AWBU to not pay the final bill before it is finished/Building Regs signed off

[FishfingersAreOK]

OK, so it is only a few snagging bits (a list about 15/20 long, filling a hole round the drain with tarmac, resealing the sink, touching up a bit of paint here and there) but there is still a list of things not quite finished. The builder has given us the final bill.

Building Regs person has not been round for final check.

We have told builder (who is also a friend of FIL) that we will be happy to pay it once everything is done. He has taken offence and said this has never happened to him we should take him at his word.

We do trust him. But also feel we would be mad to pay this final amount until it is finished.
So, although this is not AIBU, are we being unreasonable not to pay it? It is for just under 5% of the total amount we have paid.

Our architect advised not paying final amount until building regs signed off and snagging finished. Lovely that he's a friend of your ILs etc but this is a professional relationship and that needs to be maintained. I would hold out.

That was exactly what we did for our build. We had 10% retainer until bulk of work done then 5% until b regs and snagging done. We made mistake of paying when there were still a few tiny things to be done (sticking down loo, sorting out dodgy gutter end) because we didn't want to be petty, and have they been done, 4 more months down the line? Course not.
Though builders hate it, it's a totally standard clause and yr builder is lying if he tells you otherwise. I take it you didn't have a small works contract if he is now objecting - a lesson to be learnt for next time is to get things in writing, especially if the builder is an acquaintance.

I've held back some payment until builders have fixed everything, including paving they damaged. There was lots of bluster and waffle about taking me to court but they fixed all the problems and I then paid.

It is perfectly normal to postpone final payment until all the work has been completed to your satisfaction.

If FIL's friend claims he has never heard of such a thing I don't believe him. He is just trying to intimidate you.

All work is guaranteed until the cheque has cleared

No, hold some back until they've finished and make the amount worth their while to come back.

have been scammed so many times

It is completely normal and reasonable to hold some money back. We held the final 5% for three months after the last it of work was done.

(You should have discussed it before he started work though, but I know that you know this now )

Do you have a contract?
Ours set out chunks of money at various stages of the build, with 5% held back for any niggles arising in the first 3 months. As it happened, they got busy and it took them more like 9 months to come back and touch up a few bits. I'm not complaining, it was an hours work and we had our 5% sat in a high interest account