0:00:04 > 0:00:05Up and down the country,
0:00:05 > 0:00:08rogue traders are blighting people's lives.
0:00:08 > 0:00:11It got to a point where I was giving him all this money,
0:00:11 > 0:00:16I couldn't see any of the materials on site and I certainly couldn't see any progress with the work.
0:00:16 > 0:00:20And, cowboy builders, I'm here to expose your dirty tricks,
0:00:20 > 0:00:23so that homeowners can ride you out of town.
0:00:23 > 0:00:28He did not come to work here for a good five to six weeks.
0:00:28 > 0:00:31It was raining, it was pouring.
0:00:31 > 0:00:33All the water would come inside.
0:00:33 > 0:00:38I know the best ways of sorting the good guys from the bad.
0:00:38 > 0:00:40He wasn't doing any more work on the house,
0:00:40 > 0:00:43but he was coming in and out of my house, using all the facilities -
0:00:43 > 0:00:49helping himself to food out of the cupboard and the fridge, making tea and coffee.
0:00:49 > 0:00:55And I'll be sharing that advice in the hope that it will prevent you from falling into the cowboy trap.
0:01:03 > 0:01:06Today we're in Greenwich, London, where a keen cook
0:01:06 > 0:01:09dreamed of a perfect kitchen to entertain her guests.
0:01:09 > 0:01:13It was all going to be nice and sleek and classic.
0:01:13 > 0:01:17For me, I was just really excited and looking forward to it.
0:01:17 > 0:01:21But a bodging builder turned it into a kitchen nightmare.
0:01:21 > 0:01:25It was completely unusable. None of the electrics were connected.
0:01:25 > 0:01:28Um, and... I couldn't use... I couldn't cook.
0:01:28 > 0:01:33And we're in Leamington Spa, where a growing family needed to extend their home.
0:01:33 > 0:01:35'Sangeeta got pregnant.'
0:01:35 > 0:01:38We thought, "We need to extend this house,"
0:01:38 > 0:01:40because the little one was coming.
0:01:40 > 0:01:42But their builder didn't deliver
0:01:42 > 0:01:45and left the family living in a half-finished house
0:01:45 > 0:01:48and a trail of destruction into the garden.
0:01:48 > 0:01:52There was water coming through the electric bulbs.
0:01:52 > 0:01:56Wherever there is switches, there's water coming through that.
0:01:56 > 0:01:59First up, we're in Greenwich, south-east London,
0:01:59 > 0:02:03where Zoe Banfield has lived happily for almost 10 years.
0:02:03 > 0:02:06With friends, family and neighbours often popping in,
0:02:06 > 0:02:09her fantasy was a fabulous new kitchen
0:02:09 > 0:02:12where she could cook, dine and entertain.
0:02:12 > 0:02:18Basically, we chose a kitchen that was in my budget, because I didn't want to spend too much money.
0:02:18 > 0:02:21But also was a really practical design,
0:02:21 > 0:02:24but gave the kitchen a completely different feel.
0:02:24 > 0:02:29Dreading the upheaval, Zoe delayed her building dreams for a few years.
0:02:29 > 0:02:33But then, when she was ready to go, she went for it full-on.
0:02:33 > 0:02:40She wanted a new kitchen, French doors to the garden, redecoration throughout and smart new floors.
0:02:40 > 0:02:46A local builder quoted £8,000 for labour and Zoe agreed to buy the materials.
0:02:46 > 0:02:49She paid £2,000 to get the job started.
0:02:49 > 0:02:51But paying up-front wasn't her only mistake.
0:02:51 > 0:02:56He was very trustworthy, he said that he would do a really good job for me.
0:02:56 > 0:03:02He was very reassuring. He completely had my confidence and all my trust.
0:03:02 > 0:03:06I felt more than happy at that point to hand over a copy of my house keys.
0:03:06 > 0:03:10Follow my top tips to stay out of trouble.
0:03:10 > 0:03:12You wouldn't give your keys to a stranger,
0:03:12 > 0:03:15which is exactly what your builder is.
0:03:15 > 0:03:17Take time off to oversee building work
0:03:17 > 0:03:21or arrange for someone you trust to be there for you.
0:03:21 > 0:03:22If you hand over your keys,
0:03:22 > 0:03:26who knows what will happen by the time you come home.
0:03:26 > 0:03:31When Zoe got home, her builder had started work in lots of different rooms.
0:03:31 > 0:03:37Towards the end of June, I just noticed that more and more things in the house were being taken apart.
0:03:37 > 0:03:41It almost seemed to me as if he was taking apart the kitchen
0:03:41 > 0:03:44and then moved onto the hallway and took the hallway apart
0:03:44 > 0:03:47and then moved onto the bedroom and took that apart.
0:03:47 > 0:03:48It became quite stressful.
0:03:48 > 0:03:53Even though Zoe's stress levels were rising, she tried to stay calm.
0:03:53 > 0:03:59That is, until the builder started asking for extra cash to purchase materials.
0:03:59 > 0:04:03He kept asking for more money and saying that I was holding up the job.
0:04:03 > 0:04:07That what I needed to do was give him the money to go out and buy the materials himself.
0:04:07 > 0:04:12I just said, "If you give me a list of materials, I can go and buy them or get them ordered."
