Need legal advice now from a building dispute solicitor?
Call, email or provide us with a few details of your matter, and we’ll help you arrange an initial consultation. You’ll get:
- Unlimited time to discuss your building dispute with an experienced building dispute solicitor
- An outline of your legal position
- A clear fee-quote and time frame to resolve your dispute
In-house civil mediation available
Experienced negotiators and expert litigators
Experts at settling matter before court
Litigation options available for building disputes
Commonly asked questions on building disputes.
Building disputes are amongst one of the most common types of commercial property disputes, and we receive many questions from clients regarding the topic. Therefore, our building dispute solicitors based in London and Brighton have answered some of the most commonly asked questions regarding building disputes.
1. What is a building dispute?
A building dispute is a disagreement that arises when a party to a construction contract fails or is perceived to not complete the work in line with the legal and contractual obligations. An example of this could be a builder not complying with the agreed building contract that he has agreed with a homeowner or business.
2. What are the most common types of building disputes?
If you’re unsure whether you need the help of a building dispute solicitor, we have presented some of the most common matter types we can assist in:
- A verbal agreement with a builder
- Building contract errors
- Disputes over the contractor payments
- Professional negligence (builders, contractors, architects, surveyors, engineers)
- Work completed to a poor degree
- Unfinished work
- Building work running late or delayed
- Poor quality materials used by the contractors to complete the project.
If you’re still unsure whether you have a building dispute case, give us a call on 020 3007 5500 or email us at info@brittontime.com and one of our team will gladly help.
3. How do you resolve a building dispute?
The first step of resolving a building dispute is by attempting to resolve the disagreement amicably by discussing the problem with the party in question. Discussing the situation can lead to a solution agreeable by both parties.
If the dispute cannot be resolved amicably there are several processes that can be used to resolve a building dispute. These processes include:
- Mediation
Mediation involves a neutral person (a mediator) that is impartial. The mediator helps the parties involved find a solution that can be agreed upon by all the parties involved.
- Arbitration
Arbitration is an out-of-court method for resolving a building dispute. The arbitrator is a neutral decision-maker that hears both parties story and then makes a decision about the matter.
- Adjudication
Finally, if the above is unsuccessful, adjudication can be used to reach a legal decision. Adjudication is a process that can be used to resolve a building dispute through the court or justice system.
4. How long does a builder have to fix defects?
In the UK, a builder or construction firm is liable for their work for as long as the contract stipulates. Typically, the time scale ranges depending on the work completed as long as it is mutually agreed upon, and in the contract, it can be negotiated.
Typically, homeowners will receive the following time scales for defects:
- 12 months for labour and material defects
- 2 years for mechanical defects (plumbing, heating, electrical and ventilation).
- 10 years for structural defects
In the case where a contract hasn’t been formed, and poor workmanship has been carried out, don’t worry. Paying for building services creates a contract, even if nothing is documented in writing.
5. What if I can't locate the builder?
If you have recently had building work completed and are unable to locate or contact the builder there is a chance they have closed their company. In some cases, builders will attempt to leave work unfinished and avoid clients by changing their name and leaving the local town. For cases like these, we always suggest contacting a solicitor as they can help pursue legal action to resolve the matter.
6. How much does it cost to resolve a building dispute?
In a building dispute matter, the cost depends on the type and severity of the dispute. Therefore, our solicitors will always require an initial consultation first.
In this initial consultation, our solicitors guarantee:
- Unlimited time to discuss the details of your building dispute and ask any questions you may have.
- An overview of your legal standpoint and available options.
- A clear time and fee estimate for your building dispute.
To contact one of our building dispute solicitors, please call us on 020 3007 5500.
Need legal advice now from building dispute solicitors in London or Brighton?
Tell us about your case and we’ll get back to you the same day.
Meet your building dispute solicitors.
Paul Britton
Head of Commercial Property
Joseph Navas
Building Dispute Solicitor
Sophie Campbell-Adams
Building Dispute Solicitor
Rory Lindsay
Building Dispute Trainee Solicitor
Paul Britton
Head of Commercial Property
Joseph Navas
Building Disputes Solicitor
Sophie Campbell-Adams
Building Dispute Solicitor
Rory Lindsay
Building Dispute Solicitor
Why Britton and Time Solicitors?
Building disputes are our speciality. Our building dispute solicitors have worked on various building disputes, which have given our solicitors an abundance of knowledge and experience in these processes. When it comes to your specific building dispute matters, we’ll always guarantee:
Award-Winning Service.
You are our priority, and the law is our speciality. Our award-winning building dispute solicitors in London and Brighton ensure you know exactly where you stand from a legal perspective so you can make a well-informed decision.
Full Billing Transparency.
No fee surprises. Ever. Our building dispute solicitors will inform you from the outset on how much your case will cost, and we will do everything in our power to keep costs down and within your original fee estimate.
Regular Communication.
With fortnightly updates on your case, you’ll never be left in the dark. Our building dispute solicitors in London and Brighton ensure you know exactly how your case is progressing and are with you every step of the way.
Our reviews.
It’s not about how good we think our building disputes solicitors services are; it’s about what you think.
Will to Win
There are three things that make Britton & Time, and in particular Paul, stand apart from other law firms: knowledge, communication and a will to win.
Rated excellent by over 95% of our clients.
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Need legal advice now from building dispute solicitors in London or Brighton?
Call, email or provide us with a few details of your matter, and we’ll be able to help you the same day.