Watch Out For The Tentacles

摘要

Mr and Mrs Bole have a nice house in a lovely spot in Little Stukeley, Huntingdon. Or rather, it will be lovely once the duff foundations are put right ... and once they have recovered from their court battle with Huntsbuild, the contractor, and Richard Money Associates, the engineer that advised it about the foundations.rnSeemingly, the experts brought in by all parties agree that the cracking in the lovely house was caused by heave "resulting from the inadequate depth of the foundations". Apparently, before construction began, a willow tree and row of conifers were removed. In that case, said the house occupier to Huntsbuild and Richard Money, you're both liable for the cost of repairs. They relied in part on the Defective Premises Act.rnWhen you or I find that a dwelling that we "have an interest in" has a tricky defect we are entitled to do a bit of detective work to see who "took on work" for the dwelling or even acted "in connection with the provisionrnof a dwelling". The reason is that those who take on work have a duty to see it is done in a workmanlike manner. You might immediately see that the tentacles reaching and grasping for those who "took on work" can reach round a number of corners, creeks and alleyways. The architect, the engineer, the QS, the odd consultant, together with the contractor and subcontractor, are all in the firing line. The key point in all this is that if the defect in the dwelling means that the place is "not fit for habitation", watch out for the tentacles. And watch out for the bill. It will take upwards of ￡1m to sort out Mr and Mrs Bole's dwelling.