Hey everyone,
Just after some advice really, we started a big project with a builder back at the end of February. We found him on my builder and he had good reviews etc met him a few times and had great discussions about our plans etc.
Anyway he started out ok with the footings etc we paid him 25% of the cost up front and had the ground works done, he asked for more money and we paid him, brick layers started and the work became very slow, we were both at work from very early until 7pm so didn't see anyone but could tell that not much was happening with regards to the work that was planned.
Basically he's had £110,000 from us ( that's not the whole amount we agreed at the start, but a huge chunk) and is now completely avoiding us and practically ghosting us, ignoring calls and messages, every time he's supposed to be here he has a family emergency or is away for a few days etc, he told us previously that he's paid for windows, internal and external doors roof lantern, roof tiles and all carpentry plus other stuff. The last few times he's asked for more money I've had to refuse and insist that he gets the current jobs completed first.
In the last month we've had about two half days of work done. He keeps promising that bricks are being delivered but they never show up.
He lives fairly local to us and I just can't understand why he would behave like this. I've since found out that he hasn't paid any of the tradesmen, brickies, groundwork's or carpenters, even though he's taken over £100000 from us. He gave break downs of where all the money was supposed to be going and I paid him by bank transfer.
He is registered at his home address as a limited company, and I'm terrified that this means that not only will I never get the building works completed but that I can't claim against him if he simply decides to fold the company.
At the moment we are living on a building site which is stressful enough, but the reason for the extension was because my husband has numerous health conditions and needs easy access accommodation with a wet room etc. I can't even let my dog out into the garden because it's not safe.
There's no way I can afford to get the work completed by someone else as I had to double my mortgage to get the money to pay for this work, equally I can't face living like this for the long term.
Does anyone have any advice, obviously I know in hind sight I shouldn't have handed over so much money, I trusted this guy because he seemed so professional and had good reviews on my builder but has since deleted his account with them.
I don't even know what I'd say to him if he did show up, I'm so upset and dh really doesn't need all this added stress as he has so much to deal with at the moment with his health.
If you've got this far thanks 🙏