Who can I report cowboy builders to?

[shower]

I purchased a house that was renovated by a property developer but over the 2 years i have lived here i have found some shocking and dangerous things that he has done in renovating the property, culminating in finding an allegedly brand new boiler that needs to be condemned as he fitted it unsafely. Who can i report him to?

[Octavius]

Lets for now ignore any points about professional opinions, as these should be sought if you intend on lambasting a developer or any business (be sure of your facts) - are you certain that what you are seeing/ are being told contravenes any rules and regulations or laws?

If you are, then I would suggest that you start by finding out details of the company and who they are registered with etc (Federation of Master Builders, CORGI etc). Then I would approach your local council and speak to perhaps someone in building control who might have approved the works. Secondly I would contact the organisations that they are registered with and lodge your complaint/concerns - who knows they may be able to send out someone who will advise further.

[jake-the-peg]

Did you get a full structural survey done before you bought the house?

[pilotlight]

shower, Presumably, it was a Corgi registered engineer who informed you that the boiler had been installed incorrectly and is unsafe. The engineer / company should now issue a RIDDOR, ( the reporting of injuries, diseases and dangerous occurrences regulations ). This report goes to the Health and Safety Executive.

Gas boilers should be serviced / inspected at least every twelve months. Not meaning to sound authorative, but if you had been aware of this, you would have found out about your boiler at least a year ago.

Regarding your other issues, why not contact the solicitor who carried out your conveyancing, who in turn could contact the building surveyor who was paid to provide an accurate report of the building you were about to purchase.

[Bluemukka]

Caveat emptor

Sorry not very helpful but seeing as it was a renovation job (not a new build) you have no guarantee. A full structural survey (not a homebyuers one) would have picked things up.

Also, 2 years after purchase is a long ime, can you prove that these things/defects where there when you purchased the house?

[shower]

Unfortunately I had a homebuyers report instead of the full structural survey and rather than testing the boiler they just looked at it by the sounds of things.

[jake-the-peg]

Ah, that's a pity but sadly not that uncommon.

A thousand pounds plus sounds like a lot for a full structural but its mostly less than a percent of what you pay for a house!

I guess your only faint chance if if here was any form of misrepresentation - like telling you something that he knew to be untrue and even then you'd probably need to have it in writing.

I think you may have to chalk it up to experience and learn for next tme