Builder did a bad job? How to claim through small claims court

Most claims fall into one of these patterns. Identify yours — it shapes your evidence and the remedy you should ask for.

Work falls below the standard a competent builder in that trade would meet. Cracking, leaks, uneven finishes, materials wrong for the job.

Builder takes payment in stages, then disappears or refuses to return after a stage. Common where they took a deposit upfront.

Final invoice is far higher than the quote without justification. A quote is binding; an estimate is not — but a builder cannot inflate without good reason.

Builder damaged something existing while doing the work — flooring, plaster, plumbing. Their public liability insurance should cover this; if not, it is a contract claim.

Cheaper kitchen fitted instead of what you specified. Different tiles. Lower-spec boiler. Worth less than what you paid for.

Builder did a bad job? How to claim through small claims court

Common builder disputes

Consumer Rights Act 2015

, building services to consumers must be performed with

reasonable care and skill

(section 49) — the standard expected of a competent professional in that trade. If the work falls short, you have three remedies:

• — the trader puts it right at no extra cost
• — partial refund reflecting the diminished value
• Rejection and refund
• — if the breach is so serious that repair is impossible or impractical

Materials supplied as part of the service must also be of satisfactory quality (s.55) — the same protection as goods you buy.