VENT! my crappy house

AnnPan_2

Yes we have had architects, builders, building inspectors, building control officers and many others..... all saying that the place is a mess..... which it is...

I am scared of the guy finding out we will chase him for the money and he will just run off (MSE is a v.popular forum, he may well be registered) He would recognise me by my AV/Name/Location and who's to say he won't change all his stuff to his wife's name and send a heavy round with a crowbar.....

We NEED legal advice before taking it any further really....

But yes, atm, lawyer followed by volunteer squad is our prefered route.... just to get us safe and dry by Christmas...

TV shows can help a bit, and could help stop this guy (and I am careful not to say Cowboy)


I know it seems really odd with the lack of details and all, but I am between a rock and a hard place... and up to my neck in s**t....

There is more details, photos, etc on the blog

mountainofdebt

AnnPan wrote: »

Yes we have had architects, builders, building inspectors, building control officers and many others..... all saying that the place is a mess..... which it is...

I am scared of the guy finding out we will chase him for the money and he will just run off (MSE is a v.popular forum, he may well be registered) He would recognise me by my AV/Name/Location and who's to say he won't change all his stuff to his wife's name and send a heavy round with a crowbar.....

We NEED legal advice before taking it any further really....

But yes, atm, lawyer followed by volunteer squad is our prefered route.... just to get us safe and dry by Christmas...

TV shows can help a bit, and could help stop this guy (and I am careful not to say Cowboy)


I know it seems really odd with the lack of details and all, but I am between a rock and a hard place... and up to my neck in s**t....

There is more details, photos, etc on the blog

Again I'm having a stupid moment.

If you are that concerned about the builder recognising you then DELETE your location and make your username something less obvious.

Also I'm not sure what you want from us, especially if you've got yourself a specialised lawyer?

AnnPan_2

Thanks guys....

I thought someone might be able to give pointers... something we haven't already thought of.... maybe someone reasonably local has some local advice, someone to talk to at the council

We have tried every reasonable route, we have spoken to every one we can think of..... we have cried on the phone to trading standards, we have reported this guy to building control....

We scrimped and saved for 3 long years, we lived in a house on the brink of collapse, we did without life's little luxuries (like hot water, heating and holidays) we are raising our kid in this dump... we have been to hell and back several times over...

Someone somewhere out there can help us....

I was looking for support, that's all...

iamana1ias

What checks did you do before hiring this bloke?

trumpton

I've just had a quick look at your blog. That is shockingly bad work, really poor. Where was the council building inspector in all this? They should visit at certain stages to check the work is up to scratch.

At the end of the day, I'm not sure what else you can do other than pursue him for your money back. But these characters tend to liquidate one company with debts and start another, so no assets means no money back.

It looks to me as though he took on a job that was beyond his competancy. If you can get a telly show to pay for some repairs, I would go for it.

If you are having building work done, NEVER pay anything upfront - a decent builder will have accounts at builders and timber merchants etc., agree a staged payment system, and only pay when you are happy. Always get a receipt for any money you pay.

9217niall

Timalay wrote: »

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

Urrrr, that programme is just so repetitive! Flick from one case to the other and when they come back to it you have to listen to the "story so far" basically. Annoying! :rotfl:

Freddie_Snowbits

trumpton wrote: »

I've just had a quick look at your blog. That is shockingly bad work, really poor. Where was the council building inspector in all this? They should visit at certain stages to check the work is up to scratch.

The building Inspector is not responsible for the fact OP wanted the job done cheaply, without proper plans and satged payments.

AnnPan_2

excuse me Freddie.... who says we didn't have proper plans? who says we didn't have staged payment? who said we wanted it done cheaply?

We checked out all the references he gave us (which were clearly all good)


Freddie, you are being really rather rude presuming things that are not true....

I'm sorry I ever came here.

trumpton

Freddie just enjoys winding people up, he's not really here to be helpful. Not sure why he is here TBH. As anyone knows, even if you are careful and do things in a sensible way, you can still get a cowboy builder who will ignore plans and building reg's. I hope you get some recompense as these things can be very distressing and it's very stressful living on an unfinished building site. It's not like you can shut the door and forget about it, or even just write it off to experience and move on - you still have to somehow finish the work. Good luck.

AnnPan_2

Thanks Trumpton.... That is exactly what it is like.... I have just been told by building control that they might need to declare the house unfit for habitation..... then we will be truly f***ed