12/04/2019
Story Fest 2019
Last year we were forced to cancel Story Fest but offered no explanation despite requests for one. We had hoped to bring it back this year. Sorry, but we are unable to so but, at least this year I can provide the explanation.
Reason
On 18 September 2017 (one day after the last Story Fest) builders arrived to start a 5-6 month, straight forward renovation of our house. The builders were recommended by our RIBA registered Architect/Project Manager/Overseer of Construction, who was local and recommended by two friends. He’d used the builders at least twice before. We left the “experts” to do their work. That was until we spotted a misaligned wall. The builder demanded an extra payment to rectify it and was supported by our Architect. The Structural Engineer came out at our request and provided a solution. He instructed the builder to carry out the remedial works at no extra costs to us as it was clearly a builder error.
19 months later we are still living in an unfinished and unsafe building site with the builder having left site on 13 July 2018 without warning and has ignored all attempts to contact him, having pocketed £235,000 of a fixed price job of £222,000 – made possible by the inappropriate pay structure endorsed and supported by our Architect despite our concerns. This money was from our life savings, inheritance and large borrowings.
The cowboy builder also owes us £80,000 for items he couldn’t/wouldn’t or didn’t supply but have been paid for.
The estimate based on the damning (of the builder and the architect) Chartered Surveyors Report including numerous breaches of Building Regulations and stands at approximately £170,000 + VAT for extensive remedial works and to finish the job. (We expect to find more hidden serious issues when work re- commences). I’ve not been able to work for over 12 months trying instead to crisis manage this hideous situation and protect our personal belongings.
You’ll appreciate this ongoing crisis both physically and financially makes it impossible for me to organise Story Fest.
All the costumes/resources are stuck in a bedroom and as we’ve only got a ladder to access upstairs and no where to move items to as every room in the house is affected. (See attached photographs). And yes, screed had been laid over those gas and water pipes – far less than the 75mm screed specified and to be within Building Regulations (minimum 65 mm). In fact, now the pipes are lagged they’re level with the original floor. Truly terrifying!
To date the cowboy builder has ignored two letters from our solicitors requesting engagement to reach a solution and give insurance details. He has also failed to return our signed copy of the contract (which he took from our house) despite the solicitors and our request. Now there is a word for that sort of behaviour – taking something that belongs to another without permission. But I just can’t think of it at the moment. Both these individuals know it will cost £80,000 - £100,000 to bring a claim against them. “I’m a businessman and I don’t care who I f ……over” Only part of that quote from our cowboy builder that’s not accurate is “businessman”. It needs to be replaced by “crook/fraudster/ a complete incompetent” that is except for lying. His talent for this is masterly. In fact, outstanding and beyond most people’s comprehension.
Should our cowboy builder and Architect/Project Manager not become proactive to reach a satisfactory settlement to enable us to get out of this dire situation, and put our lives back on track, then we will take measures to publicly ensure these people are never in a position to harm others – physically or financially ever again.
These measures will include; -
• Naming individuals – you can change a company name (which we suspect he’s up to now) but its harder to change individual names and faces,
Releasing
• the Chartered Surveyors Report (s) (several visits at our expense).
• the Structural Engineers Reports (over 10 visits at our expense)
• the Building Control Reports
• Emails
Reporting
• his Ltd company we had a contract with (drawn up by the Architect) is NOT registered.
• suspected tax and VAT fraud (known cash deposits and cash jobs).
• Non-ECA registration despite displaying their kite mark on documentation.
• He’s done extensive electrical work around the Oxford area. We have the details. For example – the builder asked an electrician to run an electric underfloor heating system from a wall socket. The electrician refused, stating it was against regulations and dangerous. It is alleged the cowboy builder and his right hand man – a plasterer by trade but equally incompetent and dishonest went ahead and fitted it regardless. He’d do anything the Boss asked to ensure he got his overtime, tax-free cash every Friday afternoon which allegedly was more than his actual salary regularly working from 7am to 10pm.
• Alleged removal and disposal of asbestos without a licence – we have details of several properties.
• Money laundering.
1. Trading & Standards need to investigate.
2. Fraud Squad need to investigate
3. ECA need to investigate
4. Asbestos control regulatory body need to investigate
5. RIBA needs to investigate.
6. HMRC AND Inland Revenue need to investigate.
And I’m sure there will be more to add before this fiasco is over.
He’s been running 2 companies in parallel – one legitimate (his deceased father’s company) and the other not. This is how he’s managed to go under so many radars to date.
I will be:
• Starting a blog to highlight the problems we encountered including other peoples bad experiences too, with detailed evidence including reports and photographs in the hope that others will avoid a similar situation. The Blog will be called Cowboy Builders, let the rodeo begin; time you got bucked off.
• I will also be initiating a petition to request the Government to introduce new legislation and regulations to eliminate cowboy builders. These regulations exist in other EU countries. The UK law as it stands is not only enabling these crooks to operate and defraud/harm people but actively providing no deterrent as it stands as they are untouchable if you’ve not got a spare £100k to get them into Court. Then they pull the bankruptcy stunt! The consumer deserves and is entitled to protection by law and decent, honest, competent tradesmen also deserve our business and respect.
What sort of person would remove a structurally sound supporting block wall for no reason and replace it with stud causing major structural issues? Or take down an existing structurally sound wall and build it’s replacement in the wrong place! Fit an unsupported staircase, deliberately ignoring the Structural Engineers report and instruction to rectify the problem he caused by removing the lintels etc, etc.
1. We have been contacted by other clients with similar issues.
2. Sub-contractors chasing him for monies owed. (Not just our job).
3. Suppliers for monies owed. (Not just our job)
4. He has several CCJ’s against his name which he has allegedly ignored from sub-contractors on various jobs.
These men are still operating!
At the present time this build stands us at approximately £300,000 and we need at least £250,000 to put it right. Not even taking into consideration £100,000 for legal action.
If this can happen to us with all the precautions we took it can happen to anyone.
Fingers crossed our insurance company are going to come good and support us in taking further necessary steps and legal action if the cowboy builder and architect fail to act with integrity.
We’re hoping for a resolution. IF one is found Story Fest will return – promise.
