Unfinished building job will cost me at least another £50,000 to put right
IF YOU decide to pay someone to do up your property it is vital to find a tradesman you can work with – a mistake can bring misery and cost you thousands.
Lisa Denning, 51, says she suffered a nightmare renovation that will cost her £100,000 and is so distressed she is unable to move back to her home of the past 15 years.
The promotions consultant paid £60,000 upfront last year to builder John Chappell of Bexley, Kent, to renovate the £1.5million five-bedroom home she owns in North London.
Work ground to a halt in November with the house still in a state of disrepair. Lisa says it will cost £50,000 to put it back to a good standard.
Despite winning a decision from the Association of Independent Construction Adjudicators that she was entitled to damages, Lisa says she has only received a ‘small interim payment’ and the return of a £10,000 deposit for windows.
Chappell offered £16,000 to end the dispute, but this was rejected by Lisa, who says it is not enough to put the house in order. She says: ‘I made a huge mistake. I was led to believe that handing over so much money before a job was OK. Within a month the builder came back asking for more. I am devastated and regret not doing more research.’
Tristan Agland, of Hutton’s Solicitors working on behalf of Chappell, said: ‘Our client prides himself on the quality of workmanship and has a long history of satisfied clients.
‘Our client accepts some of the work taken fell outside the terms of the contract. As the contract was terminated by Denning our client was not bound by the adjudication but was prepared to use the process as a means of finding a fair and prompt resolution to the complaint.’