Building Dispute Solicitors.

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.

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 0203 007 5500 or email us at [email protected] and one of our team will gladly help.

The first step in resolving a building dispute is attempting to resolve the disagreement amicably by discussing the problem with the party in question. Discussing the situation can lead to a solution agreeable to 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 who hears both parties’ stories 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. 

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. 

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.

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.