Ref: 2363
Filed: 04/10/2023
Accused Company:
ACCESS LOFT CONVERSIONS LIMITED
File a Dispute against this companyCompany number: gb-10063756
UNIT 1 STEPHENSON COURT, SKIPPERS LANE INDUSTRIAL ESTATE, MIDDLESBROUGH, ENGLAND, TS6 6UT
United Kingdom
Allegation: Unfulfilled contract
Value: GBP 2,760.00
Dispute details:
Access Loft Conversion: Defective Construction & Breach of Contract - With proof from surveyor.
We wrote to Access Lofts:
As per our signed agreement in 2015, your company was entrusted with the responsibility of constructing our loft conversion in accordance with industry standards, local building codes, and the specifications outlined in our contract.
On the 18th of May 2021, our home was struck by lightning and suffered extensive fire and water damage. The home required an extensive re-build, which took place in early 2022. Upon re-building the loft, it was identified on inspection (Reference enclosed- OPP-066673) that some of the work Access Lofts carried out fell significantly short of the agreed-upon standards and has resulted in numerous defects and deficiencies, which we had to personally pay for as an extra, whilst the house was re-built. We have ensured the work is complete and the structure now sound.
Additional comment: (Stroma BC lead surveyor) – ‘…..The defects noted should be rectified before progressing with work that would cover over these items…..’ NB # work stopped on the project until this item was completed.
Please note reference to ABE Services Ltd Remedial Works to loft floor (see attached - pictures and proof of evidence supplied)
- Drill and fix existing ashlar wall plate to steel at 800mm centres at plate is loose on the plate.
- Brick/block in ends of steel beam so steel beam is built into the masonry
- Fix existing beam to spreader plates with bolts, again as it's loose.
- Existing loft joists Fix the loose joist trimmer inside the web of the steel, the timmer will be fixed at 800mm centres with m12 bolts incl Install extra joists as existing so we have 400mm centres incl Noggin timber joists throughout
It is evident that your company has breached the terms of our contract and has failed to fulfill its obligations.
..........................................................................................................................................................................
Access Reply: Access Reply;
With regards to the work on the loft if you had any concerns around this you should have first contacted us so we could arrange to come out and inspect and if needed make any necessary repairs. We will not be responsible to any loss if we are not first consulted and we have had the opportunity to put it right.
..........................................................................................................................................................................
Our Second Reply;
We appreciate your standpoint, however we will not be letting this matter go away. We had appointed a builder for an extensive re-build and waited several months without a home, whilst in a rental property. All works had to be started and completed within timescales.
When we were contacted, the message was 'work will stop' if you do not authorise the fixes - we would have risked the whole rebuild slipping and us being further out of pocket.
At this point, we did not need any further inconvenience, it was quite a predicament to be in and we had lost faith in the work provided by Access. It did not feel right to contact you and have you on site, with another team of builders who were appointed by our insurers. To delay would have meant, potentially being without anywhere to live, as our rental property was on a fixed year rental.
Had we not have had the house fire, we would have potentially never have known the issues existed. The evidence, photographs, survey and us paying for remedial work points to the problem. We do not have the time to chase issues that are not there. We were in a very unique situation, losing every posession - this is not in any way to go down an 'emotional or vulnerable route' - but why would we contact you, to get into an argument about the original build.
We are seeking rightful resolution to out of pocket expenses, to avoid a job being delayed. If there is nothing you are willing to do, we will be seeking further advice to get to the right equitable outcome.
Upon completion of our loft, we were advocates of Access Lofts and recommended three builds on our estate following how happy we were with service.
We are asking to be compensated for £2,750, which is what we are out of pocket to fix the work,
As per our signed agreement in 2015, your company was entrusted with the responsibility of constructing our loft conversion in accordance with industry standards, local building codes, and the specifications outlined in our contract.
On the 18th of May 2021, our home was struck by lightning and suffered extensive fire and water damage. The home required an extensive re-build, which took place in early 2022. Upon re-building the loft, it was identified on inspection (Reference enclosed- OPP-066673) that some of the work Access Lofts carried out fell significantly short of the agreed-upon standards and has resulted in numerous defects and deficiencies, which we had to personally pay for as an extra, whilst the house was re-built. We have ensured the work is complete and the structure now sound.
Additional comment: (Stroma BC lead surveyor) – ‘…..The defects noted should be rectified before progressing with work that would cover over these items…..’ NB # work stopped on the project until this item was completed.
Please note reference to ABE Services Ltd Remedial Works to loft floor (see attached - pictures and proof of evidence supplied)
- Drill and fix existing ashlar wall plate to steel at 800mm centres at plate is loose on the plate.
- Brick/block in ends of steel beam so steel beam is built into the masonry
- Fix existing beam to spreader plates with bolts, again as it's loose.
- Existing loft joists Fix the loose joist trimmer inside the web of the steel, the timmer will be fixed at 800mm centres with m12 bolts incl Install extra joists as existing so we have 400mm centres incl Noggin timber joists throughout
It is evident that your company has breached the terms of our contract and has failed to fulfill its obligations.
..........................................................................................................................................................................
Access Reply: Access Reply;
With regards to the work on the loft if you had any concerns around this you should have first contacted us so we could arrange to come out and inspect and if needed make any necessary repairs. We will not be responsible to any loss if we are not first consulted and we have had the opportunity to put it right.
..........................................................................................................................................................................
Our Second Reply;
We appreciate your standpoint, however we will not be letting this matter go away. We had appointed a builder for an extensive re-build and waited several months without a home, whilst in a rental property. All works had to be started and completed within timescales.
When we were contacted, the message was 'work will stop' if you do not authorise the fixes - we would have risked the whole rebuild slipping and us being further out of pocket.
At this point, we did not need any further inconvenience, it was quite a predicament to be in and we had lost faith in the work provided by Access. It did not feel right to contact you and have you on site, with another team of builders who were appointed by our insurers. To delay would have meant, potentially being without anywhere to live, as our rental property was on a fixed year rental.
Had we not have had the house fire, we would have potentially never have known the issues existed. The evidence, photographs, survey and us paying for remedial work points to the problem. We do not have the time to chase issues that are not there. We were in a very unique situation, losing every posession - this is not in any way to go down an 'emotional or vulnerable route' - but why would we contact you, to get into an argument about the original build.
We are seeking rightful resolution to out of pocket expenses, to avoid a job being delayed. If there is nothing you are willing to do, we will be seeking further advice to get to the right equitable outcome.
Upon completion of our loft, we were advocates of Access Lofts and recommended three builds on our estate following how happy we were with service.
We are asking to be compensated for £2,750, which is what we are out of pocket to fix the work,
Attempts to resolve dispute:
2 emails to Access Lofts
Response to accusation (by accused):
Nothing Filed yet
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