0:04:12 > 0:04:15He said it would be much easier if I gave him the money.
0:04:15 > 0:04:21Zoe was reluctant to hand over so much money and repeatedly asked for receipts.
0:04:21 > 0:04:27During this period, Zoe's insurance company was paying another firm of builders to fix some subsidence.
0:04:27 > 0:04:32Concerned about her rising costs, she asked one of the new builders for advice.
0:04:32 > 0:04:36They offered to look through all of the receipts he gave me for materials.
0:04:36 > 0:04:42On the whole they said most of the receipts, the materials wouldn't have been used at my house.
0:04:42 > 0:04:44They weren't anywhere on site.
0:04:44 > 0:04:50While the bill for materials was rising, Zoe's home was becoming practically uninhabitable.
0:04:50 > 0:04:53There was no kitchen, electricity, gas or plumbing,
0:04:53 > 0:04:56so she couldn't cook or do laundry.
0:04:56 > 0:04:59She's had to spend lots of time over at her mum's house.
0:04:59 > 0:05:04It was very difficult for her because I was having to come over practically every weekend,
0:05:04 > 0:05:07do all my washing here
0:05:07 > 0:05:12and then also be cooking food and taking it back to my house.
0:05:12 > 0:05:16I did have a microwave. So I could have some food.
0:05:16 > 0:05:19But, for me, it just wasn't really, you know, practical.
0:05:19 > 0:05:21It's not particularly healthy, either.
0:05:21 > 0:05:24Zoe was at her wit's end.
0:05:24 > 0:05:28The job was still unfinished, but when she refused to hand over more cash for materials,
0:05:28 > 0:05:33the builder stopped work. Zoe was forced to take action.
0:05:33 > 0:05:37I'd contacted Consumer Gov. I'd taken advice from them.
0:05:37 > 0:05:42They told me about sending him a letter and actually relating his work to the aspects of the law
0:05:42 > 0:05:46and the fact that he hadn't carried it out with reasonable care and attention,
0:05:46 > 0:05:50it hadn't been done to a reasonable standard or for a reasonable price.
0:05:50 > 0:05:56Zoe's builder promised he would renovate her kitchen and decorate the entire house for £8,000.
0:05:56 > 0:06:04Zoe handed over £6,800 - almost all the money - but was left with a shell for a kitchen.
0:06:04 > 0:06:10You know, it drives me nuts that cowboy builders target women and, in particular, single women.
0:06:10 > 0:06:13So, just how did Zoe fall for this guy's tricks?
0:06:13 > 0:06:16I've come to see the damage for myself.
0:06:18 > 0:06:20Hi, I'm Clive from Cowboy Trap.
0:06:20 > 0:06:23- Nice to meet you.- Nice to meet you.
0:06:23 > 0:06:26I believe you've had problems with cowboy builders?
0:06:26 > 0:06:28- Yes, I have.- Would you mind showing me the damage?
0:06:28 > 0:06:30- No, no.- OK, let's go.
0:06:35 > 0:06:39OK. We're in a state of semi-disrepair.
0:06:39 > 0:06:42OK. So, what have the problems been?
0:06:42 > 0:06:44First of all, what did you want in here?
0:06:44 > 0:06:47Well, I wanted a brand new kitchen installed.
0:06:47 > 0:06:50I wanted the floor and the walls tiled
0:06:50 > 0:06:52and the rest of the decoration work painted.
0:06:52 > 0:06:55And then recess lights in the ceiling as well.
0:06:55 > 0:06:58What were the other problems that you've got in here?
0:06:58 > 0:07:03Well, really, none of the electrics are connected for the washing machine, dishwasher.
0:07:03 > 0:07:09Obviously I was concerned because all the exposed electrical wires, some have been cut through.
0:07:09 > 0:07:12- I'm not sure whether they're live. - Wow, I just noticed that.
0:07:12 > 0:07:15I can see bare copper under the PVC from here.
0:07:15 > 0:07:18- I'm intrigued to know what that is. - And it's running water.
0:07:18 > 0:07:23So I have to make sure I've put some sheets behind there
0:07:23 > 0:07:26to cover it so I can actually do the washing-up.
0:07:26 > 0:07:32But essentially, all the electrical work is questionable and the oven's not working.
0:07:32 > 0:07:37There is gas supplied to the hob, but I'm not using it because I'm just so concerned
0:07:37 > 0:07:41that none of it's done properly and really from a safety aspect.
0:07:41 > 0:07:42OK, that's a good idea.
0:07:42 > 0:07:50Particularly if you didn't know that the guys who installed it were Gas Safe registered.
0:07:50 > 0:07:52Would you have known that?
0:07:52 > 0:07:56Now, because of all the other problems, I'm not sure at all.
0:07:56 > 0:08:03All of the reassurances I did have, have basically been undermined by all the dishonesty.
0:08:03 > 0:08:06OK. Well, it certainly does look a bit of a mess at the moment.
0:08:06 > 0:08:12I'm really worried about the exposed electric cables in Zoe's unfinished kitchen.
0:08:12 > 0:08:14We definitely need to get this sorted.
0:08:14 > 0:08:18We do know good guys and we're going to get good guys into your property.
0:08:18 > 0:08:20What would you like us to do?
