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Compensation from Builders

3 replies

parkview094 · 13/09/2018 13:31

I hired some builders to complete a refurbishment of the upstairs of my home. We agreed a price and a timescale for the work.
Unfortunately, the standard of building work was very poor and the project began to get further and further behind schedule.
When nobody turned up on weeks 15 and 16 of a 6 week build I terminated our contract. (I had previously served them notice advising that they had until the end of the month to complete the job).

Fortunately, I had paid in installments based on the original quote, but unfortunately for the work actually completed I feel I have overpaid.

Now the builders have left site, I have been inspecting their work much closer and it has become apparent that they have bodged the whole thing - in some places quite dangerously (cut and unsupported floor joists etc).

For the money paid, I think the small claims court is the way to go, but how do I work out how much I could attempt to claim for?

I've tried to get other builders round to quote for the repairs and to complete the unfinished works, but nobody seems interested in quoting. I finally managed to get someone to turn up to have a look at the job yestrday, but he decided he wasn't interested.

Should I just keep trying builders until I finally manage to get 3? to quote? Are there any other alternatives?

OP posts:
Collaborate · 13/09/2018 15:34

Get a surveyor round to do you a report. You can claim the cost of this back. They might even be able to cost it for you, or at least suggest a builder who will price the job up.

Mehaveit · 14/09/2018 20:07

In essence you need an 'expert witness'. Someone whose opinion of how much it would cost to put you in the position you would have been in if the job had been done properly (but NOT for the bits that weren't done because you haven't paid for them). Federation of Master Builders or RICS is where I'd start. You can claim for the report but you may not get the whole sum returned.

^I'm not a legal professional but I did win against a tradesman in a small claims court. Different field or I'd recommend my expert witness^

AgentProvocateur · 14/09/2018 20:42

You need a quantity surveyor who will be able to value the works to date.

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