Lawyer urgently needed - cowboy builders and defective extension

[cantaloupey]

We've had a horrible experience with cowboy builders and a defective extension which is going to have to be rebuilt. Huge amount of money lost.

Can anyone recommend a specialist lawyer? We know we may not get our money back but we want to look into our options even if our only recourse is complaining to trading standards.

It's a bit long winded and you do really need a lawyer but you can reinstate a company (so you can sue them) but you'd only do that if you know there is insurance in the background.

In case anyone is reading this before they hire a builder (to avoid such problems) you should be asking for references, look online, get the full name and address for the owner(s) and check their insurance policy - a good builder should be offering all this information upfront without you asking twice. Word of mouth is always the best way to find a builder, eg the man we use (smaller jobs so far) was recommended by multiple people in my town who has had him in. Finally make sure your own house insurance knows you are doing work on your home and consider insurance against builder issues yourself - my insurance offered me a policy for £80 add on when I did major works a few years ago, wasn't needed but it was a safeguard.