Should landscaper pay for rubbish disposal?

You’ve been caught out by not having a contract but it’s unusual for a genuine tradesman not to mention disposal of waste . He probably made sure the work came to £5k and sod anything else . You’ll have to learn from this .

Lesson learned the hard way I'm afraid.

Its always best to be clear about these details up front, and if you want work done at a reasonable price it's these things that go by the wayside first.

The cost of disposing of waste has been increasing, and the admin around it has increased too, which is why we have a massive increase in criminal gangs flytipping.

A skip is a flat fee, we had one for about £300 and called when we wanted it collected. If he has a van or flatbed he would be charged a commercial rate per load at the tip and rubble can be extra.

Depends on the work. For our work we’ve agreed on a price after quotes but also advised what our absolute top budget is. Because if the work starts to approach that figure with extras and little finds and this added work or that part (which always happens with builders etc) then we need to reasses because we will not be able to pay it.

You can hire a waste removal company to come and take the waste away for you. A couple I have used in the past are Litta, and Clearabee. They will come and collect all the waste and take it away, it doesn't necessarily need to go into a skip.

A landscaper may not be licenced to remove waste, but most will include the price, arranging and filling of a skip in their quote, if you ask for it. It sounds like the person you used is not a particularly reputable one. In future, you know to ask for a written, itemised quote before starting work.

I know you keep saying this, but it isn't the way quotes usually work.

The way I'd ask for a quote would be to say "I want X and Y doing". Tradesman then comes back with a price and I'd double check 'What does or doesn't that include?' if he hadn't stated it clearly either way. Some workmen will give more detail than others. I then can work out if that is something I can afford and if not, what I am going to do instead.

It isn't usual to tell the person who is quoting for you how much money you have.

After they have quoted, if it is more than you want to spend you might^ then say 'Well, what if you leave out this or that' to get it within your budget.

Unfortunately while I do think he should have been clear about it, it is ultimately you to be clear about specifically what you want and need. We have been speaking to several landscapers and mentioned rubbish removal to all and some have said they don't do it. We are also asking them to draw up an invoice and detail of what the work entails to then decide and create a contract.

It's one of those you live and learn moments for you OP.

Yes, he agreed to build a patio and wall. He didn't agree to dispose of all her waste as well.

Unfortunately this is what happens when you use someone cheap and don't get a contract.

Op ask @mumsnet to move this to legal. There are a few legal bods on there

I think you have to take the waste disposal as a lesson learned unfortunately. It’s a big thing where I live as it’s so expensive for vans to go to the tip, so it’s always an up-front negotiation.

But do not pay him until he’s finished the job! You will never see him again - £200 is not incentive enough to him to come back.

Oh, right, yes.

I don't agree with some of these posts. Contractually he agreed to build a patio and wall. Part of that is to dig down, level and then lay the stone. It's ridiculous for a contractor to say that doesn't include waste removal because it's part of the job. Otherwise a householder is wasting money to have an unusable area because they've not removed the rubbish. I would not pay on the basis that the waste has to be removed. It's commercial waste not DIY and disposal should have been included and carried out by your builder. Your builder is trying to pull a fast one.

Sorry, I should have been specific. She isn't allowed to take it to the tip as domestic waste. Nothing to stop her arranging disposal as trade waste.

No - tradesmen still need a license to dispose of their waste.

I think its just a lesson learnt. Its always something I specifically specify when having work done. As getting rid of rubbish is a major Ballache. I think you will just have to hire the skip and get someone to help you or put a post on local Facebook to pay someone to help you.

Waste removal people need a license. Tradesmen can obviously carry the waste they are generating. They presumably pay to dispose of it. I’ve had both arrangements with different people, recently. In each case it was discussed and negotiated.

What's stopping the OP from paying for a skip for trade waste? She's mentioned it herself.

If you wanted removal to be included in the cost then you should have got that in writing before he started the job.

Unfortunately you won't be able to dispose of this yourself so you'll now need to pay a licensed professional to come and remove it for you.

Based on work done in past and currently - if the costs are low, they usually expect me to arrange the skip but they put all the waste in there themselves. If it’s quote is on the steeper side, they tend to arrange it all themselves.

ETA: this is all discussed in advance. It’s just something that I’ve realised based on working with different trades.

Generally skips just stay as long as you want round here , you need to get the right type of skip though . I think you are on a sticky wicket with no contract @SadlyMissTaken and I’ve never heard of anyone telling a landscaper or builder what the price limit is , surely you get quotes and agree a price with whoever you choose .

I would expect waste removal to be included and for it to be stated if it wasn't but in reality everyone I've ever used states it is as part of the quote. It's odd for it not to be mentioned at all.

I agree with PP that this is commercial waste and therefore can't be disposed of by the householder. However there are significant costs to him for legally disposing of it which would have taken you way over budget, even more if he isn't licensed for waste removal. This is why there is a big increase in fly tipping.

Sadly you can't have it both ways.

Tradesmen need a license to take their waste to the tip - most won't have one, especially small one-man bands.

Did you get the quote in writing? Check that as may have disposal in there. If not you are stuck with it I think