Who pays when workmen f-up?

[hatter]

OK, I know we should have established this before, lesson learned and all that. but here's the question: today the people who were restoring our wooden floors burst a water pipe. The damage looks horrible but I think it's actually only cosmetic - but that still means the cost of redecorating the ceiling and some wood-work, plus the cost of a plumber to mend the damage to the pipe. Who should pay? Obviously we're in a better bargaining position as we owe them money for the work. Where do we go from here?

message withdrawn

In order to claim compensation from the workers (i.e. to rectify the damage caused), you'd need to establish that they were negligent in some way. How did they burst the pipe? Were they aware it was there? If it is clear that they knew of the existence of the pipe and should/could have avoided it, then they should be responsible for putting the damage right.