Scaffolding Tower Left Up - What to do?

[Wildfire]

I've recently had some work done by a plumber on my flat (second floor) to do the work I had to arrange a scaffolder to come out to put up a tower. he said he usually gets paid upon the tower going up. But I was away. He put the tower up on time and all looked good. The work was carried out and all was good.

He dropped by on Saturday after some confusion about who was to pay him (originally it was to be me cash, then the plumber) but I paid him cash on Saturday. He said he's take the tower down Sunday.

But it's still up. I've text him and had no reply.

Some of the residents are getting a bit annoyed/wondering when it will come down?

If it's still up end of the week, I've been asked what I'm going to do?

What can I do? Any advice?

 

[simonlpearce]

Tell him the pikeys will be contacted if he doesn't get his arse in gear. I expect they will have it down before you even realised they were there!

 

[Anonymous]

Charge him storage! Don't some of these people leave the scaffolding up until required for another job?

 

[srhutch]

Charge him storage! Don't some of these people leave the scaffolding up until required for another job?

Indeed, as above they get paid what they put up, so have no interest in taking down unless they need it.

Sod law dicated though if you hired it for 2 weeks but needed it for 4 they would take away after 3.

 

[Bish]

Try and record that the hire is complete too. Id seriously doubt to see it in a domestic hire situation, but professionally at work we have an onus to formally "off hire" scaffold or else hire charges continue. Cover yourself, with a text or email confirming you have paid and the scaffold is off hire.

With regard to removing it, that may be a bit more difficult. Not sure of the layout or access to it, but I would try contacting him to say some kids/youths have been climbing on it, and you're worried about an accident happening. This may scare him into action.

 

[Paulwirral]

It's common practice in the building trade , leave it up as long as you don't need it then hopefully drop it and take it straight to another job , saves loading and unloading twice . Trying to charge him storage will end up in an argument and probably you getting insulted and it getting left up even longer out of spite .
I'm over 30 years in the building trade , I speak from experience :rofl:

 

[Anonymous]

Agree to keep it civil, but are you saying there is nothing the op can do?

 

[Yorkie Z]

If it's a tower they come down really easy, you could do it in half hour

 

[mr wilks]

Sell it on Gumtree :wink: buyer collects

 

[ranski]

scaffold'ers always do this as they try and take it down and then install it the same day at another punters.

kinda makes sense if they are paying their workers by the day

 

[Paulwirral]

Agree to keep it civil, but are you saying there is nothing the op can do?

Just to try and keep it civil and ask nicely , i always made sure I owed my scaffolder money so I could offer an incentive but that only works when when the guy relies on you for regular work .
Scaffolders are usually the last to get paid on building works hence why they minimise any costs where ever possible .