advice sought - new build - engineer

lazeedaisy

Hi guys,

Long story boring - we are nearing the end of what turned out to be a major major way of how not to build a new house, but thankfully persevered. I got involved in finishing the house as hubby got too sick but I had not been involved in the process at all - think of me as a blonde femail who knows nothig about building, renewables - anything in fact and my retention span is that of a gnat.

Our engineer left the country and left a colleague in charge of finishing our build, I had been in touch about getting things done but the guy was always hesitant, i have been 9 months trying to get anything out of him,

NOW my builder only has the snagging to do and while i keep asking my engineer when the air tightness test needs to be done - he keeps ignoring my questions, I have emails going back nearly a year.

1. Does my builder need to be there when the air tightness test needs to be carried out?

2. the colleague who took over thinks we did not pay enough to the original guy (??) and now wants more money - but to be honest I am in hock up to my ears sorting out a bankrupt builder that I cannot afford to bless myself.

Do I just decide to get a new guy in - find the money somehow and sue the original guy?

Hubby is still very sick and I cant bother him with stupid questions, I dont have anyone on my side as its been a horrible period of hell and people think i am mad staying with the bankrupt builder and I cant really tell people how awful its really been.

I have asked the engineer for a copy of his complaints policy to start the process but that was 4 months ago - neiither of them have replied to my emails and I dont know what to so to finish tis house which in truth has been going on now for 3 years - most of it was hellish,

I would appreciate any advice as the engineer was to do all the regs and the BER even though the guy who was to do the BER upped anad went to USA - what kind of position am i in if I have paid and am getting nothing in return,


edit:
i deleted your duplicate thread.

if you have something new to add either edit this first post, or add the new information as a new post here please
sydthebeat

sydthebeat

what do you need this engineer to do for you at this stage??

just sign off and provide certification?
have you paid the original engineer what was owed to date?
have you receipts or proof of payment? have you a copy of original quote?

you say 'neither of them have replied', are you still in contact with the original engineer?

has the new engineer provided you with a written quote on what its going to cost you for his services to finalise certification and provide the BER certification?

on the air tightness test, i would be a good idea for the builder to be on site when the test is being carried out.... with a caulk gun in hand
he will see areas where there is leakage and can deal with them on the spot. it will be as much an eduction for him, as a process to being paid.

lazeedaisy

what do you need this engineer to do for you at this stage??
just sign off and provide certification?

yes, and the BER and the air tighness test - I thinks thats all as i said I'm blonde and useless really,

have you paid the original engineer what was owed to date?

yes everything

have you receipts or proof of payment? have you a copy of original quote?

Have receipts to both bills and the bills, no quote as hubby would have worked with that and i never found it

you say 'neither of them have replied', are you still in contact with the original engineer?

The original guy is the owner of the business - he left somein in charge when he left

has the new engineer provided you with a written quote on what its going to cost you for his services to finalise certification and provide the BER certification?

no - I would not engage him as he works for the same company i paid

on the air tightness test, i would be a good idea for the builder to be on site when the test is being carried out.... with a caulk gun in hand
he will see areas where there is leakage and can deal with them on the spot. it will be as much an eduction for him, as a process to being paid.

Thanks - will have to sort it

or I just might cry! LOL wonder if that would work!

ha ha

thanks for the prompt response

sydthebeat

so just to be clear, you had someone else set up to provide the BER cert, but is now gone to usa. So this engineer will provide the BER as an additional service?

lazeedaisy

Hi apologies

sorry for the confusion:

the company that was hired as the engineers to help with the house was a small one - and they had only one person there who could do BER.

First off the boss upped and left to pastures new due to the decline in business here but wanted to keep his company ticking over so had someone else take charge of our account.

The new guy himself could not do the BER but they had a trainee who they charged me full price to do a BER (which i only found out afterwards). Once the trainee was fully qualified he headed stateside and they no longer had anyone to do them, but they did say they would get it sorted for me.

I have paid for the air test, BER, snag list, and completion certificates with the one company

Hope this is clear