Handyman company does not keep agreements

Questioner

At the beginning of this year I gave an order to the handyman company to plaster a number of walls in my house. After more than half a year the order has still not been completed, but all kinds of threats are being made to make cash payment. While the agreement is that the assignment is first completed before payment is made. In addition, I have repeatedly requested a specification of the work that I have still not received. The handyman company repeatedly makes promises that they will complete the assignment, but then these promises are not kept. Please provide legal advice on how to effectively handle this situation.

Lawyer

If you have agreed that payment only needs to be made after the job has been completed, the handyman company is bound by this. It is important that you can prove this agreement, if the handyman company has a different view of the agreement made. This could be difficult with a verbal agreement. You should give the handyman a reasonable period, for example 14 days, to complete the job (by registered letter). This is called a formal notice. If this formal notice is not complied with, the next step could be to start proceedings; a formal notice always states that proceedings can be started if this is not complied with. In proceedings, you could, for example, demand that the handyman be obliged, under penalty of a penalty, to complete the job (within a certain period).