Q Given the rises in energy prices and a need to renovate my property, I consulted Sustainable Ireland to find out what options were open to me. This resulted in my approaching a company on their website and agreeing to contract these renovations for commencement during the summer months. Subsequently this was sub-contracted out. While I have no complaints in general (the level of work is excellent) I am having issues with the job being completed. The original time frame given was six to eight weeks starting week 39, with the longest part of the job being the delivery of windows from a provider in central Europe. All the materials used are sourced throughout Europe as I requested materials that are 'energy efficient'. To date, the windows have not arrived or the build finished. I am getting no satisfactory response from either the people doing the build or the company I originally approached.

Despite promises to complete work, nothing has happened. Is there any form of recourse for me?

S Butler My first piece of advice is to hold back on any payments due by you to the contractor. The lack of money always motivates people! Next, put your complaints/worries on paper and send it by registered mail to the company you have contracted out the works to. Ask them to contact you on receipt of the letter. If you do not receive a response, then contact the person who runs the company, or the person you dealt with at the contract stage, no one else. As always, you should give them a chance to put right your concerns and finish the works they were contracted to do. I suggest you add in a new time frame for the completion of the works and a penalty clause if not completed in time. Hopefully you will have a satisfactory result to your problem.

Q How difficult/expensive a job is it to get the electricity meter, which is located in the hall of our house, relocated outside? We just recently bought the house, which is quite old, and the surveyor in his report suggested we do this. Should we contact the ESB?

L Dignan Contact the ESB and tell them your situation. They will send an engineer out to check the position of the meter and also advise as to the correct positioning of the new meter cabinet. The ESB will reposition the meter in the cabinet once your own RECI or ECCSA registered electrician has carried out the necessary internal wiring.

The ESB will only reconnect you when they have the necessary certs from your electrician. Note that depending on the age/condition of the wiring you might need to rewire the house. Why not place this job on my website in the 'POST A JOB' section where we will send your job requirements to all our registered electricians in your area.

Q Our upstairs bathroom gets steamed up every time someone has a bath and in the morning there's always condensation on the windows. A friend suggested we put in an extractor fan. Is this a good idea?

Nicola Martin An extractor fan would definitely solve the problem as it would draw the steam from the bath/shower through the fan and disperse it outside. It is not a very difficult job but would require an electrical supply. You can wire the fan to an existing light. Some fans are fitted with a timer which can be set to carry on working for a set period after the light has been switched off. If you are not competent in electrical installations I suggest you use a qualified electrician who is either RECI or ECCSA registered.