0:08:20 > 0:08:24I just think it's back to the original dream, the kitchen.
0:08:24 > 0:08:27The kitchen would just be amazing because...
0:08:27 > 0:08:28Just the simple things -
0:08:28 > 0:08:33just to be able to cook a nice meal, not keep living off take-out.
0:08:33 > 0:08:36Having my friends round - I really do miss that.
0:08:36 > 0:08:40I wouldn't dream of inviting anybody round because I'm so embarrassed.
0:08:40 > 0:08:42It's high time Zoe got her kitchen.
0:08:42 > 0:08:46And our team is standing by, ready to right the wrongs.
0:08:55 > 0:08:58Coming up, there's an emergency at Zoe's
0:08:58 > 0:09:02and we have to evacuate because of the bodged gas work.
0:09:02 > 0:09:06Done the pressure test, straight off the gas meter.
0:09:06 > 0:09:08Noticed straightaway there was a drop.
0:09:10 > 0:09:15Next up, we're in Leamington Spa, where the waters have healing qualities.
0:09:15 > 0:09:21But there was nothing therapeutic about the way the Prabhakar family's cowboy treated them.
0:09:21 > 0:09:24Travel agent, Sangeeta, and shop manager, Rohit,
0:09:24 > 0:09:28wanted a new extension to accommodate their growing family.
0:09:28 > 0:09:30As well as the extra space, they needed a new roof
0:09:30 > 0:09:35and a landscaped garden so their children would have somewhere safe to play.
0:09:35 > 0:09:42We were looking for an individual bedroom for each child and a spare room for the guests.
0:09:42 > 0:09:48We wanted to put an annexe with it because at times we have family visiting from India.
0:09:48 > 0:09:50So we wanted an attached annexe with it.
0:09:50 > 0:09:56And we wanted...with the master bedroom we wanted en suite.
0:09:56 > 0:10:00We wanted a new kitchen, new bathrooms.
0:10:00 > 0:10:03Basically, we were changing everything in the house.
0:10:03 > 0:10:10Sangeeta and Rohit had grand designs for their new extension and hired an architect to draw up the plans.
0:10:10 > 0:10:14Cost us a good six grand to get the whole thing designed.
0:10:14 > 0:10:18You know, we were ecstatic
0:10:18 > 0:10:23when it got through the planning permission.
0:10:23 > 0:10:28When Sangeeta and Rohit's planning permission was granted by the local authority,
0:10:28 > 0:10:33they suddenly found they were inundated with offers from builders to do the job.
0:10:33 > 0:10:38It all got sanctioned and we started getting letters from lots of builders, local companies,
0:10:38 > 0:10:42companies from different parts of the country,
0:10:42 > 0:10:45saying, "You've put an application for an extension,
0:10:45 > 0:10:49"so we'd be more than happy to carry out work for you."
0:10:49 > 0:10:53We invited a few builders to have a conversation.
0:10:53 > 0:10:57Follow my top tips when you're planning a new build.
0:10:57 > 0:10:59When you apply for planning permission,
0:10:59 > 0:11:03the local authority announces your request in the local press
0:11:03 > 0:11:06to find out if there are any objections.
0:11:06 > 0:11:11Builders read these notices too and use them to find their next job.
0:11:11 > 0:11:14But just because a builder approaches you,
0:11:14 > 0:11:15don't assume they are good.
0:11:15 > 0:11:17You must do all the usual checks,
0:11:17 > 0:11:21which is exactly what Sangeeta and Rohit did.
0:11:21 > 0:11:26We checked the references he had given us. Everybody recommended him.
0:11:26 > 0:11:32They said, "He's a good builder, he's worked for us and he's quite reliable, he's local."
0:11:32 > 0:11:35We asked him to show us some work,
0:11:35 > 0:11:38physically take us somewhere where he is working.
0:11:38 > 0:11:41So he did take us to a construction site.
0:11:41 > 0:11:47Happy with the builder's references and the job they'd seen, the Prabhakars signed a contract.
0:11:47 > 0:11:50They took on a large mortgage to pay for the work.
0:11:50 > 0:11:54The builder immediately brought in diggers for the foundations
0:11:54 > 0:11:57and removed the old roof tiles from the main house.
0:11:57 > 0:12:03In the beginning, he came with lots of people, they were very regular.
0:12:03 > 0:12:06They would come around 8.30 and they'd be here until 5.00.
0:12:06 > 0:12:13The initial impression was, "I think he'll finish quicker than 16 weeks, the way he is doing it.
0:12:13 > 0:12:15"It's going to be much quicker."
0:12:15 > 0:12:17We were happy with the way it was going.
0:12:17 > 0:12:22But a few weeks into the four-month job, the builder disappeared.
0:12:22 > 0:12:26But after maybe three or four weeks,
0:12:26 > 0:12:29he suddenly vanished.
0:12:29 > 0:12:31He stopped answering the calls.
0:12:31 > 0:12:38At that point, he had stripped the roof off the front rooms of the main house.
0:12:38 > 0:12:44And he did not come to work here for a good five to six weeks.
0:12:44 > 0:12:47And it was raining, it was pouring.
0:12:47 > 0:12:50All the water would come inside.
0:12:50 > 0:12:55The builder left the family without a roof and 18 grand out of pocket.
