Sample Complaints Complaint against building works of very low standard
-Log of meeting of residents with council officer, surveyors and site manager.
Meeting on the 13th April 2006, concerning building works carried out in Woburn Place.
Participants :
Leaseholders:
Ricardo
Trevor
Mary
Visitors:
Katherine Hartfield and Daniel , from Dunlop Haywards
Angus, from contractors (not clear yet who they are exactly)
Jim Lord, from Brighton & Hove Council
10:00-Scheduled time to start
Leaseholders at the front of the building waiting
10:05
Angus and JL turned up and told us to wait for KH who was late
10:20
Daniel and KH arrived
10:25
We (leaseholders) complained about the painting of the railings on balconies and near door entrances.
Angus said that the damage was done deliberately. That view is reinforced by JL. Daniel also stated that damage was done by “impact” but couldn’t explain what could be the source of the impact.
We (leaseholders) complained about white marks in the wall, which haven’t been removed .
KH said that the job was only “partially successful” but that they would fully charge for it. She also explained that they have to pay for builders so that they have to charge for jobs independently of the outcome.
Angus and Daniel tried to convince us that the white marks have been removed and that it looks good.
We (leaseholders) refused to accept that view . Ricardo said that visitors were insulting our intelligence by trying to convince us that the wall is clean and that the job was properly carried out.
10:38
We all entered the building (number 14-20 entrance).
We (leaseholders) indicated that the flooring is broken at several points. Visitors – JL very eloquently- explained that the floor was not part of the contract. Ricardo showed the document “Schedules of Work” and explained that there has been a charge of £1520 to seal the floor and remove scuff marks, etc. JL, visibly upset, repeated the same thing: the floor is not part of the contract and the fact it is broken in several parts is not an issue. Ricardo asked how can you seal something that has bits missing. JL evaded the question and kept repeating the same thing.
10:43
We all moved to the backyard.
We (leaseholders) pointed out that the paint in all the railings is falling off. Visitors this time didn’t have an explanation and JL said that he will ask contractors to put it right.
We (leaseholders) pointed out the spots in the wall (as seem from the backyard) . Angus and Daniel tried to convince us that that is not a problem and that it looks as it was supposed to look.
Daniels said that wall was clean just after the job but now it got dirt again, and that what we should expect. Ricardo explains that that wall has never been cleaned and a little argument between Ricardo and Daniels followed: Daniel insists that the wall was clean right after completion of “works”. Subsequently, it arises that Daniel hasn’t ever been to the site before and his argument that the wall was clean right after the job looses credibility.
At this pointed Daniel lost his temper and became visibly angry. He raised his voices and pointed his finger towards Ricardo’s face, trying to explain his previous incoherent statements. Ricardo had to ask him to lower his voice and to remove his finger from near his face.
Angus said that the cost of this “service” was only about £600 , so that we shouldn’t be too worried about. We explain that we value our money and that this is a significant amount. This argument follows for a while until Ricardo says that he wouldn’t even pay a pound for this job because it was clearly a failure.
10:55
We all moved to the first ground floor balcony on Woburn Place.
We (leaseholders) pointed out that paint is falling off and even lots of rust are seen. No explanations were provided by visitors.
We (leaseholders) also pointed at large amount of paint scraps left by balcony. Daniel and KH explained that it happened because of the bush near by. We (leaseholders) also explained that scraps of blue paint are found all around the building. No words from visitors about this issue.
11:00
Mary had to leave us because she had an appointment elsewhere ( we were given a very short notice about this visit).
The rest of us carried on doing the inspection.
We (leaseholders) pointed to the roof at the end of the building next to Lewes Road, were some gross irregularities can be seen even from the ground.
After some reluctance , Daniel and Angus said that they will sort it out.
We all move to underneath the balcony of the number 19.
Ricardo explained that many tiles are loose in that region, and some of them keep falling off constantly. Builders already went a few times to push them back into place but they obviously fall again. Ricardo asked for the problem to be solved in a permanent way. He also pointed at other loose tiles. Angus , KH and Daniel explain that they will be glued with resin. Daniel also explained that the tiles that are sliding into the fascia, right above the balcony of number 19, will be pushed back into place and fixed up.
Ricardo explained that loose tiles on the roof are a serious hazard. Visitors tried to persuade him that it isn’t.
11:25
We all moved to the inside of the building, at the 2nd floor, were the roof and gutters can be seen more closely.
We (leaseholders) explained that the gutters are full of moss and we want it cleaned. We (leaseholders) also pointed out that the gutter is badly deformed.
JL said that he already ordered that job and that he doesn’t want to do it again. He said that he has got “more important things to do”. When Ricardo made a note of this comment he was told by JL : “ don’t write this Ricardo”.
Angus and KH claim that the gutter was clean right after the end of the “job” and that the amount of mud, moss and other debris in the gutter accumulated naturally. Ricardo explains that the gutter was never cleaned properly and that most of that waste inside it came from the roof.
In order to evade doing the job, Angus accuses Ricardo of putting up a ladder and depositing mud and moss on the gutters of the building.
After some argument visitors agree to clean the gutter.
KH says that the painting of the wall may “save your asses”.
11:40
End of meeting. Ricardo complained about the aggressive behaviour of some people.Visitors leave.
I have witnessed the events described above.
(signed by all residents present)