Having work done on your home can be very expensive, so no one wants to end up paying for unnecessary work or paying over the odds.
Your might like to visit our Finding a trader pages for advice on how to go about finding a trader you can trust.
What are my rights when I have work done on my home?
1.
If the work is agreed by you at home, you should be given Cancellation Rights
Where a contract is agreed between you and the trader in your home and the work will cost in excess of £35, in most cases you will have the right to cancel that contract within 7 days. This is the case whether or not the contract is in writing. The Citizens Advice website provides you with more advice when it comes to door-to-door sellers/tradespeople who call on you at home.
If you wish to report a trader who hasn’t given you your cancellation rights when he/she should have done, please contact The Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 0845 4040506.
2.
Work must be done with reasonable skill and care
The trader must use a reasonable level of care and skill when discussing the job with you in the first place and in carrying out the work. If they don’t, and you have some evidence of this, generally you should give the trader a chance to put the work right.
If the trader is unable or unwilling to put it right, you may be able to claim compensation for the cost of getting it put right by somebody else. If you have not already paid your bill, you could deduct this from what you owe them and pay what the job is worth.
If the trader suggested work should be done that is unnecessary or not appropriate, you may be able to deduct this from your bill or ask for compensation for the money you have wasted.
3. You should be charged the agreed price or, if a price was not agreed, at a reasonable price.
If the price was agreed beforehand, and work was carried out as agreed, then you are obliged to pay that price.
If there was no price agreed beforehand, then the law states that the trader must make a reasonable charge. The best guide for this is what other businesses would charge.
To avoid these problems make sure you get a written quotation before the work begins which sets out clearly what work will be done for what price.
4. The work should be done within the time agreed or, if a time was not agreed, within a reasonable time.
If the trader agreed a time to start and finish the job, then this is the time that they should stick to. If a timeframe was not agreed, the work should be completed within a reasonable time. A good guide would be how long someone else in their profession takes to do a similar job.
To avoid any confusion, make sure a time frame is agreed before the work begins, and where possible, get this in writing so that everyone is clear from the start. If a deadline is particularly crucial, make sure that you advise the trader that ‘time is of the essence’, and add this to the contract where possible so that you have proof of this.
How can I resolve a dispute with a trader?
View our pages on Resolving a dispute.
Where can I go for further advice?
You can find further advice about your rights when you buy services (such as having someone do some work on your home) on the Citizens Advice website. For specific advice on a particular issue, contact our partner organisation, The Citizens Advice Consumer Service, on 0845 4040506 for advice.