Letter before action template for building work
A letter before action, which the court rules call a letter before claim, is what you send a builder before you start a court claim. The court expects you to have set out your complaint, what you want and why, and to have given the builder a fair chance to answer and to consider settling without going to court. Skipping that step can count against you later, including on costs. This template is written for disputes about building work at home, such as defects, unfinished work or money paid for work that was not done. It covers the points the pre-action rules ask for, invites the builder to use a dispute resolution scheme, and explains what happens next if they do not respond. It applies in England and Wales and is general information, not advice on your case.
1 document, one price each.
Written for this
One document.
Open it for the full description and every page as a watermarked sample. Free to read first: When building work goes wrong: your options.
What comes with every document
The same six things come with every homeowner document.
Fill it in your way
A fillable PDF with a tip on every box. Type into it on a computer or phone, or print it and write on it.
Read every page first
Every paid document has a complete watermarked sample. No email, no account.
The law, named
Each document names the Acts and rules it rests on, so you can look them up yourself.
Yours to keep
Pay once. No subscription, no account, no expiry.
Written from inside the trade
By a director of a UK building contractor with forty years in the industry. Not independently reviewed, and the document says so.
Kept current, free
Every source is re-checked monthly. If a change matters, a new revision is issued and you get it free.
How it works
Four steps, in this order.
- 1
Read it first
Open the watermarked sample and check the document fits your job.
- 2
Pay once
Pay by card through Paddle, our reseller. The price shown includes VAT.
- 3
Download it
The download starts straight away, and you can download it again from your order email.
- 4
Fill it in and keep it
Fill it in, save a copy, and keep it with the other paperwork for the job.
Legal basis
What these documents are built on.
Printed on the document itself, so you can look up the same Acts and rules. Law and guidance are kept apart, because they are not the same thing.
Statutory provisions
- Consumer Rights Act 2015 ss.9 to 11, 15, 23, 24, 49, 50, 52, 54 to 56 and 62
- Limitation Act 1980 s.5
- Practice Direction – Pre-Action Conduct and Protocols paras 2, 6, 8, 10 to 17
- Pre-Action Protocol for Construction and Engineering Disputes paras 1.1, 4.1, 5.1, 7.1, 8.1, 8.5, 8.6, 9.1 and 9.6
- Civil Procedure Rules r.26.9(4) and r.27.14
- Civil Proceedings Fees Order 2008 Schedule 1 fee 1.1
- Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 s.308
- Arbitration Act 1996 ss.89 and 91
- Unfair Arbitration Agreements (Specified Amount) Order 1999 art 3
Guidance is not law and carries no force in itself. And a document that names the law cannot decide how it applies to your job: if you are unsure, get advice before you act.
Our one rule
General information, not advice.
We explain what the law in England and Wales says and give you the paperwork to act on it. We cannot tell you what to do in your own case, and a document cannot make a neighbour agree or a builder put things right.
If you are unsure, the Citizens Advice consumer helpline is free on 0808 223 1133 (England and Wales). KubitDocs does not check, vet or recommend any builder or scheme.
Having building work done at homeBefore you buy
Is this legal advice?
No. It explains what the law in England and Wales says and helps you keep a clear record. For free advice on your own situation, ring the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 0808 223 1133.
Is VAT included in the price?
Yes. Prices for homeowners include VAT at 20%. Paddle, our reseller, collects it at checkout.
Does it work in Scotland or Northern Ireland?
It is written for England and Wales. Some rules are different in Scotland and Northern Ireland, so check before you rely on it there.
Can I cancel?
You have 14 days to cancel a digital download until the download starts. When you ask for it straight away, you lose that right, which is why the box asks you to confirm it. If a file is faulty or not as described, your rights are unaffected.
Is it a subscription?
No. Pay once. No subscription, no account, no expiry.