Rip Off Builders

[MadForBurpees]

Hi All - after some advice/opinions please,
Having some work done - got a builder recommended to me by someone who had done previous work for me but was too busy to take on my project. So met the builder, discussed the work, agreed a price for the just - all good. Part of this work includes electrics - builder said he had a spark he used regularly, was registered and could issue certificate when all done. Told me price for this.- again all good. Fast forward - building work completed and all good. However electrical stuff a bloody joke! A month late in finishing but no ceriftcate issued. Have also found out that the spark is NOT registered and cannot sign off the work. He hasn't contacted local council (work is notifiable under planning be regs). Also found out this spark has not been registered for 3 years - god knows why! Even though builder told me he was an approved electricia So now my dilemma is - do I pay builder for his work? Or hold back some money in case the electric be work is sub standard and needs remedial work? I did not employ the spark - the builde did - is it his responsibility to make sure the whole journey b is finished? Just to add - electrician lied about being registered, has been unreliable and has made a few errors.

Does the builders invoice include the electrical works or are you due to pay the electrician directly?

Also for the building works was this done under a building notice or was it just the electrics that require sign off? Reason I ask is because if the actual builders works require building notice sign off it will be held up until the electrics are signed off which would mean your agreement with said builder isn’t complete until building regs sign off.

I don't have an invoice for the electrical work. Builder as given me an invoice for the work I have part paid for but there's no mention of electrical in work. Builder has stated electrics will be invoiced separately.

I will pay the builder for electrician - I have no direct contract with spark only the builder although nothing bin writing. I hate that I am holding money back from the builder but he assured me the spark by was registered but when i rang NICEIC they said his member ship had lapsed.

No just electrics need sign off

I would hold back the money until everything is signed off. If the builder complains say he needs to sort out the electrics properly. Otherwise builder will take the money and have no incentive to come back to get the job finished and you'll end up having to pay a new sparky to finish/correct the job.

Yes this is what I thought!I probably should have checked that spark was registered but obviously too trusting! Have learned a lesson. Just feel like it's going to get awkward.

Bright and breezy : " it'll be great to get the money to you once you've sorted the electrics and got it signed off"

But if electrician doesn't come back to finish - do I pay him?

What had the builder said? Do you have a contract? If the electrics are invoiced separately but through the builder I'd say you can't pay that bill until the electrics are signed off.

Yes work to be invoiced separately. Have got invoice from builder for the work I have paid for - about 60%. Have also paid half of cost of Electrical work to the builder who I assume has passed on to the electrician but no receipt as yet. I am waiting for the electrician to issue the installation cert and the Part P regs. I honestly don't think he is coming back. He started this job in October FFS,. keeps saying it's nearly done, sign off will be today then tomorrow blah blah. I have the builder chasing me for the balance but have had to say that I cannot pay until all work is signed off and safe. Builders work is finished and all good. Electrics well, not sure they are finished, safe and they are not signed off. As the electrician LIED about being registered my thinking is that he can't find anyone to certify his work. So I am now holding back all of the money but have informed builder I will pay when all done.

I am going to have to get council to sign off work -at a cost =which I will pay up front and then deduct from the electrician balance. However if any remedial work does need to be done and it exceeds the balance owed to the electrician would I then deduct from what I owe the builder?

If the builder is chasing just say to him you're all ready to pay once HE sorts out the electrics sign off. If he brought the sparky in then he can sort it out so he gets paid. You've already paid a decent percentage so I wouldn't feel guilty.

The minute you part with money they'll both walk away.

Firstly hold the money back for the spark, get another spark to certify it and pay the 2nd spark out of the firsts money... then it's up to you what you pay the first spark
NICEIC - has a list of approved certified sparks on their website, you can find some near you on there.

You have been misled by the builder, who was possibly misled by the electrician. Tell builder you need the paperwork signed off, and will expect the builder & electrician to pay for a certified electrician to check the work and provide the paperwork, then you will pay them.

That's what I have told builder. He is ok with this. I think it will be difficult to find another electrician to sign off another's work. Council l will inspect and approve if I'm not mistaken.

Hi to everyone who posted - update is that I got the council out to inspect the work - it was actually very good! Got the sign off - cost was £323. Upshot is builder knocked £500 off the electrics bill so all good. Thanks to all for your help.

Good to hear you have got it sorted, and thanks for telling us the end of the story!