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Cowboy Builder's left my young family homeless
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cantsleepwontsleep
Posts: 3 Newbie
Hello - newbie here! Any help or advice would be hugely appreciated.
We bought a two bed 60s chalet bungalow almost two years ago with a view to renovating it a bit and adding a dormer for another bedroom upstairs. We had a toddler and planned to have another baby at some stage.
Fast forward a year and we were expecting our second baby, house plans were approved and we interviewed several builders for the gig. One, in terms of attitude and experience seemed leagues ahead of everyone else, but with a middle of the road quote. He also had many impressive projects on his website and a lady at the local window showroom said he'd done an amazing job on her house.
Jan 14 baby arrived and I came into a little money through an inheritance so we asked the builder to start work. He began in March and requested £5k up front then £5k per week, leaving 10% at the end to be paid once all the snagging was completed a few months after his projected 12-14 week completion estimate.
We moved out as we didn't want to hold back progress by being on site, plus it wouldn't have been a good idea to stay with a new baby and toddler, so we sorted out a four month holiday let, allowing for a bit of flex if things overran.
His team cracked on and things appeared to be progressing well, then after about six weeks workmen began not showing up. We'd challenge our builder on this and every time a different, very reasonable excuse, would be given. One of his big selling points was doing one job at a time to completion then moving on to the next, but soon he started to mention things like "oh, xxx is over at xtown on another job at the moment, he'll be with you later".
As the weeks went by progress continued but seemed slow and as we approached a month to go before moving in it was obvious things were behind. We asked the builder (who only ever seemed to be on site himself to do site visits with us) what the score was and he said he'd need about three extra weeks and that he'd pay for any additional accommodation needed. We decided to go to my in laws. It's a very small house but money was tight and finding very short term lets suitable for a young family was impossible.
So we moved to the in laws and work dried up almost completely. We had heavy rain at the end of June/beginning of July and it was pouring into the house, soaking the new kitchen units in their packaging that'd been left in the front room. This resulted in massive damage to floorboards and new plasterboard. The builder said he'd been massively let down by his roofers and employed new ones but the problem wasn't sorted. Meantime he employed a plasterer to go through upstairs and of course the next big shower we had it got soaked.
We demanded a new schedule and evidence that he was working to get things weathertight and finished ASAP. He eventually gave us one, saying it'd been delayed by the manager of his firm.
This went out the window. We'd get the odd day's labour here and there but that was it. We sought legal advice and were told the best way forward would be to try and get him to finish the build, citing the Supply of Goods and Services Act, time being of the essence etc but we met him on site and he seemed confident that things were about to move forward, but he was having a few cash flow problems that'd be solved when two other clients pay money they owe him "in the next week or so".
We fronted up more money (we'd already paid for pretty much everything at this point but like I say if it meant we'd get our house back we were willing to risk it) and paid trade outlets directly for supplies. He promised he'd pay us back and that guys would be on site to fit it all. A labourer did two short days miss coating the crap plaster job then disappeared and I chased the builder yet again.
Then hubby and I got a text message from him saying he's being made bankrupt and will give us administrators details when he gets them.
I've seen a solicitor since who basically laughed me out of his office saying we were stupid to pay in this way and there's virtually nothing we can do.
Our house has been left a mould infested shell, completely uninhabitable and we're now homeless - still stuck at the in laws.
I managed to track down some other victims of this builder, all intelligent professional people and he's done just the same to them. I did some extensive digging on the internet and found not only two more bankruptcies to his name but a news release saying he'd spent several years in prison for drug smuggling!
Aside from all this we haven't had administrators details, but then the original breakdown of works we had was with him as a sole trader, according to his headed paper. His VAT code seems current if that's anything to go by.
We've found he set up a limited company under a different trading name a few weeks after our work started - he is now trading openly under that name and has new jobs on the go.
His name hasn't appeared on the insolvency register and he's even driving around in the same builders van with his old company name and number on it.
Could anyone tell me if we can do anything from here? His home address seems to have moved a lot from what I can see, I'm not sure exactly where he lives now or what assets he has. He'd mentioned before he was renting his place.
Is he allowed to just SAY he's gone bankrupt and ceased trading even if he hasn't, effectively just walking away with ~£25k from us and the same again from others?
What can we do (legally!) to stop him doing this again? I don't particularly want to start a negative publicity campaign on a guy who's been inside - for the safety of my kids if nothing else.
We paid by bank transfer, which isn't covered or insured in any way so we've accepted the money may be gone.
I feel like such an idiot, but honestly if you met him you'd never for a moment think he was anything but a charming, likeable, knowledgable tradesman. He was absolutely 100% believable and I have a pretty sharp BS detector!
Please help! I can't tell you how heartbreaking it is seeing my toddler telling people about the new room he's going to have and knowing what a state the place is in
We bought a two bed 60s chalet bungalow almost two years ago with a view to renovating it a bit and adding a dormer for another bedroom upstairs. We had a toddler and planned to have another baby at some stage.
Fast forward a year and we were expecting our second baby, house plans were approved and we interviewed several builders for the gig. One, in terms of attitude and experience seemed leagues ahead of everyone else, but with a middle of the road quote. He also had many impressive projects on his website and a lady at the local window showroom said he'd done an amazing job on her house.
Jan 14 baby arrived and I came into a little money through an inheritance so we asked the builder to start work. He began in March and requested £5k up front then £5k per week, leaving 10% at the end to be paid once all the snagging was completed a few months after his projected 12-14 week completion estimate.
