You could always look up his company registration - then find a good lawyer.
Builder runied my house. HELP
- Thread starter vik2001
- Start date
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If you're still in contact with the private BCO then "employ" him directly and ask him to review the work and advise what needs to be regularised to get the job back on track. He's probably not that good a "mate" with the cowboy and hopefully you can get him onside. If that doesn't work submit an application to the local authority; explain the situation and move forward from there, you may have grounds to pursue the private inspector via his professional body if he isn't helpful. Find another builder, if you have 70k?? that should be more than enough to complete the job, otherwise try and raise what you need to get the shell complete and signed off - you can DIY/save up and get the internals done later.
Separate this from the dispute with the cowboy and seek legal advice but make the building your priority.
Personally it looks like worth continuing with the project if at all possible, but if not, ignore the building control issue, get the wall rebuilt as previous, the new drains disconnected and capped off and turn the slab into a patio! No-one will ever know or care.
Separate this from the dispute with the cowboy and seek legal advice but make the building your priority.
Personally it looks like worth continuing with the project if at all possible, but if not, ignore the building control issue, get the wall rebuilt as previous, the new drains disconnected and capped off and turn the slab into a patio! No-one will ever know or care.
Problem with reinstating the wall BC inspector saying it has to meet regs, be 1m deep and have cavity insulation. This brings the wall out to much. Also new foundations under the existing house could cause settlement issues.
Issue with putting the extension up, I don't have the drainage design so worried things won't work. Anyone can help out with that?
Issue with putting the extension up, I don't have the drainage design so worried things won't work. Anyone can help out with that?
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If you're desperate and have no walls just do it. No one will care, if the existing footings haven't been messed with they'll be fine.
If you're proceeding with the extension the drains will be checked by whatever BCO you use, even if some of the floor has to be opened up to allow inspection that's just what it is.
I've I've that bc officer saying he needs to inspect the wall is built back to standard else he fail it.
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Following from what @cdbe has said, you are where you are. You can only move forward. Write to the builder informing that 1) he has broken the contract by not completing the work with skill and care within the agreed time, and that you will not be proceeding with him. 2) As he has broken the contract by not delivering what was agreed (an extension compliant with Building Regs and signed off), you will get others to complete the work and then pursue him for the difference. (you probably won't because it will probably be just Too Hard if you don't have contractual paperwork).
Sack off the BCO. Get a new builder, get new plans drawn, make a new BC application with your local authority. You may have to revise your scope if money is getting tight, but if as you say you still have access to £70K, this will go a very long way towards completing.
You must separate what has gone before, and any remedy you might pursue, and what happens going forward.
Moral of this story - always have a contract, even if it's a very simple one. On one side is the scope - what is agreed to be done, and on the other is the price and what is included and excluded. Never pay up front, except for small % goodwill deposits, and always insist on progress payments to paid every month strictly on work done to date. Any credible builder will accept this.
Sack off the BCO. Get a new builder, get new plans drawn, make a new BC application with your local authority. You may have to revise your scope if money is getting tight, but if as you say you still have access to £70K, this will go a very long way towards completing.
You must separate what has gone before, and any remedy you might pursue, and what happens going forward.
Moral of this story - always have a contract, even if it's a very simple one. On one side is the scope - what is agreed to be done, and on the other is the price and what is included and excluded. Never pay up front, except for small % goodwill deposits, and always insist on progress payments to paid every month strictly on work done to date. Any credible builder will accept this.
A drainage plan would seem excessive, you just need someone competent to lay the drains properly, and it can then be signed off.
As others say, you need to separate getting the house sorted from the old builder. Find someone to take on the work, and as a completely separate task try and get some money back from the old builder
You will inevitably lose some money in all of this, but leaving things as is and hounding the builder will do more damage to your health than cutting some losses and trying to move on, I can assure you.
As others say, you need to separate getting the house sorted from the old builder. Find someone to take on the work, and as a completely separate task try and get some money back from the old builder
You will inevitably lose some money in all of this, but leaving things as is and hounding the builder will do more damage to your health than cutting some losses and trying to move on, I can assure you.
I did look at changing to the local authority bc. Issue I may have here they may ask me to dig pilot holes for existing footing. They wsntt 1m deep but it was about 850mm so may even ask I dig it all out again.
I do want to change but every angle is a risk
I do want to change but every angle is a risk
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Tell him to go f#,ck his mate, the cowboy builder.
See above.
And don't forget to report him.
Again: is the cowboy operating under a LIMITED company???
You're screwed then.
If you sue him he will fold the company and you'll end up with nothing.
Are you sure you don't have an email or text saying something along the line of "Building extension as per supplied plans for £50k"?
Time to call some big friends and go around his house for a cuppa if you ask me.
BTW, why did you give a stranger £50k in cash just to demolish a wall???
And what happened to the cowboy?
Has he disappeared?
Blocked your number?
Moved abroad?
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Anybody who wants £50K or anything anywhere near it in cash should be setting alarm bells and sirens off!, and you should be able to hear the clip-clop of hooves and the rattle of spurs from a mile away... Write it off and move on. Even if you do pursue how are you going to prove that the money paid so far isn't the correct amount for the work done so far?
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