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Quote: Originally posted by saxo1 on 08/9/2021

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Builders are so busy now that if you cancel you may not get another till next year.
I was waiting for 18 months to get a builder to even give a quote for some work I wanted done and a further 9 months to get the job done.
They can't get workers since Brexit and materials like cement and plaster and timber are in short supply.
saxo1

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Quote: Originally posted by iank01 on 08/9/2021

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I would insist on return of deposit immediately due to breach of contract and find another builder. If this is what he is doing now, imagine what it will be like when he actually does start work. You will have an unfinished extension for months or even years.
My guess is that he has spent the deposit and cannot refund it anyway so small claims court is going to be the only way to extract the money back from him. Going to court is not scary as only 3 or 4 people in the room sitting around a table.
Ask politely for return of deposit and when that does not happen, send a written demand for return of deposit and if he still does not refund then it is court and he will have to pay all costs.
You are covered by the Consumer Rights Act 2015. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2015/15/contents/enacted

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Quote: Originally posted by chambers4 on 07/9/2021

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I'd really appreciate some advice...

In mid March we signed a contract with a builder to construct an extension and paid a sizeable deposit. In hind sight we should have insisted on a start date being included in the contract but due to lack of experience we relied on a verbal agreement that we were the next job and would begin by the end of April. Since then we have had various reasons why he hasn't been able to start the project, illness, employee illness, current job over running.

I understand there are current difficulties in the building trade but there's lots of work going on in our local area and he's posted photos of at least 2 completed jobs on his Facebook page while we've been waiting.

We all agreed a fixed price in March and with material costs having gone up since then I am wondering if he's picking up other jobs where he can charge the current rates.

Today he has again postponed for another 4-6 weeks. We are beginning to lose confidence and are considering giving him a 6 week final deadline, stating that if he hasn't commenced work by then we consider that to be a failure to start with in a timely manner and that we expect the return of our deposit.

Apologies for the long post but I'd be grateful for any advice / guidance from people with more experience than ourselves!

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Quote: Originally posted by Mitchamitri on 09/9/2021

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If you were daft enough to use a builder who is not a member of a trade organisation then all is not lost, it's quite possible some of the clauses in the contract are not legal under sale of goods law.

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Quote: Originally posted by Mitchamitri on 13/9/2021

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"Knowing good builders" is the key - but if you don't you need to find that info from elsewhere.

Within 7 houses of me there are 3 builders, a P&D, and a heating engineer - 2 of these people I wouldn't use for my work.   

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