How soon can I get divorce?

I separated from my husband a year-and-ahalf ago but he won’t consent to a divorce. I am furious as financial and other matters have been agreed between us and we don’t have any children under 16. What can I do? The simplified or DIY divorce procedure is an option if you are prepared to wait for six months. This can be applied for if the marriage has broken down irretrievably and if you have been separated for two years, even without your husband’s consent. “The drain is in the wrong place so the water doesn’t run away. The floor moves when you walk on it and the place smells of sewage when you flush the toilet. “The place is also freezing. They added a tiny radiator as an afterthought but it doesn’t work properly. The toilet is also too low – it’s not at disabled access height. “The special sliding door fell off and jammed the first time I closed it. None of the walls are straight, all the plaster work needs to be replaced and the outside area, which they promised to return with a digger to fix, was left with big holes.” Catherine tried to reach Thomson when she realised the extent of the problems but his mobile was unobtainable. She sent emails but heard nothing. I soon discovered that Thomson and his wife had been fined £ 300 and £1500 at Dunfermline Sheriff Court in October 2016 for a string of breaches of trading regulations.

They traded as a limited company, Whitehill Builders Ltd, from Aberdour, Fife. That firm went into liquidation in September.

I got on to the firm and Allison Thomson replied. She claimed the job was only two days late, which Catherine refutes, and that she had posted a glowing review. Catherine said they had asked her to post online to help trade, making promises the work would be completed but it never was. Thomson said the issue with the floor was not their doing, the ceiling was fit for purpose and the drain was where Catherine wanted it.

She added: “The toilet was purchased in agreement with the customer, the walls were straight and the radiator meets regulations. The outside of the property was not left in a mess. We will not be refunding any money.”

So Catherine plans to take further action. The liquidators of the limited company, wound up by HMRC for failing to pay tax, have reported the Thomsons to The Insolvency Service for refusing to co- operate. Rated People have removed them from their site.

Watch this space.