Just had a falling out with my builder

[Itsgettingbetter]

Having our bathroom done. Admittedly I'm not paying for all of it myself - I'm a housing co-operative tenant, so the organisation pays for basics but I've gone for extras so it looks contemporary and am paying for these myself.

The ceiling is uneven and the labourer and his boss are suggesting filling a significant gap with plaster. I'm going for a high standard finish but they're suggesting it's the best they can do. I had firm words with the labourer this morning about the importance of finish (for example they've installed a crappy looking dimmer switch). Maybe I'm paranoid but I imagine they look at me, single mum, social housing tenant and are not trying their best.

The boss called to discuss something minor then bought up the talk I'd had with the labourer about the tiles. I said 'that would look crap.' He maintained, 'there's no other option' then contradicted himself saying 'we want you to be happy and we'll let you know what the options are.' Communication has been poor and the job is in it's fourth week. In the end we ended up squabbling, with him complaining that the job has been for too long (due to the inefficiency of his labourer).

I feel vulnerable as I live alone with my son. The 'boss' pops around while I'm out and don't want them disrespecting my home while I'm out. Plus the labourer is holding a set of my keys while on the job and I'm worried about security...

What is wrong with this place. Every thread I've read today has the same old vitriol peddled out. God almighty.

pengggwn the OP is paying herself to up the spec in certain respects.

A dimmer switch in a bathroom? I thought a pull cord was standard. Why would you want to adjust the light in a bathroom?

@helanadove is up on this sort of thing if my tagging attempt works!

There's two things here. You me tion a crappy looking dinner switch, to get a better looking switch will cost more money, if you want this you should pay for it. Doing shoddy work isn't really acceptable though.

ha.
I'm moving into a HA house this week, the "bathroom" consists of a shower and a sink. You can't even open the door properly, let alone fuss about the light switch.
be grateful, you have a house

This thread seems to me like the OP has just pulled a pin on a grenade and lobbed it in to get people frothing about HE tenants etc. Will be mightily surprised if they return.

This is the OP's HOME, of course she wants things done properly. HA, council, rented properties are people's actual homes, where they go about their daily business, entertain friends, bring up children just the same as people in mortgaged or owned outright places, do people not understand this? I can't believe some of the prejudiced, bitchy, snobbish comments on here. I too am astonished at the "buy your own house" comment.
As for "they will do their work to a good, high standard within budget" ... have you forgotten Grenfell already?
FFS this thread makes me want to flounce off from MN and never return.

Ok, what exactly are the "extras" you are paying for and what is included in the basic renovation?

Why is there a gap in the ceiling? Is it a hole where pipe work has been removed, or what?

It is possible to get a perfect finish on a damaged ceiling by taking down the old one and reboarding tben skimming, or to board over the original ceiling then skim. However, if the agreed budget is just to patch holes with filler/patching plaster then that's all you will get.

Why are you having a dimmer switch in a bathroom? This sounds dodgy to me. Only a NICIEC electrician can work on electrics on a bathroom and their are strict rules about what types of fittings you can use where.
www.niceic.com/medialib/www.niceic.com/PDF/15868-FactSheet-Bathroom-A4-4pp-web.pdf

There not their GFs

Ffs auto fucking correct!

Sorry, I have to echo a lot of what has already been said. It's not your property But it is your home and you obviously want it to look nice, I get that, I think it's nice your paying for extras to make it nicer but just because your a small paying for extras doesn't mean they are going to upscale everything. Frankly if you want a fancy light switch you need to pay for a fancy light switch. You can't expect the house association, who is already paying for your bathroom up date or the building company who are only being paid for what they are being paid for, to go, "oh she wants luxury, let us pay out of pocket for extras she isn't willing to pay for".

As for ceilings, without a picture we can't really tell, but surely it's better than before? As I say, would need a picture to comment on that, and you are rights of things are not don't go a satisfactory standard but really it sounds like your expecting too much.

Haven't read all the responses. But just to clarify a couple of things things:

1. I am paying for the most of the tiling, extra for nice tiles to be used, for a new sink, and for nicer fixtures. The bathroom needed updating. The co-op contributed what they would pay for a basic outfit. I'm trying to retain the character of the building and am paying extra to make it a nice space for my son and I.

1. I live a housing co-operative not a housing association. It is a self-help organisation run by tenants. We volunteer to keep the organisation running smoothly and most of us, including myself, pay our own rent in full. It's a model not many a familiar with.

Yes, paying for the light switch, to have the underused cupboard in the corner removed, new sink, for spotlights, and extra for nicer than basic fittings

Most builders need access, at their convenience not yours (I know they are working for you, but if you flip it, they are doing this job all year round, and can't be hanging around waiting for customers to always be in.) So keys or being in are essential. Finish is up for discussion, but they should be clear which costs you get to decide and which the HA do. You should discuss it politely, and so should they. Most probably they will avoid your job like the plague now, though.

YANBU of course you are not.
You are having work done on a bathroom and regardless of who, you or the HA is paying for that particular piece of work it should still be done to a decent standard.

Can you get someone from the HA out to look at it? Be prepared if they say it is fine you will have to save up and get someone of your own out to level it up.

As for the OMG!!! I would be grateful for a cardboard box groupies fucking do one

A dimmer switch in the bathroom? Are you for real?

It's possible that the job went out to tender, and the HA went with the builder that undercut any other quote, which means the builder will be operating on very low margins. And the money the HA is willing to pay out will pay for basics (hopefully safe and compliant with health and safety regulations) but nothing fancy.

I suppose the builder considers his primary contract is with the HA, not with the individual tenants. Is it possible you could meet with the builder and the HA at the same time-I don't know how HA operates, but surely you have a contract with them and there is an official you could contact. It might be best to have a meeting and lay out what you are prepared to pay for and what you expect, and they can do the same from their point of view. If there is a big difference, you could maybe subcontract someone else to do the fancy finishes, or the HA might give you a rebate to finish the work privately?

Cooperative homes are funded by government capital grants most of the homes are still council owned however coop just manage the tenants.

Maybe write to the council and say your not happy with the standard of work ?

Most builders need access, at their convenience not yours

I tend to give mine access at my convenience as otherwise they can't do the job and won't get paid. I've never given builders keys to my house and love a duck, never will.