Our project manager won't give us our Completion Certificate

[LillyHammer]

Looking for advice please.

We've just finished a major renovation and on checking invoices find that our project manager has charged us twice for quite a lot of items and provided quotes rather than invoices as "proof".

He's being really difficult about sorting this out and we feel is holding us to ransom re the certificates we need.

What are our "rights"? We hired him and he used a building control surveyor and electrician that he uses all the time.

I am a Project Manager and this is NOT ON!!! Does he work for the building company or is he independent?

He should provide reciepted back up for all materials. Labour is harder to prove if it's direct labour (i.e. he's paid them throuhg PAYE rather than invoices) but you should get a break down of which blokes worked what hours.

Does he have any sort of professional accreditiation (e.g. Association of Project Managers (AMP))? You could suggest you'll seek further advice from them if he doesn't start to be more helpful.

Are you happy with the quality of the work though?

He's an independent and no, he doesn't have accreditation of any kind.

We are fairly happy with the work although it's taken twice as long as he told us and there have been lots of errors and bad cock ups on the way. We just want them out of the house now. We certainly couldn't recommend him or his team.

What actual rights do we have as far as obtaining the certificates? We paid the PM for them months ago but I suppose he is feeling that he employed the surveyor and electrician.

If you call building control they will advise if it was issued, and they may be able to email you a copy. They did for us when I couldn't find it and we needed it for the sale of our house.

When you say Certficates what exactly are you talking about?
Windows?
Electric?
Gas?
Building Control Certificates?
Or manufacturers guarantees & warrantees for items?

It would depend what work you had done if any BC certificates were required.
Go back to the written quotation for the job, what does that say about certificates?

Just reread and I see you mention electrician. Not all electrical work requires certificates but if your does the key question would be who had the contract with the electrician - did he work for you and was paid deirect by you or did he work for the PM?
As said before go back to your written contract agreed with PM and any other people you employed.