VENT! my crappy house

AnnPan_2

Hi guys, I'm new here, go easy on me please

I am currently living a nightmare...

We hired a builder to build us an extension (this involved demolishing the old extension) and basically our home was destroyed... he refused to follow plans and had no respect for our home or property.

I have a blog dedicated to it (you can find it in my website of my profile)

So, just spreading the word just now really.... We have applied for the TV shows and are waiting on an appt. with a specialist lawyer (took us a few months to find one) We are trying to gather together a band of volunteers to help us get our home suitable for surviving the winter....

Just now I am hoping for any kind of advice or support you might have to offer.

4743hudsonj

Wow some mess.....

My worst fear is that given the builders excuses (ie no money) it means that if you succeed in suing etc, he wont pay, you pay for bailiff, they arrive and what do they cease? I bet theres not much.

I wish it wasnt like this but i bet you dont get any money off the builder.

auntiesue

Annpan, best of luck in trying to bring this cowboy to account.
I employed a 'builder' to put an extension on my house as this would have been cheaper than moving. Estimate of £43000 and 12-16 weeks for everything (building, electrics, plastering, plumbing etc). 22 weeks later he walked out saying he couldn't afford to complete and left me with basically a shell. Had the cheek to say if I got an estimate for cost to complete then he would finish it for that price!!

Solicitor thought I had a very good case to take him to small claims but then found out he had no assets in his name, house registered in wife's name and also the car and work van (she neither worked or could drive!). Decided wasn't worth throwing good money after bad and concentrated on trying to get my house livable again. Took 3 years and a lot more money!

Check that he has assets first, and all the best.

AnnPan_2

I am frightened to answer with too many details, we are seeing a lawyer, that is probably all I can say.

I am permanently frightened over what might happen if the builder (whom I have never publicly named) finds out I have been on the internet with photos, etc... This is a horrid way to live

Freddie_Snowbits

AnnPan wrote: »

I am frightened to answer with too many details, we are seeing a lawyer, that is probably all I can say.

As I am not a builder, I would had seen an architect first. But that is with hindsight. You mention cowboy, perchance the builder is, but alas there is always two sides to every argument, and just picking people because they may be the cheapest, does not necessarily mean they are the best for the job in hand. You detail too little here for most of us to be of assistance to you and come rushing in when the leaching lawyers are ready to let more blood. It does not resolve the fact that, as you indicate, your house is a bombsite.

From your tone, I fear that you have already instigated the lawyers and gave credence to some pretence that some TV company would come and offer you a shoulder to cry on (You’ll note they would not pay for the mess you're in, just place you in a 2 minute segment of a ten part serial to ogle at, then forget)

I wish you good luck in your wish for remedy fro you misfortune, but alas, that when I had work done of Freda’s palace, I researched the subject, got a plan of action to do. This involved getting an architect to draw the plans, of the extension and works and set agreed staged payments, 6 I think there was. I was responsible for some prep work in the yard, such as moving the shed and the finishing landscaping. Result is Freda is very happy and we had an excellent job down.

Local 10 bob man down the road could had done the job for about £10,000 less, but he had no plans, wanted the money up front.

All part of life’s rich tapestry and you will certainly not be the first to suffer and are definitely not the last that will cut off here and there thinking they are a builder because they watched a TV programme. In the end, stick to the day job, and pay someone to manage the job for you.

iamana1ias

I can only assumeyou didn't check this guy out before hiring him?

Freddie_Snowbits

iamana1ias wrote: »

I can only assumeyou didn't check this guy out before hiring him?

Damn, I wanted to say that but ending up in auto mode.

CharlieBilly

TV program just for you

http://newhomeblogs.co.uk/blog/itv-homes-from-hell-needs-you/

Have you bought or built your dream house only to realise the dream is more of a nightmare? Has your new build come with more faults than fixtures, or have you rented out your property to the tenants from hell? Did you build your ideal home in good faith, only to have planning permission denied or revoked? If you have a story you would like the Homes From Hell team to investigate then please get in touch.
We are also looking for stories from the Middle East – have you invested in your dream holiday apartment in DUBAI only to find it unfinished or falling down around your ears? Or did you wait years for a development to be completed only to find it didn’t quite live up to what you expected?
If any of this sounds familiar then contact Victoria Thake on victoria (dot) thake @ ITV (dot) com or 020 7157 4276.

Freddie_Snowbits

CharlieBilly wrote: »

TV program just for you

Still does not resolve the fact that they're in a bombsite does it. I would do the same to my house, and loll and behold, I am on TV. BINGO.

After the people lined streets of cheering fans disperse and athe camera crew leave, OP is still left with a bombsite.

Timalay

Maybe the program Cowboy Builders might be able to help you.

CharlieBilly

I never claimed it did

Of course it doesn't resolve her predicament

Freddie_Snowbits wrote: »

Still does not resolve the fact that they're in a bombsite does it. I would do the same to my house, and loll and behold, I am on TV. BINGO.

After the people lined streets of cheering fans disperse and athe camera crew leave, OP is still left with a bombsite.