0:12:55 > 0:12:58They tried phoning and writing, but he never replied.
0:12:58 > 0:13:01Then, seven weeks later, he did something surprising.
0:13:01 > 0:13:03He came back.
0:13:03 > 0:13:07He said he'd been through a bad time but he was back on the job now.
0:13:07 > 0:13:10He was like, "I'm really sorry. I went through a bad phase."
0:13:10 > 0:13:14I had a good hint here that he is lying at some point.
0:13:14 > 0:13:18But still, we thought, "OK, let him come back. He'll finish the work."
0:13:18 > 0:13:21Work continued in fits and starts
0:13:21 > 0:13:25until the Prabhakars had handed over a grand total of £58,000
0:13:25 > 0:13:29and work stopped for good.
0:13:29 > 0:13:35The house was almost uninhabitable, with parents and two children all living in just one bedroom.
0:13:35 > 0:13:38We were paying a mortgage
0:13:38 > 0:13:44for a house that was basically worth nothing.
0:13:45 > 0:13:50And we were living in... a one-bedroom house.
0:13:50 > 0:13:56The house was left with no roof, no stairs, no floors, no electricity and no gas.
0:13:56 > 0:14:01The Prabhakars had to pay new builders 36 grand to complete their extension.
0:14:01 > 0:14:04But there was no money left to sort out
0:14:04 > 0:14:07the trail of destruction the builder left behind in the garden.
0:14:07 > 0:14:12The family have worked really hard to repair the damage the cowboy builder left behind.
0:14:12 > 0:14:15But their resources can only stretch so far.
0:14:15 > 0:14:19So it's time for me to meet them and find out what I can do to help.
0:14:26 > 0:14:30- I'm Clive Holland from Cowboy Trap. How are you? - I'm all right, thank you.
0:14:30 > 0:14:33I hear that you've had cowboy builders in the property.
0:14:33 > 0:14:36- Yes, we did.- Do you mind showing me the damage they've caused?
0:14:36 > 0:14:39- Sure, no worries.- Great, let's have a look.- Please come.
0:14:39 > 0:14:44Sangeeta and Rohit have already paid new builders to put right all the damage inside the house.
0:14:44 > 0:14:48But they can't afford to fix the builder's trail of destruction outside.
0:14:48 > 0:14:53And, ironically, they paid him £1,600 to landscape the garden
0:14:53 > 0:14:57and £400 for labour to build the decking.
0:14:57 > 0:15:01- OK. So, he did this decking as well, yeah?- Yes, he did.
0:15:01 > 0:15:09OK, well, first thing I can see is the fact that there is no gap between the actual decking at all.
0:15:09 > 0:15:15There should be at least a four or five mil gap between each of the pieces of decking.
0:15:15 > 0:15:17Right.
0:15:17 > 0:15:20Oh, yeah. Right, OK. So, that's no good.
0:15:20 > 0:15:26The thing is, it is a living, breathing thing, timber, as you know. It will swell and shrink.
0:15:26 > 0:15:32We weren't aware of how it has to be done for the big decking we needed for the children.
0:15:32 > 0:15:35So we paid him to get it sorted.
0:15:35 > 0:15:39It's certainly something that needs taking a look at. Right, Sangeeta.
0:15:39 > 0:15:43Looking at these, these spindles here are too far apart.
0:15:43 > 0:15:49The legal distance apart to meet building regs has to be a maximum of 100 mil.
0:15:49 > 0:15:53Normally, a lot of builders will do it to 99 mil.
0:15:53 > 0:15:58I always say that round about 90-95 mil should be your spacings between there.
0:15:58 > 0:16:00Looking at it, it's started to come apart.
0:16:00 > 0:16:02- Yes, it has.- Yeah, look at that.
0:16:02 > 0:16:05I don't think it's very well supported.
0:16:05 > 0:16:09If my kids lean against it, it's quite dangerous.
0:16:09 > 0:16:11I think if anybody leans against that...
0:16:11 > 0:16:15Particularly that long length over there I would imagine is even more dangerous.
0:16:15 > 0:16:20The garden looks a real mess as well, doesn't it? Is that all from the build?
0:16:20 > 0:16:22Yes. It's all from the build.
0:16:22 > 0:16:26Well, he did hire skips in between, but most of the time
0:16:26 > 0:16:30he would either burn the stuff here or he would just dump it over here.
0:16:30 > 0:16:34OK. The fence panels there, they're actually missing.
0:16:34 > 0:16:39- What's happened to those? - He used half of them for burning the rubbish.
0:16:39 > 0:16:42When he was getting the stuff out from the main building,
0:16:42 > 0:16:45instead of hiring the skip and binning it in the skip,
0:16:45 > 0:16:48his people would just put lots of stuff here,
0:16:48 > 0:16:52put some wooden panels, break it into pieces and burn it over here.
0:16:52 > 0:16:57That is actually terrible, the fact that he's burnt your fence panels, that were perfectly good.
0:16:57 > 0:16:59It's just absolute nonsense, isn't it?
0:16:59 > 0:17:03You must have some great neighbours. To have that debris and rubble,
0:17:03 > 0:17:08- I wouldn't like that in my garden for the length of time that's been there.- I fully agree.
0:17:08 > 0:17:11It's absolutely crazy. This is my opinion.
