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Making a claim against cowboy builders
Hi,
I recently had some work done on my house and I'm feeling a bit hopeless! Initially, I just wanted the large window in my kitchen removed and replaced with patio doors. I asked on a local Facebook site and was recommended a door and window company. The guys came to give me a free no-obligation quote and while they were here asked what other work we wanted doing (the kitchen was in a bit of a state and I was planning to have the place gutted as well as some structural work). They told me that they were a family run business and said 'we can do everything' so I figured I could save myself some money by having one company do the whole job rather than individuals coming in to do odd jobs e.g. tiler, plumber, electrician etc.
They quoted for everything, gave me a cost breakdown, so I opted against the patio door for the moment as I couldn't afford everything at once. I received the quote in September last year and work didn't commence until the middle of November as they had overbooked or had other excuses as to why they couldn't start. I was chasing them through October as they had promised to have the work finished before Christmas - I first contacted them in August. I suggested starting work in the new year instead but they assured me it would be completed on time.
Fast forward to today, the kitchen is still unfinished and the quality of work thus far is substandard. They actually admitted that they had 'massively under-quoted' for the job and I believe this is why the remaining work has been bodged. I have been paying them weekly for labour and materials, cash in hand but they have invoiced me (via email) and listed 'N/A' as the tax amount - they are not registered as a building company, only a doors and windows limited company.
The important things like the structural work - supporting wall taken out and RSJ installed - have been done properly as far as I can tell but I have been advised to have a professional surveyor take a look.
The following is what has been bodged and/or incompleted:
• The electrics, specifically plug sockets too close to the utility sink, do not comply with building regs and need to either be moved or replaced with IP65 sockets. The kitchen lights are dangling with all wires visible and the light switch has an exposed live wire that isn't connected.
• The plumbing has not been connected properly (they have used electrical tape in some areas!) so both kitchen and utility sinks are leaking. The water supply to the kitchen tap has been connected 'backwards' (hot = cold, cold = hot) and one of the guys said "Well, it won't matter as it's only the two of you".
• The gas hob is yet to be installed and we haven't had a hob since November when they gutted the kitchen. I don't believe them to be qualified gas engineers or electricians so do not want them returning to attempt to fit the hob or rectify the electrics!
• The worktops are yet to be installed so at the moment we have a lovely hybrid of chipboard and some of the preexisting worktops. I offered to order the worktops myself using an online company and could have them delivered next day but they said they would "sort it".
• The smaller kitchen window was removed when the RSJ was installed. We had no window and no radiator for a couple of weeks and the house was freezing. The window they finally installed has a large crack in one of the panes of glass and they have been saying "we'll replace it" since December. The rad is still not up and running.
• There was an area of missing floor tiles where the wall had been removed so I asked them to tile that section. Instead of chipping out tiles and following the pattern, they filled it in with 3 tiles and a large amount of grout instead of cutting another tile. The grout has already loosened and come away, one of the tiles now wobbles. When they were doing the floor I overheard this conversation...
1: "Just crack on and stop worrying about it!"
2: "I'm not worrying about it, I just want to do a nice job."
1: "You're just trying to make a bodge job look okay."
Anyway, sorry for the long-winded post - I wanted to get everything written down and describe in detail what has happened! I have paid £4k so far and owe £2-3k but they won't ask for the remainder until work is completed - I don't plan on giving them another penny.
I do not want these cowboys back on the property to attempt to rectify any of this as they are not registered builders. I believe them to be acting fraudulently and tax evading.
I have contacted my solicitor today to ask for advice and they suggested taking it up with my house insurance provider but it doesn't cover legal costs. Could someone please recommend a firm that would take this case, preferably no-win no-fee?
I recently had some work done on my house and I'm feeling a bit hopeless! Initially, I just wanted the large window in my kitchen removed and replaced with patio doors. I asked on a local Facebook site and was recommended a door and window company. The guys came to give me a free no-obligation quote and while they were here asked what other work we wanted doing (the kitchen was in a bit of a state and I was planning to have the place gutted as well as some structural work). They told me that they were a family run business and said 'we can do everything' so I figured I could save myself some money by having one company do the whole job rather than individuals coming in to do odd jobs e.g. tiler, plumber, electrician etc.
They quoted for everything, gave me a cost breakdown, so I opted against the patio door for the moment as I couldn't afford everything at once. I received the quote in September last year and work didn't commence until the middle of November as they had overbooked or had other excuses as to why they couldn't start. I was chasing them through October as they had promised to have the work finished before Christmas - I first contacted them in August. I suggested starting work in the new year instead but they assured me it would be completed on time.
Fast forward to today, the kitchen is still unfinished and the quality of work thus far is substandard. They actually admitted that they had 'massively under-quoted' for the job and I believe this is why the remaining work has been bodged. I have been paying them weekly for labour and materials, cash in hand but they have invoiced me (via email) and listed 'N/A' as the tax amount - they are not registered as a building company, only a doors and windows limited company.
The important things like the structural work - supporting wall taken out and RSJ installed - have been done properly as far as I can tell but I have been advised to have a professional surveyor take a look.
The following is what has been bodged and/or incompleted:
• The electrics, specifically plug sockets too close to the utility sink, do not comply with building regs and need to either be moved or replaced with IP65 sockets. The kitchen lights are dangling with all wires visible and the light switch has an exposed live wire that isn't connected.
• The plumbing has not been connected properly (they have used electrical tape in some areas!) so both kitchen and utility sinks are leaking. The water supply to the kitchen tap has been connected 'backwards' (hot = cold, cold = hot) and one of the guys said "Well, it won't matter as it's only the two of you".
• The gas hob is yet to be installed and we haven't had a hob since November when they gutted the kitchen. I don't believe them to be qualified gas engineers or electricians so do not want them returning to attempt to fit the hob or rectify the electrics!
• The worktops are yet to be installed so at the moment we have a lovely hybrid of chipboard and some of the preexisting worktops. I offered to order the worktops myself using an online company and could have them delivered next day but they said they would "sort it".
• The smaller kitchen window was removed when the RSJ was installed. We had no window and no radiator for a couple of weeks and the house was freezing. The window they finally installed has a large crack in one of the panes of glass and they have been saying "we'll replace it" since December. The rad is still not up and running.
• There was an area of missing floor tiles where the wall had been removed so I asked them to tile that section. Instead of chipping out tiles and following the pattern, they filled it in with 3 tiles and a large amount of grout instead of cutting another tile. The grout has already loosened and come away, one of the tiles now wobbles. When they were doing the floor I overheard this conversation...
1: "Just crack on and stop worrying about it!"
2: "I'm not worrying about it, I just want to do a nice job."
1: "You're just trying to make a bodge job look okay."
Anyway, sorry for the long-winded post - I wanted to get everything written down and describe in detail what has happened! I have paid £4k so far and owe £2-3k but they won't ask for the remainder until work is completed - I don't plan on giving them another penny.
I do not want these cowboys back on the property to attempt to rectify any of this as they are not registered builders. I believe them to be acting fraudulently and tax evading.
I have contacted my solicitor today to ask for advice and they suggested taking it up with my house insurance provider but it doesn't cover legal costs. Could someone please recommend a firm that would take this case, preferably no-win no-fee?
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