Last November, I spent over £500.00 having repairs done to the bay window roof and main roof on my property and have an invoice detailing work done and amount paid.

In June this year I noticed a small damp patch on the ceiling under the baywindow, I contacted the contractor who carried ou the work and eventually he sent someone to look at the roof and then advised me they had refastened the lead flashing and all should be ok. A couple of weeks later we had a heavy rain fall and an this time quite a lot of water came through and wet the lounge floor, I again rang the builder concerned who did come out and look but tried to convince me the problem was not the bay roof but pointing! I also contacted my insurance company at this point as we had another leak in the bathroom ceiling due to cement being washed out from between the ridging tiles, another job the same contrator had done.

Because the ceiling by this time had bowed due to water damage and the builder was taking no reponsibility, I contacted The insurance company, they sent out a builder to check that the ceiling was safe and to stop further water leaking through and a surveyor a few days later. The claim was refused by the insurance as they put it down to wear and tear even though I had proof we had had maintenance work carried out less than 12 months previously.

A week after this, during further heavy rain and thunder storm, the ceiling collapsed under the bay window causing damage to contents. I contacted the insurers again and they have agreed to cover the cost of damage to the contents under accidental damage but not the repair to the building. So far it has cost me £2,000 to get the neccessary work done to repair the damage to the building. Although I am informed that I can make a claim through the court against the builder doing the original work; this will obvioulsy take time and cost me more money and there is no gaurantee I will recover the costs.

Do I have any further claim against the insurance in these circumstances; particularly as they sent a builder out to check and make safe the ceiling a week before it collpased, as I do feel that the extent of the damage that occured could have been prevented if it had been attended to correctly at this time as the ceiling obviously was not safe.

Any advice would be helpful on what I should do next......

Hi

Insurance does not cover faulty workmanship/materials or wear and tear. From what you have said the Insurers have acted correctly. If you do no think Insurers have acted fairly and have any evidence to assist you, make a complaint to them and if not satisfied after 8 weeks, you can go to the Financial Ombudsman.

You could arrange for another builder or surevyor to independently check the condition of the roofing and work done by the builder. If the work is not found to be up to standard, you could opt to take the builder responsible to the small claims court, if they will not make right any bad workmanship. If your Home Insurance has the legal expenses option, they may help with this process. If no legal expenses cover, have a look at the small claims court guide on the Citizens Advice site. http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/index/your_rights/legal_system/small_claims.htm

Did the builder who carried out the bay window work, provide any Insurance to cover faulty workmanship. When I have had any work done, the builder has provided an independent Insurance policy to cover the works.

Huckster

Thanks for your response, I am in contact with Trading Standards at present in an attempt to try and take the builder responsible to the small claims court and have a folder of evidence to prove the work he did was unsatisfactory, it has been checked by two other builders, both citing faults.

I have also had to pay to have the roof re-done as he was unwilling to respond to my requests to put right the faults (although whether I would have trusted him to do so is another matter). The last recorded letter I sent to him regarding the issue came back to me as he had refused to take delivery of! Which makes me think it could be alot of effort for nothing.

I do feel let down by the insurers since they sent a builder out to ensure the ceiling was safe...only for the ceiling to collapse a week later, so I can't help but wonder if he had have done so whether some of the costs and damage would have been avoided, so may try and persue that with them.

The moral of this story is to check all trademen out I guess! I have now thankfully found a reputable builder, who is putting right all the damage and making a great job. So good tradesmen do exist...just difficult to find.