Stair Partnership: what to do if you suspect dodgy work?

[NotSarahBeeny]

Hi there

Some of you may have seen the news about a number of staff at the Council's stair partnership being suspended while complaints are investigated.

My neighbours and I used the ESP to manage some expensive repairs (£60,000). The work was signed off by council surveyors as being fine and the contractors were paid (we had to pay the ESP upfront - they held our money in an account and made the decision when to pay).

I feel the work was not completed and told the ESP this at the time. There are signs that it was unfinished in places, and there's been subsequent damage to the property due to faulty work, water coming in several places.

I am currently in the process of finding a building surveyor to produce an independent report, but have no idea what to do next in terms of taking action. I will have to go ahead and pay to make some repairs myself before structural damage worsens.

I have been in touch with the ESP numerous times about this over the last few years, but get nowhere. It's always either someone else's fault, or I'm told water damage will somehow right itself and dry out (obviously, it only gets worse). A member of staff involved (no longer working there) offered to help sort it out, if we employed him privately!

Does anyone have any advice, or experience of this? Who should I contact and what kind of legal nightmare might I be getting into?

Many thanks Porty Peeps.

[wangi]

Cannot help with majority of the questions; however I would recommend submitting a FOI request to get a copy of all correspondence related to your case.

[Porty]

Write to one of the local councillors and copy Ewan Aitken in, he appears to have a high profile in this matter.

[NotSarahBeeny]

Thanks both. Will do!