Updating post from Reddit.

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Posted by Turbulent_Tea_1943 2 weeks ago
Plumber undertook unauthorised works... Must I pay?

My tenant reported a loss of heating/hot water last week, and I agreed with the managing agent that they'd send an engineer around to diagnose and fix the issue.

Following their visit, I got a message from the MA, passing on a message from the plumber stating that whilst they were working on the system they'd found that the ball valve in the cold water tank was dodgy (sitting low in the water), and replaced that whilst they were at it. Their excuse for not calling the MA to check was 'we knew you had your annual conference that day, so assumed there'd be no phone cover. We just went ahead and trust that you'll agree it was the right course of action.'

I've confirmed through the MA that it was a minor issue, with no risk to building or life. MA also confirmed that there was telephone cover that day, and that the plumber had even called in earlier that day to get the combination for the loft hatch lock.

Had I been told of the issue, I'd have arranged to fix it myself, rather than throw a three-figure sum at the plumber who, as far as I'm concerned, is trying it on.

Given that they had no instructions to undertake any work other than to resolve the issue with the central heating, do I have any liability to pay for the unauthorised works that they decided to do of their own volition?

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Posted by FreeTheDimple 2 weeks ago

I get being annoyed about it in principle. But how much was it? If it's not much then better to just absorb the cost and move on.

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Posted by Turbulent_Tea_1943 2 weeks ago

When they're asking £200 inc VAT for it, it rankles somewhat. Especially given that the part appears to be less than £20, and they were already at the property at the time.

With their piss-weak excuse for not calling to get a go-ahead, I know that they know they're trying it on.

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Posted by Greeno2150 2 weeks ago

I changed one of these myself. Part was £13 and took 5 minutes with 1 or 2 tools to fix.

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Posted by Andy_Bear_ 2 weeks ago

Yes. So a reasonable price, with plumber already in attendance, for identifying the fault and fixing is c. £50 – perhaps a dash more for time taken to purchase the part – but never £200.

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Posted by towelie111 2 weeks ago

I wouldn’t be paying, hell no. Luckily you’ve gone through an agent so it’s their issue really. They’ve got the contractor in who has done work not asked for and not urgent. I’d ask that they either send someone else out to quote for the work and remove the other plumbers installed part to give back to them, or that you will go remove the part and deliver/post it to the agent. I wouldn’t allow the other plumber back in the property to get the part, as I wouldn’t trust them now.

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Posted by emilyj308 2 weeks ago

£200! Wow! What does that actually include?

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Posted by emilyj308 2 weeks ago

Id be contacting plumbers and asking what they think of the price

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Posted by Turbulent_Tea_1943 2 weeks ago

I would hope that it includes a gold-plated part, and a lifetime warranty...

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Posted by emilyj308 2 weeks ago

Is there anyway it was a typo on the invoice and it is actually £20?

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Posted by FreeTheDimple 2 weeks ago

Oh yep. Fiar play. I wouldn't be paying that.

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Posted by heatonfan 2 weeks ago

£200 - no. The plumber has no contractual right to the money. You could offer him £20 as a goodwill gesture. Alternatively, a short polite email covering the following (written in your own language but aware a judge in the small claims could read it one day, as all correspondence in disputes should be written):

  • Set out the precise work he was asked to remedy. Note that the scope of the contract was limited to that.

  • He carried out unauthorised works that would not have been agreed to if raised with the agents.

  • The price invoiced was excessive in any event. Had a quotation in that sum been asked for or volunteered, it would have been unacceptable and you would have gone elsewhere.

  • This position is not negotiable.

There you go, saved you £400 getting advice!

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Posted by Slightly_Effective 2 weeks ago

Did they even document the issue with a photo?

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Posted by londons_explorer 2 weeks ago

Did the MA choose the plumber?

If so, I'd fire them both.

Between them, their job is to manage your property in a cost-efficient manner.   This clearly is not that.

I'd bet the plumber is a friend of the managing agent and they probably pay some kind of backhander for such things.

You caught them this time, but I bet there are plenty of other times when they've overcharged you for things you can't check.

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Posted by McBUMMERS 2 weeks ago

That's a p!ss take. Tell him to put the old one back and you'll change it yourself.

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Posted by undulanti 2 weeks ago

No, you are not liable.

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Posted by londons_explorer 2 weeks ago

I'd bet this happened:

Plumber arrives, goes to check central heating header tank but sees cold water tank float needs replacing.

That's a 5 minute job, they cost £1 and he probably has one in his van.     He probably would normally do that for an extra £10 on the bill, and it's gonna save another call out in 6 months when it fails (and maybe a £10k bill for extreme water damage!)

However, he needs authorization to do so, so he calls the office and they put him on hold or mess him about, and waste his time.   He probably hangs out at the property for half an hour waiting for them to call back, misses his next appointment, etc.    So he adds £200 to the bill for it.

An honest plumber and managing agent would have an understanding that all small cheap and clearly worth doing repairs get done whilst on site with no additional authorization required.

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Posted by Inevitable_Leader89 2 weeks ago

£1 for a new float and valve? Where are you getting them at that price 😂

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Posted by londons_explorer 2 weeks ago

Well the valve was probably fine.   Just the float needs replacing based on ops description.

 The floats are £1.35 online or £2.78 from Toolstation.

 Entire valve+float assemblies are £1.78 from China (and less if bought in bulk)

Also a good chance he has a spare because valves always come with a float, but often the float is still good.

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Posted by massivecharver 2 weeks ago

Here’s all the landlords slagging tradesman off, Jesus Christ 😂😂

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Posted by opopkl 2 weeks ago

£200 for a ball valve is taking the piss, though.

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Posted by moobooloo 2 weeks ago

You can’t afford to be a landlord.

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