What If the Job Was Left Unfinished?
Record what has and hasn't been done, write to the contractor with a clear date to return, and make the property safe. Here is the order to do it in.
The short answer
Record where things stand, give a clear date to return, and keep the property safe meanwhile.
If a builder has left a job unfinished, first ask why, by phone and then in writing. Record exactly what has been done and what hasn't, with dated photographs and a comparison against the quote. Write to the contractor asking them to return and finish by a specific, reasonable date, and make sure the property is safe and weathertight in the meantime. Don't pay for work that hasn't been done, and take advice before bringing in anyone else to finish it.
Jobs stall for many reasons, and not all of them are bad news. Illness, a delayed delivery or a disagreement about a payment can all stop a job for a while. The steps below work whatever the cause, and they keep your options open if the contractor does not come back.
In order
Five steps when work has stopped
Ask what has happened
Call, then put the same question in writing. There may be a simple explanation and a plan to return.
Record the state of the job
Photograph every area of the work, dated. Go through the quote line by line and note what is complete, part done and not started.
Make the property safe
An open roof, a missing window or an unsupported structure can't wait. Ask the contractor to secure it first. If they won't, arrange a temporary covering and keep the receipts.
Write with a clear date
Set out what is outstanding, ask them to return and finish by a specific date that is realistic for the work, and ask them to confirm.
Follow up, then decide
If the date passes without a reply, write again, referring to your earlier letter. At that point, take advice on your next steps before acting.
Before someone else finishes it
Why the order of events matters
It is natural to want someone else in quickly. But if the original contractor hasn't been given a fair chance to return, bringing in another firm can make a later claim harder. It can also become difficult to show what state the job was left in once the next contractor has started work on it.
So before anyone else starts, make sure your photographs and notes are complete, your letters are sent and dated, and you have taken advice on whether the contract can be treated as ended. Depending on the circumstances, the extra cost of having the work finished by someone else may be something you can seek to recover from the original contractor, but that is not automatic and it depends on the facts. Getting remedial work done covers bringing in another contractor properly.
On payments, the general principle is simple: pay for work that has been done, not for work that hasn't. If you have paid a deposit and little has been done, keep your payment records with everything else.
If the contractor has gone quiet
Three things worth checking
Is the company still trading?
For a limited company, the Companies House register shows its status and any insolvency filings. Checking a company on Companies House explains how.
Have you tried every channel?
Phone, email, text and post to the address on the quote. When a builder stops responding has more on this.
Is there a scheme or association?
If the contractor belongs to a trade association or scheme, check whether it offers a complaints or dispute service.
If the business has closed
When the contractor can't come back
If the company has stopped trading or entered insolvency, the position changes. Any money owed to you becomes a claim against the business, and the workmanship warranty depends on the company that gave it. What if my builder goes bust? explains what usually happens next and who to contact.
Either way, keep all your records together. Abandoned building jobs covers the whole process in more depth.
This is general information, not legal advice. If a large sum is involved, or you are thinking of treating the contract as ended, speak to Citizens Advice or a solicitor first.
If you use Mortaro
Tell us and we chase your contractor
Getting hold of contractors is the most common problem in construction, and it is the main reason we exist. On a project Mortaro coordinates, tell us as soon as work stops. We contact your contractor, get an explanation and a return date, and keep pushing until the work is finished, keeping you updated as we go.
Your construction contract is with your contractor, who carries out the work. Contractors who fail to meet our standards are removed from our network. Putting things right explains how we escalate.
Straight answers
Questions about unfinished work
How long should I wait before assuming the job is abandoned?
There is no fixed period. What matters is whether the contractor has explained the gap and given a date. Silence after a clear written deadline is the point to take advice.
Can I change the locks or remove their materials?
Take advice first. Materials on site may belong to the contractor, and acting too early can complicate things.
What if the contractor says they stopped because I haven't paid?
Check what the quote or contract says about when each payment was due, and whether the work it relates to was done. If there is a genuine disagreement about money, set out your position in writing and try to agree a way forward. What if the contractor disputes the problem? covers handling a disagreement calmly.
Start here
Tell us about the work you have in mind
We will confirm we cover your postcode, arrange a site visit with a contractor from our network and send you a written quotation. No charge, no obligation.