Letter before action builder — free structure and checklist
The short answer: a letter before action is a short, factual letter that gives the builder formal notice of your claim and a deadline (14 days is the common period) before you start a court claim. Use the structure and checklist below — it is the same information a court expects you to have exchanged, and it settles a large share of disputes on its own.
REVIEWED BY: Sean McNamara on 2026-09-03
The 8-block structure
1. Your details and theirs — names, addresses, the property address. 2. The contract — "On [date] we agreed a fixed-price quotation dated [date] for [scope] at £[amount]". 3. Concise details of the claim — dated bullet points: what was done/not done, when discovered, what it has cost you so far. Facts only. 4. The legal basis — breach of contract and breach of the Consumer Rights Act 2015 ss.49–52: reasonable care and skill; reasonable time; reasonable price. 5. The remedy you seek — state the sum (from your schedule of loss) or the remedial work required, and a completion date. 6. The deadline — "Please respond, or pay, within 14 days of the date of this letter." 7. Consequences — "If I receive no satisfactory response, I will commence a county court claim without further notice, and will seek interest and my costs." 8. Enclosures list — quote, photos list, schedule of loss, remedial quotes.
The send-and-prove checklist
- [ ] Letter dated, and every paragraph fact-checked against your evidence file
- [ ] Copies (not originals) of every enclosure; keep the send set identical
- [ ] Sent by email AND recorded delivery (Royal Mail Signed For® gives you online proof of posting/delivery)
- [ ] Postage receipts and email sent-record saved into your evidence file
- [ ] Diary deadline set for the 14th day
- [ ] Response (or silence) itself filed into your evidence file
A minimal model skeleton (adapt — do not copy blind)
``` [Your name & address] [Date] [Builder's name & address]
Dear [Mr/Ms Name],
RE: Defective building work at [property address]
Contract: On [date] you quoted £[amount] (fixed price) for [scope]. I accepted on [date]. I paid £[total] as follows: [dates/methods].
Claim: [Numbered, dated facts: e.g. "1. Water entered the rear bedroom from 2 June 2025 (photos 1–6 attached). 2. The roof valley was built without flashing (surveyor report attached). 3. Remedial quotes attached total £X."]
Legal basis: breach of contract and breach of your statutory duties under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 ss.49–52.
Remedy: I require £[total from schedule of loss] by way of the reasonable cost of remedial works, plus [report fees/court fees].
Deadline: Please pay, or set out your full written response, within 14 days of the date of this letter. If not, I will issue a county court claim without further notice and will seek interest and costs.
Enclosures: quotation; photographs (list); schedule of loss; remedial quotations; [surveyor report].
[Signature] ```
After you press send
- Deadline passes with no adequate response → start the claim: take a builder to the small claims court.
- They respond with offers/partial admissions → negotiate in writing; a reasoned settlement beats a hearing for most people.
- They counterclaim or deny everything → keep calm; your evidence file was built for exactly this. See the hearing guide.
This page is general information, not legal advice. Letter structure follows CPR Pre-Action Conduct expectations (Practice Direction). Verified 2026-09-03.
Want this letter drafted for you in minutes, with every section the court expects? EvidenceCanvas (Casewright) helps you organise your evidence and draft pre-action documents for the small claims track. It is not a law firm and does not give legal advice.
Reviewed by Sean McNamara · 2026-09-03 · Independent information directory — not legal advice.