Building work in bad weather — your rights in West Northamptonshire 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). 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.
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.
Report it: the Citizens Advice consumer service passes reports to West Northamptonshire Council Trading Standards — council page (verified 2026-09-04).
Independent information directory — not legal advice.
Source: https://westnorthants.gov.uk/trading-standards (verified 2026-09-04).
Reviewed by Sean McNamara · 2026-09-03 · Independent information directory — not legal advice.