Dealing with tradesmen
Download a copy of this Dealing with tradesmen guide for yourself
To try and minimise the disruption, you should consider the following:
- research the tradesmen you're thinking of hiring
- get three quotes from different tradesmen to make sure you've selected the most competitive quote
- get recommendations from family and friends
- ask the tradesmen if you can inspect previous work they've done, or ask to see a portfolio of their work
Once you've instructed the tradesmen, we recommend you agree the following in writing:
- the work you'd like carried out
- how long it'll take
- how much it'll cost and when payment is due
What you should do if things go wrong:
- ask the tradesman to stop working immediately
- discuss your complaint with the tradesman
- get a second opinion of the tradesman's work and consider obtaining an expert's report
- go back to the tradesman showing him a copy of the expert's report and try to resolve the matter amicably
If you can't resolve the matter successfully you should:
- consider bringing the matter as a small claim in your local county court if the sum is less than £5,000
- consider instructing a solicitor if the sum is more than £5,000. Contact one of our specialists with all of your documentation and supporting evidence and we'll be happy to assist
For further information regarding professional disputes, please visit our page.
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