Problem of dishonest contractors

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networkn

Networkn
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#3158548 12-Nov-2023 12:34

tweake:

only works if the 2nd inspector not mates etc and then you also have the problem of many things being hidden eg behind the gib. that would only pick up a major problem with one inspector after the damage is done and the inspector goes fines a new job while the home owner has a nitemare to deal with. the issues need to be found when they can still be corrected.

Yeah, but ultimately, we need to start somewhere. Doing nothing, because you can find flaws in a plan, means you make perfection the enemy of progress.

Ge0rge

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#3158603 12-Nov-2023 12:53

networkn:
Bung:

I don't know if it is "looking after". The stories I hear are of incompetence. A neighbour is waiting for compliance sign off. The council have now decided that even though their inspector checked the specified 1m x 1m x 1m holes for the piles before the concrete was poured he wasn't qualified enough and it should have been an engineer. The time for design 2nd thoughts should be before the plans are approved.

I'd support the council in this instance. Since the council ultimately holds some responsibility, if they feel the inspection wasn't to spec from a mistake they made, good on them for having identified that, and for insisting it's checked properly.

If they didn't and it wasn't correct, then the home owner wouldn't thank them for their lack of care later.

I'm a bit confused as to why you're backing the council here. They way I read it:

- The Council sent "their man" around to measure some holes.
- The person measured the holes and said yup, that's a cube, carry on.
- The holes were filled with concrete and the build continued.
- The house is finished and the owners now want a CCC.
- The Council are having second thoughts about the previously inspected holes, that are now full of concrete and under a house, so rather hard to "re-inspect".

I'd be really dark as the owner in this situation too! Just how qualified do you need to be to stick a tape measure in a hole and take a photo to show that it's big enough?

networkn

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#3158605 12-Nov-2023 13:08

I'm a bit confused as to why you're backing the council here. They way I read it:

- The Council sent "their man" around to measure some holes.
- The person measured the holes and said yup, that's a cube, carry on.
- The holes were filled with concrete and the build continued.
- The house is finished and the owners now want a CCC.
- The Council are having second thoughts about the previously inspected holes, that are now full of concrete and under a house, so rather hard to "re-inspect".

I'd be really dark as the owner in this situation too! Just how qualified do you need to be to stick a tape measure in a hole and take a photo to show that it's big enough?

Yup, I just totally misread the original post it seems. Not sure how I garnered what I did from what was written, but yes, it's a bit late now. I thought it was quite a bit earlier in the piece.

Bung

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#3158606 12-Nov-2023 13:11

Ge0rge:

- The Council are having second thoughts about the previously inspected holes, that are now full of concrete and under a house, so rather hard to "re-inspect".

I'd be really dark as the owner in this situation too! Just how qualified do you need to be to stick a tape measure in a hole and take a photo to show that it's big enough?

Exactly. The house was built off site and moved there. Nobody has yet been able to tell the owner whether or not it will have to be lifted and the piles redone.

Handle9

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#3158693 12-Nov-2023 18:11

networkn:
Handle9:

It will just be a line item cost for the client. The dodgy ones will charge it and never actually do the work anyway so it doesn't solve the problem.

Yeah, it needs enforcement. It's a cost, but overall, I think it's needed. It's a hugely problematic area and has been for a long time. If we change nothing, nothing changes.

It would need to be managed by central Government. No chance local councils could police or financially manage it.

Are dodgy contractors a huge problem? I don’t think they are. There are dodgy contractors out there but the vast majority of projects are completed and the contractor and the client reach an outcome which is acceptable.

The biggest issues in domestic construction are around cost and speed. Introducing more cost and slowing down projects even more will be a net negative impact.

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