Plumber ghosting us, jeopardising house sale!

[IStillMissBlockbuster]

We have been waiting to exchange contracts on our house for aaages. We had to replace the water tank as part of the sale. All done, seems fine, but the plumber didn't complete the paperwork to certify that it complies with building regs. And now he's ghosting us! He won't call back, answer texts, anything!

DH asked the council whether we needed regs for a water tank, they said yes, and the solicitor said that as he did that, she not cannot get an indemnity against it. So i'm at panic stations. What can we do? Please help!

Get a different plumber in to certify the work it will cost you money but needs must.
When it's sorted leave some honest fact based reviews for the original plumber.

Is there an independent Inspector that could check the plumber's work and certify it? Another plumber qualified to do that maybe, or the council's Building Inspector perhaps?

Thanks for replying.I am so pissed off at him, he just needs to fill out one single piece of damn paper!

Good idea though, i'll try to get a plumber in to certify it ASAP as I just want it done. Not that they're easy or quick to come by round here either.

I'd threaten him with small claims court

I'm angry so the idea of threatening someone is pleasing (though unlikely to be productive), but what would you claim?

I'm not even sure someone else can certify it. It came with the paperwork which says it is to be completed by the competent person who commissioned the system. GAH!

Are you sure he has the relevant authority to have done the work?

Well I would probably try and get some legal advice first (do you have free cover on your home insurance? Lots of policies have access to an advice line) because I'm no legal expert. But I would be trying claim the entire cost of the work on the basis that it doesn't have building regs sign off and so will need redoing. Even if this had no chance of succeeding I'd send a scary-sounding letter recorded delivery in the hope that it puts the frighteners on him.

Yeah, he has the authority.

Good idea about insurance and legal advice. I'll look into that. I have no idea how to write a scary sounding letter to be honest, might start with a text to see if that prompt him...

My friend thinks I should doorstep him but DH thinks that is an aggressive move. I'm conflicted - it could be a quick fix! I'd go there with the paperwork and a smile! What do you think?

If you know where he lives I would certainly give it a go. Why not?

Yes his invoice has his business address. He's a one man band so i'm guessing that it is his home address.

I dont think I would go to his house.

These indemnity insurances are a scam. Aren’t worth the paper their written on. What actually do you think they cover?

I don't even know what one is but it seems that it might have been helpful in this case and now we can't get one.

What do you mean by changing water tanks? Not all need certificate as far as I’m aware

I suspect the job hasn’t been done properly and he can’t sign it

The old hot water cylinder rusted so we replaced it. It came with a commissioning checklist.

If he's certified to sign the work off then there will be a governing body he is attached to which ensures he keeps up to date with the rules and regs- contact them and make a complaint. They push him to sign it off (otherwise he risks investigation and his licence/ membership removing).

Secondly write a "letter before action" Google has loads of templates but basically head your letter (actually use paper and post it via the post office) 'letter before action' and state that he has 28 days to sign off the tank of you'll take him to court.

Another engineer can come and check it out and commission it - not all will though and will obviously charge.

It's weird he's done the job but not the paperwork. Was it a pressurised cylinder? Can you get someone else to try ringing to see if he's specifically ducking you. It's worth keeping in mind he may be in hospital or similar emergency.

We found him on Checkatrade, his profile says he was Interviewed by Checkatrade, had 2 accreditations checked, Insurance checked, ID checked, References checked, VAT registered & Checkatrade standard signed.

He's got accreditations from City & Guilds, UK Certification Certificate of Competence and bpec Certificate of Achievement in: WREG Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999. He seemed legit.

It is a Zircon unvented cylinder. When he started ignoring DH's calls, I phoned him and he answered - said he was driving and would call me back and has ignored my calls since.

Hmm.
To sign it off, he needs to be qualified in unvented cylinders. To complicate matters you can get qualifications with different companies. DH holds his with citb UHWSS Install Commission and Service.
UHWSS = unvented hotwater something or other?!

Unvented Hot Water Storage Systems

Ok well his profile says he had "UK certification certificate of competence in: U/VHW (including vented) hot water systems" I would like to check if his registration a)exists and b) is up to date but can't really see how.

Anyway, I'm not sure I'm going to get anywhere if he's blanking us like this so I guess I'll have to find someone else to do it. Any advice about how I find the most trustworthy, qualified person for the job???