Please could anyone advise me on this, I’m getting so worried and down about it.
We have had some building work worth £40,000 done on our house (so to us a considerable amount). We paid everything on time and the two add ons that were charged and agreed to we paid as well ( we asked for these and had messages to confirm the cost- I’m only mentioning this to say we know things will be added on but then a price is given and agreed and paid).
Since paying the final bill, the builder has come back with £3000 of extra additional add ons in an invoice . None of these agreed or discussed. Really random things that don’t change the scope of the work. For example we have a stud wall they put in, that was always in the quote, and both walls are external facing and he’s put down he wants to charge us for the plastering on the other side of the wall. To us it was just absolutely part of the job and assumed. It feels like he’s just added on random extras to get more money from us.
Another example is that on the steps he built to the outside of the house - he had to add some patio slabs to the side of the steps so concrete wasn’t exposed and so it looked professional and finished off and he’s charged for that. I’ve never looked at steps and not thought the sides wouldn’t have been finished or an extra! It’s kind of a given if you ask for steps to be built by a professional!
Throughout the work we felt the builder was unprofessional but we didn’t want the relationship to break down and just wanted it over! He did things like-
— he told us the work would be complete in 5 weeks, it took ten months(in total, not time spent at the house) due to both the weather and just not turning up or communicating and letting us know. He would always say his children were poorly or himself and colleagues and we didn’t want to be unreasonable and push him on this as we understand people get poorly. however he has now turned it round on us saying the job took a lot longer than he expected.
The builder has been emailing with the added on invoice in not a nice tone.
I have gone back to him with a written reply going through each add on and detailing why we don’t owe this. We’ve said anymore communication would need to be to our solicitor as we think it’s getting to that stage now.
Has anyone had this before? We have had our whole house renovated and never had any problem with workmen - we’ve had a quote and add ons agreed and discussed and of course paid.
Any advise would be great- I’m scared this man will turn up at my home and I’m sad as we paid what we owe and we worked so hard to save to do the work and we should be proud but it’s like a black cloud hanging over us now.
Thank you