Building work in bad weather — your rights in Barking and Dagenham Council

The short answer: weather delays happen, but weather damage to an unfinished building is the builder's problem, not yours — protecting an opened-up structure (temporary cover, making safe) is part of doing the work with reasonable care and skill under the Consumer Rights Act 2015.

REVIEWED BY: Sean McNamara on 2026-09-03

The three weather scenarios

1. Delay, site secured — reasonable; adjust the completion date in writing ([reasonable time, s.51](/guides/consumer-rights-act-2015-building-work.html)). 2. Delay, site NOT secured — rain into an open roof, unbattled felt, uncovered blockwork: photograph the exposure the same day. This is evidence of breach, not bad luck. 3. Damage from exposure — the cost of drying out, re-making, and re-work goes to your [schedule of loss](/guides/schedule-of-loss.html).

The paper trail

Same-day written notice ("rain entered the open roof overnight, photographed") protects you from the "you never told us" defence. Mid-job payment pressure after weather delay: [the stage-payment rules](/guides/builder-walked-off-job.html).

Report it: the Citizens Advice consumer service passes reports to Barking and Dagenham Council Trading Standards — council page (verified 2026-09-04).

Independent information directory — not legal advice.

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*Source: https://www.lbbd.gov.uk/business/trading-standards/trading-standards-advice-businesses (verified 2026-09-04).*

Reviewed by Sean McNamara · 2026-09-03 · Independent information directory — not legal advice.