Are builders OK with signing minor works contracts and....

[scotster]

...asking for evidence of liability insurance?

I'm looking for a building company/ builder to do an extension for me - cost will be in the region of 45K.

In all the books it says to make sure the builder (and any subcontractors he brings in) have liability insurance and they they should be happy to present documents to that affect.

Further..for that level of spend 'the books' recommend a JCT Minor works contract should be entered into.

It also says that the builder should be willing to buy all matreials from merchants on an account under my name....just in case the builder does a moonlight flit I would still own all the materials left on site.

I don't know what a builders view on me asking for all of those would be..

Would they just walk away saying hes going to be more trouble than hes worth or is it something that they do quite regularly and would not be offended by. The last one smacks me of complete mistrust but also there's a side of me saying - yeah - its my cash - how come its in his name?

Any thoughts please?

Ta.

 

[scotster]

The paying on my account would only apply of course if the builder were asking for money up front to buy materials.

 

[BuilderSte]

lo.
yes any contractor would be happy to present you with details of insurance.

secondly, as you mentioned in your post a contract should be drawn up on a job that size, detailing the work that is to be carried out and the agreed payment stages. this will ensure all runs smoothly and there are no disagreements as to what was and wasnt included in the price.

i would not recomend opening an account to be used by your contractor, agree staged payments with your builder, ie floor level, joist level, wall plate level, roof, plastering elec/plumbing, completion. (as a general example) that way you only pay for what has been done to date. builders also prefer this.

you are right in what you say, it is your money, you have it your way. not meaning to patronize but you should give no money up front for any reason, any good builder will be able to fund work on account at least to staged payment.
at the end of the job take time to walk round, have any minor snags fixed before your final payment, a good builder wont have a problem with this.
best of luck

 

[scotster]

Thanks very much!

I had given up the ghost on getting reply.....

Planning permission goes into today. Ill be approaching builders in the next few weeks.

Ta.