Dealing with dodgy builders and decorators Sample letter
Use these sample letters to make a complaint. You can adapt the text if you are making your complaint by email or through the company's website.
To complain about poor workmanship or substandard goods or materials
If the builder is in England, Wales or Northern Ireland
Your address
Trader/ supplier address
Dear,
(Reference: contract number)
On (date) you carried out the following work at the above property: (details of the work carried out).
I have discovered the following problems: (details)
The Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982 states that the contract I have with you contains implied terms that; the work has to be carried out using reasonable skill and care, and that any goods supplied, or materials used must be of satisfactory quality, fit for their purpose and as described.
For the reasons detailed above you are in breach of contract and accordingly I would request that you contact me to make arrangements to carry out the necessary remedial work.
I look forward to hearing from you in the next seven days.
Yours sincerely,
If the builder is based in Scotland
Your address
Trader/ supplier address
Dear,
(Reference: contract number)
On (date) you carried out the following work at the above property: (details of items fitted).
I have discovered the following problems: (details)
The common law states that the work had to be carried out using reasonable skill and care. Further The Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982 states that any goods supplied as part of the contract and any materials used, must be of satisfactory quality, fit for their purpose and as described.
For the reasons detailed above you are in breach of contract and accordingly I would request that you contact me to make arrangements to carry out the necessary remedial work.
I look forward to hearing from you in the next seven days.
Yours sincerely,
If the contractor does not respond and you want poor workmanship put right
Your address
Trader/ supplier address
Dear,
(Reference: contract number)
I write further to my letter dated (date) regarding problems with the work carried out at the above property on (date).
I am disappointed that you have not contacted me to make arrangements for the remedial work to be carried out and as you will appreciate this matter must now be brought to a conclusion.
As stated in my previous letter you are in breach of contract and I am entitled to request that you carry out the necessary remedial work. I am prepared to allow you a further 7 days to reconsider your position and to confirm that remedial work will commence within 14 days. Should I not receive this confirmation I will be left with no alternative but to instruct another contractor to carry out the necessary remedial work and should you refuse to reimburse the sum incurred, I will have no alternative but to take a claim through the courts to recover this outlay from you.
In closing I hope that this course of action will not be necessary but as stated above I must hear from you within the next seven days.
Yours sincerely,
