Hi,
after views of what’s reasonable here please
just ending a building project that’s cost around £28k. Like a lot of building works started well, but things dragged out and now run over 7 weeks late. (Original job 5 weeks and we’re into week 12). Like most build work it’s got increasingly hard to get their focus on getting job done as they move onto their new jobs.
but generally relationship is ok still , and not all delays their fault - they discovered the whole upstaris needed rewiring …ah the joys! They’re provisionally down to do rewiring downstairs as new job in mid summer, so I’m in reall dilemma around raising issues or getting stroppy with them.
but over last 4 weeks it’s been like pulling teeth to get work finished and committments about when guys will turn up for jobs needed.
I’ve just been sent final invoice with a sum deducted for an upstaris window. And now expected to pay today.
the issue is that there are still a few “snagging” issue that are costly. The window in question is becuase they messed up trickle vent, window now needs to be replaced or repaired. They say they’ll do it , but have deducted a spepcifc amount from final bill for this. I have no knowing when they’ll be back to fix it and it’s a problem currently. It’s a trickle vent needed to meet building regs, so I can’t see how my building completion cert can be given without this beibg fixed first. And it’s a mess currently that could let water in very heavy rain. The error happened 2 weeks ago now, and I’m no nearer knowing when it’ll be resolved
also if I settle with this deduction, how do I know if I had to arrange someone else to replace window they’d do it at price they’ve allowed for in deduction?
im also without a stair light. Was one before works started . Isn’t know due to wiring issue. There are solutions. They’ve just not done it in timely way. They’ve not made any allowance off final bill that this is outstanding. They’re treating it as minor issue, and am feeling like I’m making a fuss about nothing. But I can’t turn hall light off form upstairs, meaning I’ll have to go upstairs at night in the dark. I’m 65 and see that as a risk. Yep I could put in some battery motion sensor lights on strips, but that ugly, messy and not a robust long term solution.
they also haven’t got scaffold or skip off my property yet. And they’ve not cleaned, therefore, the driveway..fags, dusts, debris
so, am I reasonable to say I won’t settle final invoice until EVERYTHING, including window, is sorted? . It is literally for £900 pounds which they’re deducting £400 from for the windows. So in other words I delaying a final £500 to ensure they fix the issue before I consider contract complete, specification delivered and settle final instalment - and they’ll get the full £900 at that point. Which is also when building completion cert could be issued and electrical safety cert.
I’ve paid all invoices on time up till now (weekly invoices) . I’m just really concerned about paying final invoice and effectively completed contract, but these issues are still outstanding.
what do others think? How do I negotiate this with them? I don’t want to destroy relationship, as I want downstairs rewiring done by them as they know their way round electrics in house now.