Quick question re builders

[bimbabirba]

Are they supposed to take their rubbish away with them? It's all been dumped in the front garden

Depends what was agreed with them? Do you have a contract, or any agreed terms?

There wasn't anything specifically agreed. They just quoted me for the work and I accepted it.
Just wondering if it's unreasonable to ask them to clear it and if I should expect them to charge me for it

The quote should specify 'on site rubbish removed' or similar. If it doesn't, they can charge you for skip hire or disposal costs

They're the same builders who smashed my glass dinner table last week so might deduct the value of the table if they try to charge me for wage disposal

*waste

Assuming they're not so cowboy that they would fly tip it, they'd have to pay a fair bit to dispose of waste lawfully. They'll likely try their darnedest to avoid any liability for it if it wasn't specified in the quote. So be warned. They're more than likely to leave it there and deny responsibility. (Or say they'll need to charge you as a separate job for taking it away.)

By the way - did you get that quote in writing?

Yes quote in writing

OK.

I'd start by asking them when the rubbish will be moved. See their reaction.

(Ask them when most of the work is done and before you give them any money, preferably.)

They said it needs a small skip which costs £80. Why was it not mentioned or included in the quote or was I naive?
I think I'll say ok and then take the money off for the table from the final bill

It would be included in the itemised quite, if not then it's not included. That's standard practice.

*quote

Actually, check the price with them again - just so you're prepared for the cost of the work and in case that price was a knee jerk reaction from the head builder on site.

The skip itself may cost £80 to hire but there's liable to also be a reasonably significant weight related disposal charge at the official dump - and they might also charge you for labour in getting the stuff into the skip. (You might be lucky but get it all set out.)

My db is a tradesman,they need a license to carry waste. If they get pulled by police or are in an accident their insurance is invalid if they dont have the waste carriers license.

The builders should have pointed this out to you at the offset,i think some just assume this is common knowledge though.

A decent builder would have it all tidy and ready to go even if they were not disposing of it.

Did you ever tell the boss about the lad and the table?

Yep, they need a licence to take the waste away but this should have been clarified at the start.

DH is a builder and doesn't carry waste but he would advise clients what size skip they need, if any, and make it clear that it is not included in the price.

I did tell the main builder about the table and asked if he could claim for it from insurance. His reply "I'll sort something out"
No mention of it since and didn't even ask me how much it was so I assume he's going to pretend it never happened.

If it's going to be a headache get a 'Hippo Bag' it's collected within a few days and really easy not hugely expensive either depending on the size of bag.