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Payment schedule to builders for a loft conversion
Id love some advice on where we stand with withholding payments to builders?
Before our loft conversion started we made it really clear that our roof had some areas of deterioration that we’d like fixed while there was scaffolding and roofers up there. The company owner said he couldn’t quote until the scaffold was up and they could see the extent of damage but would look asap after the job started which seemed fair. So it was never included in the scope of work.
Now the loft conversion is done but despite us asking throughout the whole job no one gave any information until the last couple of days and then we were told theyd get a quote to us. We’re waiting on windows which were ordered late so won’t arrive until end of December. So we still have the scaffolding and unfinished areas. But now the owner has said it was never in the scope of work so isn’t a priority for them and is basically ignoring all messages asking for the quote and when the work will be done. Meanwhile has sent the final large invoice (there’s a couple of smaller ones due at the very end).
We’ve started contacting other roofers and trades for the other bits outstanding but unsurprisingly most are booked up until after the scaffolding will be gone.
Is it reasonable to not pay the invoice until after the owner at least gives some real information on whether the work will get done and how much for so we at least know where we stand? Since he’s made it clear this wasn’t in the scope of work I’m pretty sure he’ll argue back on it.
(Screenshot of the sort of lack of messages and so my post doesn’t get lost also Buzz is my husband asking about another delayed issue)
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8 Replies
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Just to share for the benefit of this group, you can add a clause in the scope of work that is “to be confirmed” or “details to be discussed and confirmed and further scope added at point XX of the timeline of the schedule”. If the company wants to remove that clause – then you know they are not willing to do it.
For the current issue I would definitely push back and hold off payment as you said – until there is clarity and don’t let him even try to argue that it wasn’t included as it was discussed to be added later. From a on-paper perspective – he might be in the right, but he doesn’t want the agro of you withholding payment either, so suggest you work through this issue together so you both can get what you had discussed.
Wishing you good luck, if it makes you feel any better – I have heard so many nightmare stories this past few months about loft conversions going badly
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thank yes, we’ve definitely learnt our lesson on the scope of work definition!
Good to know holding off payment isn’t unreasonable, it feels like we need to get some power back in the situation.
I guess it’s good to know we’re not the only ones having a bad experience but such a shame that it’s happening to anybody
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I feel your frustration!
Wait until you can acquire another Roofer as clearly this current isn’t interested and could pretend to fix out of spite?!
Reduce what you have to pay him based on what you believe the damage is?
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That’s definitely our preference, but finding options seems to be hard. My husband emailed 12 roofers the other day, 1 replied and he’s booked up til after Christmas (although we’ve still asked him to quote with the expectation of needing to put new scaffolding up). Well try calling them and keep looking for more but trades seem to be in such high demand in our area that we struggle to find any options let alone choose the best ones.
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The cost of scaffolding is in taking it up and down. So it might be cheaper to pay your current contractor for a few weeks hire to keep it up and not pay again to have it put up/taken down
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I suspect they can’t get a roofer in either, or knew they couldn’t and wanted the rest of the work anyway. It’s a bad time of year for that kind of work.
If someone doesn’t want to do the work or can’t, I usually don’t want to try and make them. I would rather the work was done well.
It’s really frustrating – all of this stuff puts me right off starting my bigger projects.
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How long is it since you started the works (contract)? You have to pay what is owed for works properly done so a decision to not do this to try to leverage some action is understandably tempting, though legally risky. They have clearly badly let you down on expectations “we will quote asap after scaf is up” but this doesn’t necessarily translate to legal right (and doesn’t appear to here). We offer a free 30 min Zoom to HOS members – let me know and hope this note helps you (and others in similar positions- regrettably far too often)
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thank you, the works started mid October, scaffold went up week of the 7th and they actually started work on the 17th. The windows aren’t due until the 18th of December and the guy on site I last spoke to said there would be no chance of getting second fix plumbing until some time in the new year. So the latest payment is for “roofed in” which I guess technically we are since windows aren’t mentioned in the payment schedule. That’s the last larger payment with around £2000 at the very end when second fix plumbing is done.
Totally understand that legally, we owe them money but it feels like it’s all give and no take from us at this point so we don’t know how else to make progress. The screen shot is just a few of the messages, there have been lots more from us, and conversations with the guys on site but they all say only the director can call the shots and he’s the one ignoring/avoiding us.
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