We live in a council property and they took on a new repairs contractor, Inspace Partnerships in November 2006, 5 year contract. Since then, the work that has needed to be done has been a nightmare. To cut a long and painful story short, today when they reattached the radiator in the bathroom, they screwed straight through the wall, directly next to my 1 year olds cot, level with her head - SHE WAS IN THERE TRYING TO HAVE A NAP! The holes are 4 inch in diameter, they've left rubble everywhere. It was lucky that the screwdriver didn't kill or hurt her.
These contractors have proven they are consistantly incompetent, the only few decent workers being agency and I have very good reasons not to want them in my house. They cause more damage than they correct and the council aren't interested. "Teething problems" apparently. The management at Inspace only seem to be interested in brushing stuff under the carpet too. Is there anything I can legally do about it?
2007-02-21 00:01:41 · 6 answers · asked by keiraebony 3 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
I've written to the chief executive, unfortunately he moved from another council and had actually recommended inspace to this council, so I don't hold out much hope with that!
I've told them when they're here, it makes no difference! I've rang their supervisor, he was here when the water flooded the kitchen following a bath being replaced. The plumber hadn't done anything up or sealed anything, it was still a fight to get my flooded microwave sorted out.
There was an article in the Basildon Echo newspaper I found on google earlier, same problems with the same contractor, doesn't appear to have helped them much!
2007-02-21 00:17:39 · update #1
Just got to speak to the supervisor, he said just let the plasterer patch it up and he'll be out tomorrow morning. From past experience, he normally says "well, its fixed now so it doesn't matter". As for asking for a guarantee its a good idea, but I've done that, the supervisor stood in my house with the council inspector and gave me his personal guarantee that nothing would go majorly wrong again. That was about a month ago! He's not bothered and he knows nobody can get out from the council for 2 days to inspect the damage. He tried to blame the wall, said it wasn't the fault of the workman, said the wall needs replacing - we've never had a problem with it though, even when attaching heavyish mirrors to the bathroom wall!
2007-02-21 01:24:15 · update #2
The mp idea is a good one, I shall look into that! Thanks!
2007-02-21 03:37:12 · update #3
photgraph the work then send the photos to your county councilor and tell them they are paying for rubbish work.
Find your local councilor and maybe involve the health and safty people local papers new desks will always be interested in this stuff.
2007-02-21 00:15:49 · answer #1 · answered by yahooisawastofspaceremoveme 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your personal property has been damaged. Sue them for that, as long as you can prove it. Refuse to sign until YOU are satisfied that the job, and clearing up is done. The individual workers work on a job list that needs to be signed.
Contacts with other people who have had shoddy work and or damage caused to their personal property. 1 person doesn't make a difference, the more people the louder the noise. The chances are eventually with luck they will lose the contract.
Contact watchdog, and rouge traders. If lucky the y may take an interest. But you'll need a lot of complaints for this.
2007-02-21 12:16:49 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you feel that bad about them don't let them into your house until you get some form of guarantee that the work will be done properly,your paying the rent on the house so with hold it until you get an answer from the council,Then sue the company for bad workman ship.
2007-02-21 00:54:12 · answer #3 · answered by Mea 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'd put my concerns in writing to the Council - they'll then have to reply in writing, which sometimes shaprens the mind.
Your local paper may also be interested...?
2007-02-21 00:06:23 · answer #4 · answered by Marzipan 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
ask your local MP to come and inspect it all councils do not like them interfering in their affairs also let thecouncil know in advance what you intend doing you will be suprised at the rapid responce you will get
2007-02-21 03:00:58 · answer #5 · answered by 808fl 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Don't do the British thing of nodding and saying OK when they ask 'Is everything OK', don't let them leave till they do a decent job and don't sign anything!
2007-02-21 00:11:24 · answer #6 · answered by barryboys 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