I got a phone call alst night "hello, I'm just letting you know the bill for the work I did on your house is £248."

[saltire]

I'm annoyed aobut this, I know I will need to pay it, but not sure how to handle it
Back in october our tennant called to say that the roof was leaking. Cutting a long story short, it got patched up and is currently waiting to get the flat roof stuff replaced. Then she called me and asked about the tiles in the bathroom, only the bit beside the toile tnad window - maybe about the width of 4tiles - and asked when they were getting replaced, as they had come off the wall because of the damp plaster.
I explained that I had contacted some local builders. She then said that her brothers boss, a man I know, was a tiler. So I said (and I am pretty certian i said this) "Get him round to have a look and let me know what needs to be done". She then went on to say that she would contribute £50 towards the tiles, and go and get them.

Anyway, turns out the man went and did the job. he has retiled the area from ceiling to floor behind the toilet, and put what he said was a sealent on to stop water getting in if the roof leaks again.
he said "I ahve taken off a couple of hours for labour and deducted the cost of your tennants contribution"

like I said, I knwo I will need to pay the bill as the work has been done, but not sure what, if anything I can say to my tennant. She is a good tennant, rent paid on time, no complaints from neighbours etc

Sounds like a misunderstanding on her part, and possibly him taking a little bit of advantage (or could be a genuine misunderstanding on his part too)? Odd that the job was done last October and now he asks for payment?

Have you seen the work and are you happy with the standard?

I would just mention (without making a big deal of it) to her that in future if work needs doing you need to have a quote in writing or speak directly to the person? Sounds like she is a good tenant and you don't want that to change.

No sorry, the job wasn't done last October, it was the roof started leaking then, the job was about 4 weeks ago, not long after I spoke to my tennant and asked her to get a price from him

I called the tennant today and she said "oh I thought it would be ok just to go ahead with teh work"

and the tiles she chose cost £98 of the £248!

you need to be the one talking to the bloke

you need to make sure that she knows that

I think you took the easy way out by letting her engage someone, which is perfectly understandable, but she has taken advantage of that

Also be thankful that the bill wasn't bigger

As long as she is clear that she needs to agree it with you if there are any future situations, all should be ok. I would be annoyed though in your position. Very frustrating.

Well it's annoying but not as annoying as living with a leaking roof and a damp wall for 8 months because your landlord hasn't got around to sorting it

HOWEVER, meant to add, saltire, that as a tenant, I would never get work done on the house I live in without it confirmed in writing from my landlord as I know that they often have favoured traders and the like.

You should have a word with her about future works I think.

She didn't have a leaky roof for 8 months. It was repaired, and the leak apprently started back in August,and she didn't let us know until October.
It was the tiling that was done recently, again she didn't mention until recently that the tiles had come off the wall.
She does this frequently though, the boiler hadn't been working for about 8 weeks before she decided to call and tello me. Same when the gas fire packed in

Oh right, must have misread. In that case, she should be having a talking to, letting these things drag on and on without telling yo can't be doing the house any favours? I think you have a duty to report these things in a timely fashion as a tenant, no?