How Long Do I Have to Complain About Building Work?
Raise a problem as soon as you notice it. The warranty and the law both give you longer, but an early complaint is the one most easily resolved.
The short answer
Complain as soon as you notice the problem. Early complaints are the easiest to settle.
There is no fixed deadline for telling a builder something is wrong, and you should raise it as soon as you notice it, in writing. Separately, two other time frames apply. Your contractor's workmanship warranty lasts for a set period, usually counted from completion. And the law sets time limits for bringing a claim to court, which differ between England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland and depend on the kind of claim. Citizens Advice explains the limits that currently apply where you live.
In practice, the legal limits are rarely what decides the outcome. What decides it is how quickly the contractor hears about the problem, how clearly it is described, and whether you can show when you first raised it. This page explains the three clocks, and what to do on the day you notice something.
Three different clocks
The practical clock, the warranty clock and the legal clock
The practical clock starts the day you notice. A small leak left for a winter becomes damp plaster, then a damaged ceiling. The longer a fault sits, the harder it is to say what caused it and how much of the damage came from the original work. Contractors also respond better to a problem reported promptly, while the job is fresh in their mind and before they have moved on to other work.
The warranty clock runs from the date in the warranty. A workmanship warranty is a written promise from the contractor to put right faults in their work for a stated period. Read the wording. Some warranties ask you to report a fault within a certain time of discovering it, or in a particular way, such as in writing. Our guide to workmanship warranties explains what they usually cover, and how long a workmanship warranty lasts covers the typical periods.
The legal clock is set by law, not by the contractor. There are time limits for starting a court claim over a broken contract or careless work. They vary between the UK nations, between different types of claim, and according to when the time is treated as starting. Problems that stay hidden for a while can be treated differently again. Because the details matter and can change, check the current position with Citizens Advice, or with a solicitor if the amount involved is significant.
What to keep in mind
Three habits that keep your options open
Report it when you see it
Even if you are not sure it is a fault, mention it. A message saying "we have noticed this, can you take a look?" costs nothing and puts a date on the record.
Read the warranty wording
Note when it started, when it ends and how faults should be reported. If you do not have the terms in writing, ask for them now, before you need them.
Don't wait on the legal limit
A legal time limit is the outer edge, not a target. Waiting close to it leaves little room to try the simpler routes first, and they usually work better.
On the day you notice
What to do straight away
Note the date and what you saw
Write down when you first noticed the problem and what drew your attention to it: a stain, a draught, a crack, a sound.
Take photographs
Photograph it from a distance and close up. If it may change, such as a damp patch, photograph it again over the following days.
Tell the contractor in writing
An email or a letter is best. Describe the problem, attach photographs and ask when they can come and look. Raising a complaint with a builder has a simple structure to follow.
Keep a copy and diary the follow-up
If you have not heard back within a few days, follow up in writing, referring to your first message and its date. The guide to keeping evidence and records covers what else is worth saving.
If time has already passed
Noticed something late? Raise it anyway
Many faults only show themselves months after a job is finished: a slow leak in heavy rain, a crack as materials settle, a seal that fails after its first winter. Noticing late is normal and it is not a reason to stay quiet. Raise it in the same way, explain when you first saw it, and check whether it falls within the warranty period.
If the problem is outside the warranty, you may still have rights under consumer law, because a warranty generally adds to your legal rights rather than replacing them. Whether a claim is still possible depends on the facts and the time limits that apply. If the sums are significant, read when should I get legal advice? before deciding what to do.
This is general information, not legal advice. Time limits differ across the UK and by type of claim. Citizens Advice and GOV.UK set out the current rules.
If you use Mortaro
Tell us whenever you notice something
On a project Mortaro coordinates, contact us by phone or email as soon as you notice a problem, with photographs if you can. We raise it with your contractor on your behalf, push for a visit and keep you updated. There is no point at which it is too late to ask us.
Your workmanship warranty is provided by your contractor, a minimum of 12 months across our network and usually running from completion, with longer periods typical on larger works. The exact terms are in your quotation. Putting things right explains how we escalate.
Straight answers
Questions about time limits
Is there a deadline for complaining to the builder directly?
Not as such. You can raise a problem with a contractor at any time. What changes over time is what the warranty covers and whether a legal claim is still possible, so earlier is always better.
Does the warranty ending mean I have no rights?
Not necessarily. A warranty is usually in addition to your legal rights, not instead of them. Whether you can still claim depends on the problem and the legal time limits. This is general information, not legal advice.
Where can I check the legal time limits?
Citizens Advice explains them for consumers, with separate guidance for Scotland and Northern Ireland. The when building work goes wrong guide covers the wider process.
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