0:17:11 > 0:17:13The whole thing needs ripping up.
0:17:13 > 0:17:15Rip it up and start again.
0:17:15 > 0:17:18The garden is too dangerous for Sangeeta
0:17:18 > 0:17:22to allow her young children, Bhaveeni and Dev, to play outside.
0:17:22 > 0:17:25I hope we can change all that.
0:17:25 > 0:17:29What could we do that would make your life a little happier?
0:17:29 > 0:17:32The decking needs to be sorted out.
0:17:32 > 0:17:35- Fencing. - The fencing needs to be done.
0:17:35 > 0:17:41He's taken £1,600 for the garden. Have you seen my lovely garden(?)
0:17:41 > 0:17:42I have seen that lovely garden.
0:17:42 > 0:17:44He's taken £1,600 for that.
0:17:44 > 0:17:49We would like the fencing to be done, decking to be sorted.
0:17:49 > 0:17:51OK. If I said to you,
0:17:51 > 0:17:56we could rip up that old decking and renew it,
0:17:56 > 0:17:59put it in properly so it's nice and secure,
0:17:59 > 0:18:03would that go some way to making you smile?
0:18:03 > 0:18:05- Yes.- Definitely.
0:18:05 > 0:18:08That, my friends, is a deal.
0:18:08 > 0:18:13We've got a big job ahead to transform the Prabhakars' wrecked garden
0:18:13 > 0:18:16into a safe play area for Bhaveeni and Dev.
0:18:16 > 0:18:23We've got to remove all the debris, we'll have to rebuild the dangerous decking the cowboy builder erected
0:18:23 > 0:18:26and install new fence panels to make the garden secure
0:18:26 > 0:18:30so the children can go in and outside to their heart's content.
0:18:30 > 0:18:35The family have been living in these conditions for way too long and I'm not having that.
0:18:35 > 0:18:37It's time to bring in the good guys.
0:18:37 > 0:18:40And believe me, there's plenty of them.
0:18:48 > 0:18:54Coming up, an independent inspector delivers a damning verdict on this cowboy's mess.
0:18:54 > 0:18:57If the customer asked me for an opinion,
0:18:57 > 0:19:01I'd say, "I'm sorry, take it apart and rebuild it from scratch."
0:19:01 > 0:19:05Back in Greenwich, London,
0:19:05 > 0:19:07Zoe Banfield saved hard for a new kitchen,
0:19:07 > 0:19:11somewhere special she could cook, socialise and entertain.
0:19:11 > 0:19:14But when Zoe refused her builder's demands for more and more money,
0:19:14 > 0:19:17her kitchen was left with bare walls,
0:19:17 > 0:19:23no electricity and dangerous gas - hardly the heart of the home she longed for.
0:19:23 > 0:19:26I trusted this person to come into my home to do this work.
0:19:26 > 0:19:32I'd given him all this money and I...
0:19:32 > 0:19:36I wasn't sure what I was going to do.
0:19:36 > 0:19:40While our team gets ready, I've asked independent building inspector, David Wadsworth
0:19:40 > 0:19:43to give me his verdict on the work.
0:19:43 > 0:19:48What are your findings in general about the work that had been carried out here?
0:19:48 > 0:19:51Well, there is clearly a lot of finishing to be done.
0:19:51 > 0:19:54The builder, I didn't feel, when I first came to have a look at it,
0:19:54 > 0:19:58was competent to do a lot of the work that he actually undertook.
0:19:58 > 0:20:01According to Zoe, she just took it on face value
0:20:01 > 0:20:06that this guy was actually qualified to carry those works out. Obviously he wasn't.
0:20:06 > 0:20:10No, and the building regulations now...
0:20:10 > 0:20:12All electrical work - and indeed all gas work -
0:20:12 > 0:20:17has to be done by accredited, trained, qualified people.
0:20:17 > 0:20:23And at the end of the work, it has to be signed off as being done by accredited people.
0:20:23 > 0:20:27What sort of score would you consider giving it?
0:20:27 > 0:20:32Based on what I have seen so far, four out of ten at the most.
0:20:32 > 0:20:35Four out of ten? That is a shocking score!
0:20:35 > 0:20:39Our team is getting on with correctly installing the kitchen units at Zoe's house.
0:20:39 > 0:20:44We're going to test and make safe the electrics and gas.
0:20:44 > 0:20:47While they get stuck in, Zoe and I are over at her mum's house,
0:20:47 > 0:20:53and I want to know why she was so confident when she gave the builder the job. And I'm in for a surprise.
0:20:53 > 0:20:59He was actually doing work for my sister at the time, and because it was indirectly close family,
0:20:59 > 0:21:06I felt more confident in hiring somebody rather than picking somebody randomly out of the phone book.
0:21:06 > 0:21:11So you were picking somebody that was word-of-mouth, your sister for a start,
0:21:11 > 0:21:16so she had had good work done by this guy and recommended him?
0:21:16 > 0:21:21Yes, he was actually still working at my sister's house when he started working at mine.
0:21:21 > 0:21:24I had heard that he had done good work,
0:21:24 > 0:21:27so he started work on my house,
0:21:27 > 0:21:30and a week or two in, everything was going OK,
0:21:30 > 0:21:33so my sister was looking for someone and I recommended him to her.
