Section 49 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015 treats every contract to supply a service as including a term that the trader must perform the service with reasonable care and skill, and section 54 gives the consumer remedies including repeat performance, a price reduction and, alongside these, a claim for damages, where a service does not conform to that term.

The reasonable care and skill duty

Section 49 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015 states that every contract to supply a service is to be treated as including a term that the trader must perform the service with reasonable care and skill. Installing a conservatory is a service within this meaning, so an installer whose work falls below the standard a reasonably competent installer would achieve, rather than simply a matter of taste or a minor snagging issue, has potentially breached this implied term.

What this covers in practice

Because the duty is about how the service is performed, it covers workmanship issues such as poorly sealed joints leading to leaks, a roof or glazing installed out of true, doors and windows that do not close or seal properly, or a base and foundation not built to the standard the job required. It is separate from, though it can sit alongside, product-specific issues with faulty materials or components, which are covered by different consumer protection rules referenced elsewhere on this site.

The remedies available

Section 54 sets out what a consumer can do where a service does not conform to the contract, including the reasonable care and skill term. The primary remedies under the Act are requiring the trader to repeat the performance of the service, or a reduction in the price paid. Section 54 also confirms these statutory remedies do not exclude other options, including a straightforward claim for damages, provided the same loss is not recovered twice through different routes.

Repeat performance first

Repeat performance, essentially requiring the installer to put the substandard work right, is generally the most direct of the section 54 remedies, and giving the original installer a genuine opportunity to correct the problem is usually the sensible first step before considering a price reduction or damages claim, not least because it can resolve the issue without the cost and delay of pursuing a dispute further. Where the installer refuses to return, cannot be contacted, or has already failed to fix the same problem more than once, moving to a price reduction or damages claim becomes the more realistic route.

Keeping evidence

Photographing problems as they are noticed, keeping written correspondence with the installer, and obtaining an independent assessment or repair quote where the installer disputes that the work is substandard, builds the record needed to support a section 54 claim if the dispute cannot be resolved directly. This matters because a dispute about workmanship often comes down to a factual disagreement about the standard actually achieved, which independent evidence helps settle.

If the installer disputes the work

Where an installer disputes that the work is substandard, or does not respond to a request to put it right, the remedies under section 54 can be pursued through the small claims track of the county court for lower-value disputes, without necessarily needing a solicitor. The evidence gathered, photographs, correspondence, and independent assessments, supports a claim at this stage, whether it is resolved through further negotiation or, ultimately, through court.

Where a deposit was paid upfront

A substandard installation dispute often follows a contract where a deposit or stage payments were made before the work was finished, which is a separate factual issue from the section 49 and 54 rights described here, but one that tends to surface at the same time. Whether a deposit was protected, and what the contract itself said about payment stages, is worth checking alongside the reasonable care and skill claim, since it can affect what leverage remains, and how any refund or reduction in price is actually recovered, once a dispute is underway.

Why this matters beyond the immediate fix

A substandard installation left unresolved does not only affect appearance; workmanship issues such as poor sealing or an out-of-true frame can lead to ongoing problems like water ingress or condensation, covered in more practical terms elsewhere on this site, that get worse the longer they are left. Establishing the section 49 and 54 position early, rather than after further damage has occurred, both strengthens the claim and limits how much needs to be put right by the time it is resolved.

FAQs

Does the Consumer Rights Act cover poor workmanship on a conservatory installation?

Yes. Section 49 requires the service itself to be performed with reasonable care and skill, and workmanship falling below that standard can be challenged under the remedies in section 54.

What can be claimed under section 54?

Repeat performance of the service, a price reduction, or, alongside these statutory remedies, a separate claim for damages, without recovering the same loss twice.

Should the original installer be asked to fix the problem first?

Generally yes; repeat performance is usually the most direct remedy, and giving the installer a genuine opportunity to correct the work is the sensible first step.

What if the installer refuses to accept the work is substandard?

The small claims track of the county court is available for lower-value disputes, supported by photographic evidence, written correspondence and an independent assessment.

Bottom line

An installer whose conservatory work falls short of a competent standard has generally failed to perform the service with the reasonable care and skill required by section 49 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015, giving the homeowner remedies under section 54, starting with repeat performance and extending to a price reduction or a damages claim where necessary. This is general information, not legal advice on a specific dispute; Citizens Advice or a solicitor can advise on a claim that cannot be resolved directly with the installer.

Sources

This guide draws on the following primary sources, current as of 22 September 2026:

• legislation.gov.uk, “Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 49: Service to be performed with reasonable care and skill”
• legislation.gov.uk, “Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 54: Right to repeat performance or price reduction”

Related guides

Compare Conservatories is an independent guide. We may earn a fee from some links; this never affects what we write. This article is general information, not legal or planning advice on any specific property — always confirm requirements directly with your local planning authority.