If you are renting an apartment or purchasing property, sometimes disagreements can result in you, your landlord, or the seller taking action against the other party. If you have experienced a dispute with your builder and cannot reach an amicable resolution, there are several ways to settle the issue. Here are things you can do to resolve a building dispute.
- Seek a Building Dispute Resolution Service
Finding the proper resolution for your situation can be difficult and stressful if you are involved in a building dispute. Seeking building dispute advice from an unbiased third party, also a builder is a wise decision when faced with these issues. They will help you with guidance on who to contact, how to approach your builder, and what to do if mediation does not work.
That way, you can quickly access reliable, professional help without wasting time or money. It’s worth spending the money on building dispute lawyers because they will give you peace of mind and guide you through every step.
- Gather your Evidence
When you are in the middle of an argument, it can be hard to remember all the details. Make sure you have all the documents, emails, and anything else that proves your point. The more evidence you have, the easier it will be for both parties to come together and find a solution. Keeping track of the time, you spend gathering this evidence is essential. If you think your builder has done something wrong, gather as much proof as possible before calling them out.
The evidence could be either in pictorial, audio or written form. You can also use public records such as meeting minutes from homeowners’ association meetings to show where the responsibility lies. Once you have gathered your evidence, make copies of it and share it with those involved in the dispute. Ensure you keep good records of all interactions related to this conflict so you can use them in court if necessary.
- Consult an Attorney
If you are amid an ongoing dispute with your builder, it is best to consult an attorney specializing in commercial law. Your attorney will take you through the steps needed to resolve the dispute and may even recommend that you hire a mediator or arbitrator. However, you need someone impartial to decide how to settle the disagreement.
Given your situation, a reasonable attorney can help determine the best legal recourse. They also have the experience to properly enforce any legal decisions they make on behalf of their clients. An attorney can also mediate a settlement between both parties if they cannot conclude. In the case of mediation, all agreements must be clear from the start, so there are no questions later about what the parties agreed upon.
- Take Time to Review your Contract
You will want to review your contract if you are in a building dispute. You’ll want to ask whether the contract has an arbitration clause and, if so, what it says about how the arbitration process will work. You’ll also want to review whether there are other clauses that can help resolve your dispute, such as one that allows for mediation or another type of informal dispute resolution.
In addition, if you have a home warranty policy with an insurance company, they may have processes to help arbitrate disputes between homeowners and builders. Also, every situation is different, so it’s essential to consult with an experienced builder and a lawyer specializing in building disputes before deciding how to proceed.
- Make an Official Complaint to the Building Practitioners Board
A vital step in resolving any building dispute is to make a complaint against the builder with the Building Practitioners Board. You can contact their office or use their website and fill out an online form. They will assign an inspector to your case, and you will get communication through email. The inspector will visit your property and assess the situation, including taking photographs for evidence of any problems with the building work.
If the inspector finds unresolved issues, they may ask your builder to fix them at agreeable terms or at no cost or order your builder to compensate you financially.
If this doesn’t solve the issue, talk to a lawyer about escalating the complaint. Although going to court is an option if all other avenues fail, it’s unnecessary in every instance. An experienced builder offering a dispute resolution service can be vital in resolving the dispute.
Conclusion
If you are in a building dispute with your builder, consulting with an experienced builder offering dispute resolution service is an excellent way of solving the problem faster. They will help you put your best foot forward and guide you through this process to prevent the dispute from getting out of control or escalate and lead to even more problems. They will advise you on whom to contact for further assistance and how to approach your builder effectively. It’s best to take these steps as soon as possible because building disputes can escalate quickly. It may cost some money to seek advice, but you’ll save time and stress in the long run!