0:21:33 > 0:21:37With the builder now working at both sisters' houses,
0:21:37 > 0:21:42he started a game of cat-and-mouse, as Zoe's sister, Lucy, explains.
0:21:42 > 0:21:46Things started going wrong kind of after...
0:21:46 > 0:21:49About a week into him starting on my sister's house.
0:21:49 > 0:21:52He would leave mine and say he was going to my sister's,
0:21:52 > 0:21:55and then I'd find out later, he hadn't been at either.
0:21:55 > 0:22:02Zoe handed over £1,000 a week, and added to materials, it soon reached £6,800.
0:22:02 > 0:22:06But she had little to show for it, so she called Lucy.
0:22:06 > 0:22:11I asked her, "Are you sure he is OK, because I am really worried now.
0:22:11 > 0:22:15"I've given him all this money, and he hasn't really done anything."
0:22:15 > 0:22:20And she assured me, "No, no, he is slow sometimes doing the work, but he will do a good job.
0:22:20 > 0:22:24"He has assured me, as well, because the work is going slowly at my house,
0:22:24 > 0:22:28"but that he knows what he is doing."
0:22:28 > 0:22:30So that give me a bit of reassurance.
0:22:30 > 0:22:35But soon the sisters realised the builder wasn't slow, he was slippery.
0:22:35 > 0:22:41Feeling they'd been had, they told the builder there'd be no more money, and work ceased.
0:22:41 > 0:22:47Our team is now here to put things right, but events are about to take a dramatic turn.
0:22:47 > 0:22:52Suddenly, everyone has to down tools and leave the house immediately.
0:22:52 > 0:22:55As if there isn't enough mess in that property as it is,
0:22:55 > 0:23:00and the fact that Zoe has had so much pressure going on in there and so much mess,
0:23:00 > 0:23:04we are going to cause a bit more. Since Steve arrived, our gas expert...
0:23:04 > 0:23:08He only came to do the pressure test and give us a gas certificate, but he has found a leak.
0:23:08 > 0:23:12Let's find out how our good guys discovered the gas leak.
0:23:12 > 0:23:15Basically, the first thing I done,
0:23:15 > 0:23:18I made sure cooker, boiler, everything was switched off.
0:23:18 > 0:23:22I done the pressure test straight off the gas meter,
0:23:22 > 0:23:25noticed straightaway that there was a drop.
0:23:25 > 0:23:27- Which means...? - Which means there's a leak.
0:23:27 > 0:23:29A gas leak? Great, that's all we needed.
0:23:29 > 0:23:32Yes. So basically, I have switched the gas off now,
0:23:32 > 0:23:38so that nobody can touch anything or do anything on the gas side to cause any problems.
0:23:38 > 0:23:41- So, how long do think that has been leaking? Some time?- Possibly.
0:23:41 > 0:23:44Obviously, because of lack of air bricks in the building,
0:23:44 > 0:23:49obviously gas has stayed within, underneath the floor,
0:23:49 > 0:23:54so it could have been leaking a month, it could have been leaking a couple of years.
0:23:54 > 0:23:56The plan is now, we'll pull the floor up.
0:23:56 > 0:24:00So we are going to lift up the floor and find where that leak is.
0:24:00 > 0:24:02How easy will it be to spot?
0:24:02 > 0:24:05Basically, as I say, I've got a gas spray,
0:24:05 > 0:24:09so we'll switch the gas back on, spray all the joints and everything
0:24:09 > 0:24:14- so that we can make sure all the joints are solid, and then basically just trace it back from there.- OK.
0:24:14 > 0:24:18Her life and ours is in your hands, and I'm going to shake one of them.
0:24:18 > 0:24:19Thank you, squire.
0:24:19 > 0:24:25The gas work was not only left in a terrible state, it was potentially dangerous, too.
0:24:25 > 0:24:28If you smell gas, or suspect you have a leak,
0:24:28 > 0:24:32telephone the National Gas Emergency Service straightaway.
0:24:32 > 0:24:34They will send an engineer within the hour
0:24:34 > 0:24:38to identify the source of the leak and make it safe.
0:24:38 > 0:24:39This service is free.
0:24:39 > 0:24:43When you phone, they will give you a clear instruction
0:24:43 > 0:24:45about what to do before they arrive.
0:24:45 > 0:24:51'Coming up, I can't wait to see Zoe's reaction when we show her what the good guys have done.'
0:24:51 > 0:24:53Oh, my God! I can't believe it.
0:24:53 > 0:24:55It is amazing!
0:24:57 > 0:24:59Meanwhile, back in Leamington Spa,
0:24:59 > 0:25:04the Prabhakars planned a new extension for their growing family.
0:25:04 > 0:25:08They were left with a huge mortgage when their builder walked away,
0:25:08 > 0:25:12leaving them living in just one room.
0:25:12 > 0:25:14It was completely unfinished.
0:25:14 > 0:25:16There were no doors to the house,
0:25:16 > 0:25:21and most of the structure was quite unsafe when he left.
0:25:21 > 0:25:27The Prabhakars paid new builders 36 grand to make the inside of their home habitable.
