What do I do?

[Onedayphd]

Long story short I'm a single mum and tried to build my own home.
I paid for the project to be managed and the works to be inspected before any stage payment was made .. this by a RICS registered surveyor.
Obviously building control were involved for sign off as were the warranty company for new build property.

They took every penny I could borrow.
I have been left with somewhere that I'm mortgaged up the hilt for that is cold damp and depressing and non compliant.
The spec was ignored. The house has no working central heating, the electric fittings give us shocks light fittings falling from walls, plug sockets too.The drains dont work, we are not on mains drainage and the smell is foul. It's not building regs compliant despite being signed off as such. I could go on. Expert witness says at least 100-150k to put right and we have to move out for 4 months.

I've been told this happened as I was a woman trying to build on my own.
I'm not thick although feel it now. I was and still am desperate for a safe family home.

Have been told to expect costly legal battle if I want builders to put things right. Have tried and failed yto get builders and surveyors to sort out the issues and have been ghosted.

sorry, that sounds horrible.

you mentioned a warranty company so is there a warranty for the work?
can you get a lawyer to write letter to the builders / surveyors?

can you line up a builder you trust to fix the issues?

can you live in a caravan or similar on site for the summer while things get fixed?

Looking at this superficially, you would have a case against then under contract law against the surveyor that signed off the work and the builder. You need the builder's company name and address and the surveyor's company name.

Sometimes all people need is a swift kick up the backside with a threat of legal action to get the ball rolling. Get a good solicitor, approved by the SRA and take legal advice.

At times it sucks being a woman. It's a hard lesson to learn when you realise that men will always try and rip you off, if they know they can. I feel for you 💐

Building Control will only sign off specific things. The Project Management company are responsible for items not meeting the spec (if the spec was correct in the first place). You have a good case, but you need to determine the weak link. Was it the spec, was it the build, or a combination. Why aren’t you in mains drainage? Was it specified you would be? Look at the contract scopes for each party. They will have liability insurance.

Whoever advised you it was because you are woman needs prosecuting in my opinion! It’s got nothing to do with it. Most people won’t have a clue about building a house, project management, specs, etc. I have a lot of experience in this trade and the people who get fleeced tend to be male actually. It all depends on your level of knowledge, time availability to check things, etc. I’m not saying you don’t have this, but the problem here is not to do with your sex. You have a strong case depending on the contracts you have. Check them and go for not just the money for making it habitable and associated snagging, but also your moving out cost.