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Claiming refund from roofer

21 replies

thelma57 · 21/07/2023 18:01

Hi all, I was wondering if anyone had experience of claiming money back from a roofer for not completing a job properly?

Back in January our ceiling came in after a leak in our bay roof (had been ongoing and couldn’t get to the bottom of it) We found a roofer to look at the roof and they quoted us £1400 to redo the felt, new battons, retile and replace the lead.

After the work was completed, with the first bit of bad weather we had water coming in again (through the hole in the ceiling as it had not yet been replastered) The roofer came back out and said the issue was our window above the roof, and that it needed resealed (he did this with sealant and it’s quite a mess.

Later, the same issue - water coming in. He came back and this time said it was the brickwork pointing which needed done (not a service he offers). At this time I questioned why we had paid for the roof fix if we were still having issues, he said it had fixed part of the issue, it’s an old house etc etc. As far as I’m concerned it hasn’t fixed the issue at all.

Fast forward to this last week, we’ve had him out again after speaking to another roofer who has said the roof is basically a mess and there’s nothing wrong with the pointing. The original roofer had now said forget the pointing and get the window resealed.

Today we’ve had an independent person out (family friend) who has also said the roof is a mess, the tiles are on backwards, the lead isn’t fixed and overall this guy is a cowboy.

I’m at my wits end and now want to request some money back, so I can get someone else to do the work! I appreciate the work done on the new felt and battons etc. But he’s also reused the old lead - not replaced as quoted.

We appreciate he keeps coming back and trying but it really seems he doesn’t have a clue.

I’ve attached photos of the roof so you can see the state of it! The black sealant looks horrific!

Any advice? I’ve written out the work done and all the incidents to send to him but don’t know what’s enough.

OP posts:
thelma57 · 21/07/2023 18:23

Thanks @MiladyBlue I’ve had a look at that and will use some of the wording. It’s so frustrating, he very defensive too, I just don’t know how he can think that job is okay, even if it had fixed the issue - it looks shocking!

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Totaly · 21/07/2023 18:29

Try trading standards as well

winterchills · 21/07/2023 18:58

It looks a right mess!!!! Definitely would be wanting money back and if not contacting trading standards. Proper cow boy

rrrrrreatt · 21/07/2023 21:08

What a terrible job! We had the roof replaced on our bay a few months ago because we had water pouring in and it fixed the problem but it looks pretty different to yours. Definitely get onto trading standards - there’s no way that’s acceptable.

4weeknoalcohol · 21/07/2023 21:14

I do a better fix up job than he’s done! Shocking.

Clymene · 21/07/2023 21:16

OMG I could do better than that and I'm not a roofer. Trading standards and small claims court I'm guessing.

thelma57 · 21/07/2023 21:55

Thanks everyone, we’re hoping that he just gives it to us once we lay it all out, we’ve been ridiculously patient until now.
Does anyone have experience of reporting to trading standards?

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Soapyspuds · 21/07/2023 22:12

Bloody hell. That was not a roofer you employed, it was a fricking butcher!

Soapyspuds · 21/07/2023 22:13

But yea if they think that kind of work is acceptable you might as well start the small claims process now. Letter before action send by email and recorded delivery.

People who do that quality of work are not giving you a refund.

BlastedSkreet · 21/07/2023 22:16

We have had terrible experiences with all 3 sets of roofers we have employed.

The last ones kept closing down when trading standards got wind of what they were doing and then opening with a new name a few weeks later with a bunch of fake five star reviews. we found out by accident that a new company was actually just the old one with a new name!

so huge sympathy, but I don’t rate your chances of getting money back. It seems that trades can do as shoddy a job as they like these days and get away with it.

MillicentBystandr · 21/07/2023 22:21

I was all ready to defend the roofer. But he’s not a roofer. A child could do better on a birdhouse roof. I think you’re due a full refund, but don’t think he will pay it or have it.

goingtotown · 21/07/2023 22:30

That's a 100% bodged job.
If he doesn't fix the job or refund you need to use online Small Claims Court. Citizens Advice will advise you.

thelma57 · 21/07/2023 22:41

Thanks again everyone. We will email him formally and then move to citizens advice with the view to small claims.

The weird thing is, rather than disappearing off, he keeps coming back to try other fixes for free (under guarantee) and seems quite proud of the job 🤦‍♀️

This is the second time we’ve had a crap job done on this roof and can’t afford to keep paying out. So frustrating!

OP posts:
Soapyspuds · 21/07/2023 22:45

Citizens advice and trading standards are a waste of time here in my view.

The only way you will see your money again is either the thread of court action or a court judgement in your favour.

goingtotown · 21/07/2023 23:20

Citizens Advice were very helpful with my claim against a bodged kitchen installation.I received a payment of £6500.

Advised to send a registered letter explaining why you want the job redone to a good standard or money refunded by a certain date. The roofer will probably ignore the letter.

Send a second registered letter telling the roofer you will be claiming in the Small Claims Court.

rrrrrreatt · 22/07/2023 11:05

goingtotown · 21/07/2023 23:20

Citizens Advice were very helpful with my claim against a bodged kitchen installation.I received a payment of £6500.

Advised to send a registered letter explaining why you want the job redone to a good standard or money refunded by a certain date. The roofer will probably ignore the letter.

Send a second registered letter telling the roofer you will be claiming in the Small Claims Court.

There’s a template for this sort of letter on their website too. I used it a while back because a structural engineer missed a big defect when he did our survey, it really helped with structure and they came back quickly to discuss resolution.

thelma57 · 02/08/2023 10:36

Thanks again everyone, really appreciate the advice. We’ve got in touch with him now to lay out the issue and request a refund, not expecting much. He’s now said he’s got an independent surveyor to have a look - which I’m going to refuse and it won’t be independent and could be anyone - also highly doubt he’ll have paid for this service and likely a friend - does that sound sensible?

It’s very evident the roof is still leaking after the recent weather - he’s offered to come round and look again but I have refused this also, tired of him coming up with random fixes which don’t work and don’t want him in the house anymore.

OP posts:
KievLoverTwo · 02/08/2023 10:58

thelma57 · 02/08/2023 10:36

Thanks again everyone, really appreciate the advice. We’ve got in touch with him now to lay out the issue and request a refund, not expecting much. He’s now said he’s got an independent surveyor to have a look - which I’m going to refuse and it won’t be independent and could be anyone - also highly doubt he’ll have paid for this service and likely a friend - does that sound sensible?

It’s very evident the roof is still leaking after the recent weather - he’s offered to come round and look again but I have refused this also, tired of him coming up with random fixes which don’t work and don’t want him in the house anymore.

Agree. Good luck.

thelma57 · 05/08/2023 18:41

Quick update for anyone interested - roofer is stating he’s got the opinion of an ‘independent surveyor’ who conveniently is stating the exact same as him, and won’t provide us any details of them, nor have they visited the property 😂
Starting formal comms on Monday.

OP posts:
Stanmoor · 21/04/2024 11:56

thelma57 · 05/08/2023 18:41

Quick update for anyone interested - roofer is stating he’s got the opinion of an ‘independent surveyor’ who conveniently is stating the exact same as him, and won’t provide us any details of them, nor have they visited the property 😂
Starting formal comms on Monday.

Any update on what happened here? Going through a similar situation myself!

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