To not pay builder until skip is gone from my driveway?

[Skipuation]

Obvious name change, apologies for length!

I have recently had a new bathroom fitted. Took two weeks. Few issues but all sorted and I am satisfied with the work.

Part of the job was to remove the old suite and dispose of it. Day 1, big skip delivered to my driveway. Old suite, which is a small bath, basin and toilet, small bit of wood cladding, ripped out and put in skip. Builder tells me he's got a big skip so he can put some stuff in it too. Bit CF, I think to myself but say nowt.

During the week he puts more and more stuff in skip. Skip is full up. On day ten I ask if skip can be removed from my driveway as it's mostly his rubbish and I want my drive back. He says yes. Next day he says it will be gone that day. It isn't.

Follows me asking every day for skip to be gone, him promising it will be. Couple of times I've seen the skip lorry drive up and drive off again. Told him this, they say they couldn't get to drive because of cars on the road.

We are now on day 17. Yesterday he sent me an invoice for final bill. (I've paid about half already) I tell him I'm not paying bill till skip is gone. He says will be gone today. It hasn't. He's pushing for payment. I'm holding firm as the job isn't complete as far as I'm concerned.

I hate arguments and confrontation so I'm mortified by this. But I've been mugged off by trades people many times and I've had enough.

Aibu to not pay final bill till fucking skip has gone?

Thanks if you read to the end :)

Take photos so you have proof what’s there and how long it’s been there.

I would withhold a reasonable amount (perhaps not half). As he’s been filling it with his own waste, he’s effectively using your land to dispose of his rubbish and for that reason I’d withhold significantly more than the skip hire cost until it’s gone.

Is it too full? If it's too full they won't take it away. That could be why they are driving up but leaving it.

Ring the company to ask them to remove it but first give your builder notice of your intention.
Tell him that he has 48hrs to arrange the removal or you will call them and pay them directly deducting this cost from his bill.
This just covers you.

Just spoken to skip office. Gave details, she will follow it up and get it sorted.
We shall see...

When we had a skip they went off one day as they couldn’t get to it when they came really early even though I’d specifically said come after 9 when there is more space. They came back later the same day. As you’re now doing liaise directly with the skip company. I would pay the builder too, personally.

Whilst the removal of the skip is probably beyond the builder's control, I lost sympathy with him at the point he started to bring rubbish from other places and dump it in the skip on your driveway!

I would withhold a nominal sum and tell him in writing why and that it will be paid upon skip removal.

I've had 2 major building jobs done over the last 2 years (All windows replaced and 2 bathrooms refitted plus other stuff) and haven't had a skip on my drive at all. My builder loads all the rubbish onto the back of his truck each day and takes it back to the skip in HIS yard!

If it was just your waste in there, I'd say YWBU. But to have other people's rubbish on your drive is awful, even if the skip collection is out of the builder's hands.

Skip company owner just rang me. Skip is on its way. Road is looking clear at the moment. I need a drink! Fingers crossed this works.

Skip lorry on its way that should say!

This is the current state of play!

Well done!

That's great! Hopefully they take it away today. Builder is still a CF to order a big skip and put his own shite in it - but hey ho, off the skip goes!

Good luck can you park your car opposite your drive so no one else does?

Just seen your pic - WHAT. You've paid for his rubbish removal.

Is the bathroom really, really good?

You've paid for his rubbish removal. shock

No she hasn’t

The moment my back was turned someone has parked opposite 😭 it's only a small smart thing so might be ok.

Skip lorry should be here by now!

I've signed off on the bathroom, but I can't be objective about it while I am in skip purgatory.

Is it gone???

Still here. Builder just messaged me to say they are on their way. They said that to me an hour and a half ago!

I was just about to go out, but I guess I had better stay and see this through till the end ffs.

Thanks for all the support.

Lorry is here. Having a go but he says there is a car opposite in way.

Knock on the doors in the street and ask them to move the car.
I would only pay the builder the cost of a small skip - it's not your responsibility to finance his rubbish disposal from other jobs!

DO NOT PAY until skip has been removed.

In London my builders would get the skip to arrive and wait for them to fill it. As they were doing this the skip lorry driver had to physically prevent a passing van from putting a 3 piece suite in it. Their experience was that if you left a filled covered skip overnight stuff would be dumped on top and round the sides.

I would withhold £500 until it had all been cleared. My reason would be that the job had not been completed. Hope they manage to move it.

He did it, IT HAS GONE! And I've paid him. His children shall eat dinner tonight ;)

Thanks again all

Well done!!