We moved out as we didn't want to hold back progress by being on site, plus it wouldn't have been a good idea to stay with a new baby and toddler, so we sorted out a four month holiday let, allowing for a bit of flex if things overran.
His team cracked on and things appeared to be progressing well, then after about six weeks workmen began not showing up. We'd challenge our builder on this and every time a different, very reasonable excuse, would be given. One of his big selling points was doing one job at a time to completion then moving on to the next, but soon he started to mention things like "oh, xxx is over at xtown on another job at the moment, he'll be with you later".
As the weeks went by progress continued but seemed slow and as we approached a month to go before moving in it was obvious things were behind. We asked the builder (who only ever seemed to be on site himself to do site visits with us) what the score was and he said he'd need about three extra weeks and that he'd pay for any additional accommodation needed. We decided to go to my in laws. It's a very small house but money was tight and finding very short term lets suitable for a young family was impossible.
So we moved to the in laws and work dried up almost completely. We had heavy rain at the end of June/beginning of July and it was pouring into the house, soaking the new kitchen units in their packaging that'd been left in the front room. This resulted in massive damage to floorboards and new plasterboard. The builder said he'd been massively let down by his roofers and employed new ones but the problem wasn't sorted. Meantime he employed a plasterer to go through upstairs and of course the next big shower we had it got soaked.
We demanded a new schedule and evidence that he was working to get things weathertight and finished ASAP. He eventually gave us one, saying it'd been delayed by the manager of his firm.
This went out the window. We'd get the odd day's labour here and there but that was it. We sought legal advice and were told the best way forward would be to try and get him to finish the build, citing the Supply of Goods and Services Act, time being of the essence etc but we met him on site and he seemed confident that things were about to move forward, but he was having a few cash flow problems that'd be solved when two other clients pay money they owe him "in the next week or so".
We fronted up more money (we'd already paid for pretty much everything at this point but like I say if it meant we'd get our house back we were willing to risk it) and paid trade outlets directly for supplies. He promised he'd pay us back and that guys would be on site to fit it all. A labourer did two short days miss coating the crap plaster job then disappeared and I chased the builder yet again.
Then hubby and I got a text message from him saying he's being made bankrupt and will give us administrators details when he gets them.
I've seen a solicitor since who basically laughed me out of his office saying we were stupid to pay in this way and there's virtually nothing we can do.
Our house has been left a mould infested shell, completely uninhabitable and we're now homeless - still stuck at the in laws.
I managed to track down some other victims of this builder, all intelligent professional people and he's done just the same to them. I did some extensive digging on the internet and found not only two more bankruptcies to his name but a news release saying he'd spent several years in prison for drug smuggling!
Aside from all this we haven't had administrators details, but then the original breakdown of works we had was with him as a sole trader, according to his headed paper. His VAT code seems current if that's anything to go by.
We've found he set up a limited company under a different trading name a few weeks after our work started - he is now trading openly under that name and has new jobs on the go.
His name hasn't appeared on the insolvency register and he's even driving around in the same builders van with his old company name and number on it.
Could anyone tell me if we can do anything from here? His home address seems to have moved a lot from what I can see, I'm not sure exactly where he lives now or what assets he has. He'd mentioned before he was renting his place.
Is he allowed to just SAY he's gone bankrupt and ceased trading even if he hasn't, effectively just walking away with ~£25k from us and the same again from others?
What can we do (legally!) to stop him doing this again? I don't particularly want to start a negative publicity campaign on a guy who's been inside - for the safety of my kids if nothing else.
We paid by bank transfer, which isn't covered or insured in any way so we've accepted the money may be gone.
I feel like such an idiot, but honestly if you met him you'd never for a moment think he was anything but a charming, likeable, knowledgable tradesman. He was absolutely 100% believable and I have a pretty sharp BS detector!
Please help! I can't tell you how heartbreaking it is seeing my toddler telling people about the new room he's going to have and knowing what a state the place is in
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Comments
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Hi,
Can't offer much advise - just thought I'd say sorry to hear about your problems.
Get onto channel 5 cowboy builders program - you never know, they may help you out and help expose this cowboy. Just search channel 5 cowboy builders on google.0 -
Hi cantsleepwontsleep
So sorry to hear about your problem, I'm in a similar situation myself at the minute. Can I ask you to check your home insurance policies, your & your hubby's work/union contracts and anything else you can think of to see if you have legal cover. If you have, you'll be able to take the case to a solicitor who can then chase the builder for you. I'm not saying your problems will be solved but you might get some better advice.
I really hope you get this sorted because I know from experience how stressful and unpleasant this is for you all
Stay strong 0 -
You paid him £5k per week for what size project?????????????????????
Hang on, just revisited.
You have a smallish chalet style bungalow?
And yet you are ok'ing £120k's worth of building work, (£5kn per week x 12-14 weeks)???
I would restart my post, something is missing .I like the thanks button, but ,please, an I agree button.
Will the grammar and spelling police respect I do make grammatical errors, and have carp spelling, no need to remind me.;)
Always expect the unexpected:eek:and then you won't be dissapointed0 -
perhaps they had it demolished and started building a new house?0
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Hello, sorry I wasn't clear. Total cost of the project was about £50k. Mumlady1 - we have legal cover on our home insurance and through work but discovered it doesn't apply if you've made structural alterations to your home.0
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:heartsmil When you find people who not only tolerate your quirks but celebrate them with glad cries of "Me too!" be sure to cherish them. Because these weirdos are your true family.0
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Thank you! That case has so many similarities. I'll share it with the other affected parties.0
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