Completing jobs for distant landlords - how to ensure payment?

[beesley121]

Hi guys,

ive done a few jobs lately for landlords that live at the opposite end of the country.

Lukily, all have payed with question. I've been asked to fit a boiler but as the material cost alone is expensive, I'm wondering how best to protect myself to ensure papayment


Its a catch 2 situation, they won't pay me upfront incase I just do a runner (which I'm not gonna do), or I pay but then there's a chance they don't pay me
me

what do you guys do to try protect yourself as much as possible?

 

[iain85]

Hi,
I ALWAYS insist on 50% deposit on boiler jobs. I haven't had anyone question it yet. As for just landlord certs. Etc. I hold on to all copies of the cert and post them upon receipt of payment.

Iain

 

[dean.diy]

I can t/don’t fit boilers, have got landlord customers, I would get money
for the boiler. If the cheque gets delayed your cash flow only misses the
labour profit.

 

[hammers4spanner]

tell them to pay for materials at your local merchaNTS over phone and you pick up and fit

 

[Barry98]

Get some terms and conditions done to protect you both

 

[Reg Man]

Write a contract and get it signed. Ie: Fit X boiler at X address, including material and labour for x amount, agreed and signed. If they don't pay, you can stuff them through the small caims court. They can't plead poverty, because they obviously have assets.

 

[jase158]

I have only had 1 experience and will never do it again, got called by a tenant, went round and quoted, got deposit from the landlord, got a phonecall 2 weeks later from the actual lkandlord who apparently lives 200 miles away complaining about workmanship, never again for me as you cant explain issues, cant talk to the people properly and will question every little thing as they havent seen it or even met you. each to there own though.

 

[Reg Man]

Did you ask what was wrong with the workmanship?

 

[Barry98]

I have only had 1 experience and will never do it again, got called by a tenant, went round and quoted, got deposit from the landlord, got a phonecall 2 weeks later from the actual lkandlord who apparently lives 200 miles away complaining about workmanship, never again for me as you cant explain issues, cant talk to the people properly and will question every little thing as they havent seen it or even met you. each to there own though.

I'd of paid him a visit for 200 miles

 

[REDSAW]

material price via bank transfer upon receipt at the address before commencing those goods then belong to customer, after installation then full payment upon completion. sorted.

 

[kay-jay]

I have only had 1 experience and will never do it again, got called by a tenant, went round and quoted, got deposit from the landlord, got a phonecall 2 weeks later from the actual lkandlord who apparently lives 200 miles away complaining about workmanship, never again for me as you cant explain issues, cant talk to the people properly and will question every little thing as they havent seen it or even met you. each to there own though.

Makes you wonder how a landlord 200 miles away can pick holes in your workmanship....

Can't imagine him darting down the motorway to critique your skills. At end of day most landlords are the same and they all want something for nowt

 

[jase158]

Did you ask what was wrong with the workmanship?

yeah long story but basically I couldnt get the immersion heater to receive power, they got an electrician in who said cable was fine, I told tenant the work was guaranteed and would come back if any problems, but they got another plumber in who basically said the install was "hap-hazard (what ever that means!! I told them that the work was guaranteed and they should of got me back to have a look at any issues, actually i dont think i ever got paid, didnt have adress of the landlord as they had never even spoken to me and nobody told me that the landlord was 200 miles away

 

[deandive]

I got stung by a landlord for £45 before christmas, he was pestering me to go there as his tennents had no heating and had a baby, i was chocka at the time but went there in the evening and fitted a new filling loop suddenly he stops answering the phone and doesnt respond to emails. I think he lives the wrong side of the severn bridge but dont actually have his address. Lesson learnt though any more distant landlords will be paying materials up front for a big job and card over the phone before I leave the job for small ones.

 

[Reg Man]

Yes there, out there. Much more choosy who I work for.

 

[lame plumber]

seems that theres a few bad ones around, had 2 recently rang and asked for Aga/boiler work to be done and i emails invoices that night, received bacs payments from both by the next morning!! Im having to chase for payments from neighbours in town!!!!!!!!!!

 

[sam51]

easy don't do them.
got a call today,to decommission a cooker.
the caller from Newcastle.200 miles away.
asked how much,i said £65.00.
reply was we have only got £40.00 in for it.
told them where to go.
if i done it for £65.00.and didnt get paid i was hardly going to go 200 miles up the road for it.
old fool wise fool.lol.

 

[iain85]

That's the reason I stopped using my local Chinese. They asked me to come to repair their boiler. They told me the max they would pay was £20 to diagnose and repair! I laughed so hard I dropped the phone.

 

[lame plumber]

That's the reason I stopped using my local Chinese. They asked me to come to repair their boiler. They told me the max they would pay was £20 to diagnose and repair! I laughed so hard I dropped the phone.

pop in for a 10 box take away and proffer £2, you'll learn lots of new words all starting with *and ending with a swinging meat cleaver.

 

[AWheating]

have you asked the landlord why hes so distant? tell him you wont bite

 

[Reg Man]

easy don't do them.
got a call today,to decommission a cooker.
the caller from Newcastle.200 miles away.
asked how much,i said £65.00.
reply was we have only got £40.00 in for it.
told them where to go.
if i done it for £65.00.and didnt get paid i was hardly going to go 200 miles up the road for it.
old fool wise fool.lol.

200 miles there 200mile back at .44p per mile (AA recognised rate) = £176 + 1hr on the job £50 = £226 not including your travel time?

 

[iain85]

Well for the first time ever. the custard whom ive been working for all week (landlord living on the other side of the world) has told me after the job that he wants it cheaper than the original quote because I've finished early!
whole house (4 storie) repipe, new rads, working around tenants. 2 of us working flat out for 4 days. Even set up his boiler for him as it was range rated too low. I estimated 5 days and now I get an email advising he is pleased but wants it cheaper as I finished sooner!
well I've got the 50% deposit and luckily still got the house keys!

 

[Reg Man]

Some people don't understand the meaning of the word "QUOTE"

 

[stoker122]

Some people don't understand the meaning of the word "QUOTE"

They seem to understand it if the job runs over and you are out of pocket!

 

[Keefy]

Well for the first time ever. the custard whom ive been working for all week (landlord living on the other side of the world) has told me after the job that he wants it cheaper than the original quote because I've finished early!
whole house (4 storie) repipe, new rads, working around tenants. 2 of us working flat out for 4 days. Even set up his boiler for him as it was range rated too low. I estimated 5 days and now I get an email advising he is pleased but wants it cheaper as I finished sooner!
well I've got the 50% deposit and luckily still got the house keys!

Tell him where to go and demand your money. Your post just made me mad.

 

[iain85]

I have and in no uncertain terms I've made it clear he needs to pay up. I WILL remove rads and and pipe work if no payment by end of next week. I'm fuming about it tbh. The cheeky git even said at the end of the email would I be interested in signing up for 5 years cp12's and servicing with him! Cheek