise he could sue you for the outstanding amount. If he refuses to return then you have the clearance to get someone to rectify the mistake and deduct the charge from the original bill. It really is as simple as just swapping the connections under the sink and should take a competent tradesman under an hour, this is assuming that the tap has been put on the right way round (you can tell, if the controls turn anti clockwise to turn the water on and there isn't a small hole in the body of the tap just below the spout which holds the spout locking screw facing you - it should be at the back). I agree that you should get this done otherwise it could lead to problems with renters.
* Answer to Edit.
The tap body itself needs to be swivelled 180 degrees and this will put everything right, provided the flexible connectors can take the rotation. Again a job for a plumber but should only take under an hour to do.
