Employing an individual to do building work

[BishyBarnyBee]

We want to replace our roof, and have a roofer we've used before and been happy with. He was referred by a colleague who was also happy with him.

So there is no reason not to trust him, and we'd like him to do the work. But he is an individual, not a registered firm, and has given us a quote by whatsapp. No letter heading, not registered for VAT, no detailing what the work involves - it's all verbal.

It feels a bit unprofessional, and I'm anxious about spending thousands of pounds on the basis of a whats app message! So I'm wondering how other builders who are sole traders might manage it.

Is there anything I can ask for/should be expecting to get the accountability I am wanting here?

Thanks.

My biggest concern with him would be if he has professional insurance to cover him should anything go wrong? I agree recommendations are great, but sometimes things (accidents) do happen. I had a builder doing my roof and he and his colleague both fell through into my bedroom below. Both, luckily, unhurt, but my bedroom was wrecked. His insurance covered everything which was a huge relief. Might be best to check with him about things like that.

Full re -roof. 20K

@Biffatcrafts , he says he has insurance and I can check that. He's also happy to have a building inspector come in and look at the work. So I can hold back the final payment until it's checked off. My gut is saying go with him, but my head is saying I need paperwork!!

A substantial car port re-roof, done very well and no complaints. Can't remember the exact cost, 1 - 2 K maybe.

I wasn't sure exactly what to ask for! Anyone can put together headed notepaper, so that's not it exactly. And I get that a good roofer might not be good at paperwork. But this post was to ask what I should be asking for, IYSWIM.

Thank you @beetrootobsessive! Seems really obvious but I was struggling to make sense of it. That's very helpful.

If you are happy he has current (and sufficient) insurance, one additional thing you can do is print out the whole WhatsApp conversation you have had so far. Then ask him further detailed questions you might need answered such as timescale, exact cost, when payment is due (ie 20% upfront, 20% upon passing relevant inspections, balance on completion, any retentions etc) and what that work covers exactly ie underlay, tiles (type and quantity) additional joists etc) (if you don't have that already in the conversation). Once you have covered all that and it is printed out you can get him to sign it and you also sign it, keeping a copy each. I'm not a lawyer but I would imagine this signed document would/could form the basis of the contract between you should anything go wrong. (I'm sure a legally savvy MNer can tell you if it would hold up in court or not)

Don't worry about whether he is VAT registered, or how he pays his tax etc, that's his responsibility, not yours.

£20k is a lot of money to lose, so it is best to get as much detail as you can and ask every question you can think of.

I hope it goes OK!

https://www.usehatchapp.com/blog/free-roofing-contract-templates

Alternatively you can draw up your own contract with the appropriate details filled in from the WhatsApp conversation and get him to sign it. I think the linked examples above are more geared to the USA, but I'm sure you can find ones that would be appropriate for UK use and laws.

I would say that both parties need to be clear exactly what is and what is not included in the quote. Unexpexted stuff comes up all the time (I don’t know about roof work but can’t imagine it is any different from other building work). So what will you need to stump up extra for. If you can get that as a pp suggested in email or included in the WhatsApp chain then it’s probably all good. Also the payment schedule should be set out too so everyone knows what is expected and when.

Really helpful everyone, thanks so much. I've messaged him with a request for everything we've discussed written down, using some of your ideas as a checklist. If he can't give us that, we won't go ahead. I really hope he does, and that he doesn't decide I'm being arsey, but it really is too much money to stake on a whatsapp message.

He's probably given you a quick estimate (lots of people ask for quotes & estimates and then either don't go ahead or select a different contractor) so I can understand it when trades try and keep the admin down to a minimum.

Just ask him for a full spec & quote as you'd like to go ahead.

@beetrootobsessive what on earth did you do to upset mumsnet? I'm racking my brains to remember anything that could have broken the talk guidelines, it all seemed really helpful to me!

Quick update - got a lovely message from him last night, waiting to see what he sends through but feel very reassured. Thanks everyone.