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Not sure what my options are here.
Basically a friend of mine recommended his father in law to do our plumbing/gas work for our renovation. First job was to install a new boiler, and later install radiators, bathroom, kitchen, etc.
The boiler was installed last September but not switched on as the house had no electricity. The gas pipes and heating pipes downstairs and upstairs were first fixed. Come January, when we were looking to start on the bathroom, the guy goes awol. Barely responds to texts, won't answer the phone, says he's going to come round the day our bathroom stuff is being delivered but just doesn't turn up. So we gave up and had to find a new plumber.
New plumber comes along and finishes the kitchen, fits the bathroom, installs the radiators. All fine.
However, he highlights that the old plumber has not commissioned the boiler, and that the flue isn't sealed (has a collar just not sealed in), pressure release valve isn't fitted, and there's no condensate pipe. Also when new plumber went to connect the gas hob, gas was leaking from somewhere and we couldn't see where.
I get in contact with the old plumber and tell him that he needs to look at the work he's done as there's a gas leak, and also finish and commission the boiler. He said he doesn't see how there can be a gas leak since he didn't connect the new gas pipes, and the old ones are still connected. Guess where the leak is then... The old pipes...
He also says "Can't the new plumber commission it?" - to which I explain they're not particularly keen to do so.
He picks up the key from my friend and goes round when I'm at work. Texts me to say it's all done and it'll cost me £140, to which I tell him I've already paid him and he told me first fix was complete, I'm not paying him twice. He stops replying.
So now I'm in a position where my original plumber isn't going to finish his work, and my new plumber is reluctant to commission it and finish off his work.
I can understand his reluctance, however he has commented to say that the boiler has been installed well (with exception of the parts not done...) and he's turned it on to test it and it all works fine. Obviously happy to pay him to do whatever he needs to do to be comfortable signing it off, but what is my best course of action here?
EDIT: Sorry meant to confirm, the first plumber IS Gas Safe - I have looked him up to confirm.
Basically a friend of mine recommended his father in law to do our plumbing/gas work for our renovation. First job was to install a new boiler, and later install radiators, bathroom, kitchen, etc.
The boiler was installed last September but not switched on as the house had no electricity. The gas pipes and heating pipes downstairs and upstairs were first fixed. Come January, when we were looking to start on the bathroom, the guy goes awol. Barely responds to texts, won't answer the phone, says he's going to come round the day our bathroom stuff is being delivered but just doesn't turn up. So we gave up and had to find a new plumber.
New plumber comes along and finishes the kitchen, fits the bathroom, installs the radiators. All fine.
However, he highlights that the old plumber has not commissioned the boiler, and that the flue isn't sealed (has a collar just not sealed in), pressure release valve isn't fitted, and there's no condensate pipe. Also when new plumber went to connect the gas hob, gas was leaking from somewhere and we couldn't see where.
I get in contact with the old plumber and tell him that he needs to look at the work he's done as there's a gas leak, and also finish and commission the boiler. He said he doesn't see how there can be a gas leak since he didn't connect the new gas pipes, and the old ones are still connected. Guess where the leak is then... The old pipes...
He also says "Can't the new plumber commission it?" - to which I explain they're not particularly keen to do so.
He picks up the key from my friend and goes round when I'm at work. Texts me to say it's all done and it'll cost me £140, to which I tell him I've already paid him and he told me first fix was complete, I'm not paying him twice. He stops replying.
So now I'm in a position where my original plumber isn't going to finish his work, and my new plumber is reluctant to commission it and finish off his work.
I can understand his reluctance, however he has commented to say that the boiler has been installed well (with exception of the parts not done...) and he's turned it on to test it and it all works fine. Obviously happy to pay him to do whatever he needs to do to be comfortable signing it off, but what is my best course of action here?
EDIT: Sorry meant to confirm, the first plumber IS Gas Safe - I have looked him up to confirm.
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