Builder not turning up?

[WelshRach33]

Hi
Wondering if anyone knows what rights I have as thinking of cancelling on this guy. (And btw I know I should've done more thorough checks!)
I found his company on Facebook and asked him to build me a summerhouse & sent him a photo of one I found online. He said yes, told me a price (£4600) & did the concrete base which I paid him for (£1200). This all took several months to get to this stage & he kept texting to say he was coming on a certain day then didn't come or text as to why. Fair enough, other jobs etc but why not text to say can't come?
Then he says he's building the framework off site and will bring it in stages. He says he needs money to pay for materials but doesn't say how much or send me an invoice
Then a week later says he's coming to install the base on a certain day & yet again doesn't turn up.
I don't know what to do, I don't know if he has made anything, if I owe him anything? I feel like just saying forget it but will that land me in a heap of trouble, I have no idea. No contract or drawings of anything like that just texts between us.

By the way one of the main reasons it's bothering me so much is that it's going on the back property line to save space in the garden as it's small (my fences were v old and blew down in the winter) so I have no back to my property & haven't done for a long time. Single parent etc etc

I think you need to be a bit more assertive with him. Get him on the telephone and explain that you need him to finish the work by such and such a date or you'll get someone else to finish it.

and when it's finished, give him a bad review.

I wouldn't be paying anything in advance. Or without a proper invoice.

Oddly he's just turned up maybe he's a mumsnetter
He is putting together a wooden framework on the base.
So if I get him to send me an invoice, how do I know it's for work done or to be done? Should I pay anything for work/materials still to be done ? I feel bad not doing so because obviously he has to pay for them? I've no idea how much a wooden frame this size would be in materials. Gawd I wish I'd done more checks or just got a well known company or something 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️

And yes you're right about being assertive. Trouble is, I'm in no way shape or form assertive! Most like that I've ever said to him is that I feel very insecure about having no back on the property safety wise so please could he do it ASAP!

Should I pay anything for work/materials still to be done?

Not after what's been happening you shouldn't. By all means pay him in stages after each bit is completed, but certainly no more than that
As for materials, paying up front's probably only safe if they're delivered to you ratther than him, but a reputable tradesman will have accounts with suppliers and won't be paying upfront himself anyway

Okay so he certainly doesn't sound reputable, but there's no reason to make that more your problem than it already is

Is it normal for people to pay half now and half on completion?

So if the total is £4,600 and you’ve paid £1,200, you could give him some more as long as it’s not over a further £1,100 and I would be reluctant to do that until he comes up with some more stuff.

PS Do you know you can’t sue someone unless you have a physical address to serve papers to? Just saying.