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AIBU?

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Are we legally bound to building quote?

8 replies

Tsc2011 · 28/01/2023 08:39

Hi, my partner thinks I’m overreacting and it’s nothing to worry about but I am worried something will come of it.

Last April we got quotes for some of repointing work on our house. One was more expensive but more experienced. Unlike the others he would only do the work with fixed scaffolding which we would have to arrange ourselves and to very specific specifications.
We would also have to arrange for the electricity lines to be shrouded and due to a very difficult neighbour, arrange access to put up scaffolding on land that’s not ours.

I emailed and said “once we’ve arranged all three could we book in with you?”

His response was that that was fine and once we decided which walls to prioritise he would “put us on file”.

Does anyone know if we’re now bound to this?

We’ve not heard from him since. Since then we’ve worked out how to get the electrics shrouded but we haven’t been able to get permission to access the gable (can’t find out who owns the land after lots of registry searching). We’ve also decided to only have one of the three walls pointed for various reasons and not using fixed scaffolding for ease.

We contacted another company who agreed to use a scaffolding tower (so no complicated scaffolding issues) and we accepted their quote for the updated project. I’m worried we might have breached contract though by not going with the original.

Should I email him to say the work has changed and we won’t be needing him or should I leave it?

OP posts:
Surplus2requirements · 28/01/2023 08:42

No of course you're not

virtuallyreal · 28/01/2023 08:44

You are definitely not in any way legally bound to give the first person the job. You can go ahead with whoever you choose.

GoldenGorilla · 28/01/2023 08:45

Ok I was a property/construction lawyer for many years and have redeveloped several properties.

There is absolutely no way that you are obligated to him.

Just leave it. If he ever gets back in touch, just reply that it turned out it wasn’t possible to arrange those three things so you aren’t able to proceed with his quote.

Stop worrying about this! There is no chance at all that you could be held liable here.

Pollywoddles · 28/01/2023 08:48

If only it was that easy to get trade people to do a job.

Stop worrying OP, you haven’t committed to anything. How exactly would you breach a contract? You didn’t sign anything. Just leave it.

Thatiswild · 28/01/2023 08:51

You have nothing to worry about, at all. I get anxious about things like this too so I do understand but please try to stop worrying on this one.

neverknowinglyunreasonable · 28/01/2023 08:57

Hope you like the taste of prison food pal.

Seriously though, there is nothing to worry about here. Crack on.

Biker47 · 28/01/2023 09:16

Even though he's "put you on file" if he's like every other tradesperson everywhere, you'll never hear from him again, and even if you were to chase it up yourself, you'd probably struggle to get in touch. I wanted some quotes for a patio, out of 5 people contacted only one ever bothered to turn up, and even then we had to chase them up to get the quote after they'd been to visit and measure up.

Tsc2011 · 28/01/2023 13:33

Thanks everyone, that’s reassuring! We’re currently embroiled in potential legal proceedings against a plasterer and the last thing we need is this guy objecting to us not using him.

OP posts:
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