Money News

Cowboy builders anger 2.5m homeowners

By Martin Fagan - news@consumerchoices.co.uk

Shoddy tradesmen who are messy and cause delays anger homeowners, as many seek redress through the courts.

At least 2.5 million Brits have had a dispute with a builder or decorator in the last three years, with a quarter forced to take formal action to resolve disputes, according to a new national survey by Which?

The most common disagreement was over the quality of the work (33%), while other major gripes included traders not turning up when agreed, delays over completion, and properties being left untidy or damaged by cowboy builders.

A quarter of people failed to receive a written quote from their builder or decorator before work commenced, and 4% were asked to pay the full amount for the job upfront.

Trader disputes left two in five people out of pocket, said Which? with a quarter feeling they were overcharged by at least £500, and one in ten saying the dispute had cost them between £1,000 and £4,999.

While the majority of people talked to their builder or decorator to try and resolve the dispute, 15% had to seek the help of a professional body, and 18% were forced to spend more money by taking the trader to court.

“Being left hundreds of pounds out of pocket after a bad experience with a builder can be a huge blow for families already feeling the pinch,” said Richard Lloyd, executive director at Which?

“To avoid problems, you should always have a written agreement between you and the trader. And it’s important to do your homework - make sure you get several quotes before deciding who to use, choose a recommended trader and check they’re a member of a professional body,” He advised.

To avoid hiring cowboy builders and decorators, Which? Legal Service offered the following advice:

1. Find a trader through word of mouth or personal recommendation from friends and family
2. Try and obtain three detailed quotes before starting work, ask for references and don’t be afraid to verify them by asking to visit previous clients with the trader
3. Get a signed contract that fully sets out the costs, the work to be completed and start/completion dates
4. Don’t pay all of the money up front - payment should be made on satisfactory completion of the job or at agreed stages. Request a written schedule of when payments are to be made
5. Don’t go for the cheaper option of paying in cash, rather than a properly invoiced job that may include VAT. Paying by credit card where possible may also offer extra protection if things go wrong.