Start My Claim
How to claim against a builder, plumber, or tradesperson for shoddy work, abandoned jobs, overcharging, or property damage. Consumer Rights Act protections and step-by-step claim guide.
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.
How to claim against a builder or tradesperson through small claims court
Steps to take when a builder has done shoddy work, abandoned the job, or overcharged you.
Document the defects
Take dated photographs of all defective work. Get an independent quote from another trader for the cost of putting it right.
Write to the trader formally
Set out each defect or breach in writing, reference the Consumer Rights Act 2015 (services must be carried out with reasonable care and skill), and give 14 days to remedy or respond.
Get an independent remedial quote
Obtain at least one written quote from a reputable alternative trader for the remedial works. This is your primary evidence of quantum.
Send a Letter Before Action
If unresolved, send a formal Letter Before Action giving a final 14 days before you issue court proceedings.
File via Money Claim Online
Issue the claim via MCOL. Claim the cost of remedial works, any damage to the property, and court fees. Attach your evidence bundle.
Common builder disputes
Most claims fall into one of these patterns. Identify yours — it shapes your evidence and the remedy you should ask for.
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.