0:25:27 > 0:25:30But the cowboy's mess extends all the way outside,
0:25:30 > 0:25:33and Sangeeta and Rohit don't have any more money left
0:25:33 > 0:25:37to make the garden safe for their young children to play in.
0:25:37 > 0:25:39Well, my son, since he is born,
0:25:39 > 0:25:44I don't think he has ever been out in the garden on his own.
0:25:44 > 0:25:49If he would go out, it was only up to the decking I would let him go,
0:25:49 > 0:25:52and I would be sitting there watching where my kids are going.
0:25:52 > 0:25:55And my son is four years now.
0:25:55 > 0:25:57He has never accessed the garden on his own.
0:25:57 > 0:26:00Our good guys can't wait to get started.
0:26:00 > 0:26:05James is leading our landscaping team today and he has a grand plan.
0:26:05 > 0:26:09We have thankfully got some great contacts around locally.
0:26:09 > 0:26:11We have got a mini digger coming in.
0:26:11 > 0:26:15So we are going to clear the ground, regrade it back and landscape it.
0:26:15 > 0:26:18Then hopefully we are going to rotovate the ground,
0:26:18 > 0:26:20prepare it for turf and - fingers crossed -
0:26:20 > 0:26:23if you are lucky, I might be able to sort out some turf for you.
0:26:23 > 0:26:27That would be fantastic if you can. That would be a great surprise.
0:26:27 > 0:26:32Before we get the dangerous decking dismantled and rebuilt,
0:26:32 > 0:26:36I want to get the verdict of independent inspector, Chris Farr.
0:26:36 > 0:26:37Through the balustrades.
0:26:37 > 0:26:39Chris, this is a mess, isn't it?
0:26:39 > 0:26:41It's awful.
0:26:41 > 0:26:44The centres aren't right, it's too loose.
0:26:44 > 0:26:46Talking of the centres, let's have a measure up.
0:26:46 > 0:26:51You know yourself, it should be 99 mil. We're looking there, 120.
0:26:51 > 0:26:54Further down, 140.
0:26:54 > 0:26:56You've got a 140 mil gap.
0:26:56 > 0:26:59As you rightly know, 99 mil,
0:26:59 > 0:27:04that is your maximum allowed gap between those spindles.
0:27:04 > 0:27:06Yeah, correct. There's insufficient support.
0:27:06 > 0:27:11You can see where they've wedged up sections of joist underneath, just onto bare ground,
0:27:11 > 0:27:13to try and stop it deflecting.
0:27:13 > 0:27:16I would expect to see a four or five mil gap between each of the timbers
0:27:16 > 0:27:19to allow for yearly expansion and contraction.
0:27:19 > 0:27:23They've done nothing like that. They didn't have a clue what they were doing.
0:27:23 > 0:27:25If the customer asked me for an opinion,
0:27:25 > 0:27:29I'd say, "Sorry, take it apart and rebuild it from scratch. It's just not right."
0:27:29 > 0:27:33You've seen the level of workmanship here.
0:27:33 > 0:27:38What I always ask our independent surveyors is this -
0:27:38 > 0:27:44what would you give that builder - mark out of ten - for the work they've carried out?
0:27:44 > 0:27:47Three at the most. And then I think I'm being generous.
0:27:47 > 0:27:51Our huge team is going to pick up the pieces.
0:27:51 > 0:27:56We've drafted in reinforcements from the local horticultural college to clear all the debris.
0:27:56 > 0:27:59Our builders will make the decking safe.
0:27:59 > 0:28:04We'll have to replace the supporting posts and erect new steps and handrails.
0:28:04 > 0:28:09Then James and his team will transform this garden with new lawn and exotic planting.
0:28:09 > 0:28:15While they get going, I've got a question for Sangeeta and Rohit.
0:28:15 > 0:28:17Why did they let their builder back on the job
0:28:17 > 0:28:20when alarm bells should have been ringing?
0:28:20 > 0:28:25What prevented you from saying, "Let's cut our losses here?
0:28:25 > 0:28:27"We're 18 grand down."
0:28:27 > 0:28:33Anybody we contacted wouldn't take that project on.
0:28:33 > 0:28:39Nobody would come and do the remaining work?
0:28:39 > 0:28:43It's something like once bitten, twice shy, you know.
0:28:43 > 0:28:47We tried everything on the book
0:28:47 > 0:28:53for his references, we'd gone to see, we'd visited his work.
0:28:53 > 0:28:58Everything after that, you realise this is not the right person,
0:28:58 > 0:29:04how can you go and take another person and believe he's going to be right?
0:29:04 > 0:29:08We were in that situation.
0:29:08 > 0:29:11So we had to carry on with what we had.
0:29:11 > 0:29:15So, he arrives. I am guessing,
0:29:15 > 0:29:17correct me if I'm wrong,
0:29:17 > 0:29:21that he comes in and he says, "Right, from now on everything is going to be fine.
0:29:21 > 0:29:23"But I need some money."
0:29:23 > 0:29:28He would most of the time come up with an excuse like,
0:29:28 > 0:29:32"Oh, I've got to get some material from some place.
0:29:32 > 0:29:35"Is it possible to give me some cash?"
0:29:37 > 0:29:42We tried giving him cheques, most of the time.
0:29:42 > 0:29:48But 99% of the time he would come up with some urgency
0:29:48 > 0:29:51that he can't wait for the cash.
