Any joy with small claims against dodgy builders?

[runjumpclimbswim]

We paid to have our bathroom redone and the builder who did it really messed it up. It's unsafe (he put a nail through a live electrical wire, leaving the next builder to find it?!), didn't fix the toilet down, and its aesthetically awful. Pics here:

photos.app.goo.gl/BoDAgtqd3LX2sENm2

Now we're out what we paid him (2/3 of his fee) plus the cost of the tiles which is almost £3k in total. We now have to buy new tiles and pay someone to sort it all out - which is a bigger job than he had in the first place starting from an old but well fit bathroom.

I have taken pictures of the horror and a have pictures of him doing the work too - as I was documenting things as he went along. I have all my receipts and will have for the new builder. But how can I tell if he has the money to pay me - if I do win? And has anyone taken a claim like this to small claims and won? I don't want to spend any further money that won't lead anywhere.

You could report to trading standards. My friend was done over by one of those dodgy roofing companies and will be going to court in the next few weeks.

Oh good luck to them. I am dreading how long it'll all take!

It really is a horror. You must be so disappointed. We have used the court route to sue (successfully) our project managing surveyor. Don’t let builder know that you are going down Court route until you do as builders frequently close down one business one day and start trading under anothe name the next. Would your household insurance be able to help (although in my experience decisions are made by legal clerks rather than solicitors)? Good luck. Makes my blood boil to see and hear about work like this. Hope you get justice. Post on review sites about him to warn others too.

The small claims fee is so small its totally worth perusing.

We took a builder to court a few years ago, we won the case but he pleaded he had no money, so we were granted an order, that I cannot remember what it was called, but basically in the future if he had assets we could claim the amount from them. It was settled when he wanted to purchase a house with his girlfriend, but it cost us about £3k to pursue and that's the amount we were granted by the court, so basically it wasn't worth doing.

I’m having exactly the same dilemma. Having had a new bathroom fitted and paid in full, the builder has been back 3 times to put right issues. He is now coming back a 4th time to sort out drainage. I feel that the bathroom needs ripping out and starting again but can not afford this. My lovely bathroom has turned into a bodge job. I’ve been looking into small claims but not sure if I will actually gain anything. I have got so many regrets, the main one is picking this builder. I hope yours gets sorted.

Hello All,
Just an update. I put the case together and send him the costs. I told emailed him Thursday and that if he repaid us what we'd paid him by Monday and we'd walk away. Or we'd go after him for the whole amount of the bathroom (about double since includes the cost of all the fixutres). He's elected to pay us back and send through all but £500 last night. Phew. I'm relieved not to have to deal with it any longer and just move on with a big ol lesson learend.

Great news OP.
But what exactly is the lesson learnt? How can we ever be sure about who we hire?