0:29:51 > 0:29:55Sangeeta and Rohit should have trusted their instincts.
0:29:55 > 0:29:56Follow my top tip.
0:29:56 > 0:30:01Agree a schedule of work with your builder before the project starts.
0:30:01 > 0:30:04Make sure the builder sticks to the timetable.
0:30:04 > 0:30:06If he has problems organising the work as agreed,
0:30:06 > 0:30:11there's a good chance there's even more going wrong behind the scenes.
0:30:11 > 0:30:15Meanwhile, our team of students is hard at work,
0:30:15 > 0:30:18clearing the debris ready for the gardeners to plant and turf.
0:30:18 > 0:30:22Dean is doing our decking project and he's discovered
0:30:22 > 0:30:25the decking is even more dangerous than we first feared.
0:30:25 > 0:30:28You can put your crowbar down a minute, Dean.
0:30:28 > 0:30:31I'm telling you, mate, when I look at this sort of thing,
0:30:31 > 0:30:34it's not about what the cowboy builders do on the surface,
0:30:34 > 0:30:37it's what cracks off underneath. Explain what you've found.
0:30:37 > 0:30:38A load of this of this is hidden.
0:30:38 > 0:30:44The actual supports are just packed up underneath.
0:30:44 > 0:30:48That's it. They're just noggins of timber, there!
0:30:48 > 0:30:52So, in real terms, what have you got left in terms of preparation?
0:30:52 > 0:30:54Preparation, we're going to
0:30:54 > 0:30:57- put some extra supports down on most of these rafters.- Yeah.
0:30:57 > 0:31:00- We've got the decking coming this afternoon.- OK, cool.
0:31:00 > 0:31:05Balustrades are here and hopefully it should start taking shape in the next...day or two.
0:31:05 > 0:31:11Sangeeta and Rohit paid their builder 58 grand by the time he disappeared.
0:31:11 > 0:31:14They spent 36 grand more to fix the damage.
0:31:14 > 0:31:17So, what would they like to say to him now?
0:31:17 > 0:31:21Why did he ruin so many years of our life?
0:31:21 > 0:31:24He knew in the beginning what he was up to.
0:31:24 > 0:31:27He conned us of £58,000.
0:31:27 > 0:31:2858,000?
0:31:28 > 0:31:31- It's a big money.- Frightening.
0:31:31 > 0:31:34We borrowed it from the mortgage, it was extra mortgage borrowed.
0:31:34 > 0:31:37OK, look, we've got the telephone number in the phone.
0:31:37 > 0:31:40What we'll do, Sangeeta, is sit tight,
0:31:40 > 0:31:43let Rohit go with the phone call and hope for the best.
0:31:43 > 0:31:46If you'd like to start now, then.
0:31:46 > 0:31:49We'll see what happens.
0:31:51 > 0:31:53'Please check the number. If you need help...'
0:31:55 > 0:31:57This number is not recognised, it says.
0:31:57 > 0:32:01Sadly, these are the sort of things that these guys do. They're very cowardly.
0:32:01 > 0:32:04Although the builder didn't speak to us on this occasion,
0:32:04 > 0:32:10he told us previously that he didn't complete the work because he wasn't paid for six months,
0:32:10 > 0:32:14he's not responsible for the decking because he subcontracted the job
0:32:14 > 0:32:18and he denies all responsibility for the state the garden was left in.
0:32:18 > 0:32:22I've got a message for cowboy builders everywhere.
0:32:22 > 0:32:25You know who you are and now we know who you are.
0:32:25 > 0:32:28And by revealing the tricks you cowboys use,
0:32:28 > 0:32:31we'll help prevent others from falling into your trap.
0:32:31 > 0:32:35'Coming up, I can't wait to see the family's reaction
0:32:35 > 0:32:38'when we show them their amazing new garden.'
0:32:38 > 0:32:39Oh, my God!
0:32:41 > 0:32:43- The kids have gone!- Ooh!
0:32:44 > 0:32:50Back in Greenwich, the good guys are putting the finishing touches to Zoe's new kitchen.
0:32:50 > 0:32:53She was left in the lurch by a cowboy who left her
0:32:53 > 0:32:56with lethal electrics and a dangerous gas supply.
0:32:56 > 0:33:00Zoe made the mistake of giving her builder the keys to her house,
0:33:00 > 0:33:04so even when she'd thrown him out, he kept coming back.
0:33:04 > 0:33:06He wasn't doing any more work on the house,
0:33:06 > 0:33:09but he was actually coming in and out of my house
0:33:09 > 0:33:11and using all the facilities -
0:33:11 > 0:33:16helping himself to food out of the cupboard and the fridge, making tea and coffee.
0:33:16 > 0:33:20If you make the mistake of giving tradesmen the keys to your home
0:33:20 > 0:33:24and you're concerned about your security, get the locks changed.
0:33:24 > 0:33:28The cost of a new locks is more than worth your peace of mind
0:33:28 > 0:33:32and will safeguard your personal safety.
0:33:32 > 0:33:35Tom, I was speaking to your colleague Barry yesterday.
0:33:35 > 0:33:39He was telling me all the problems that you had with the electrics.
0:33:39 > 0:33:42What have you done to solve that problem and what's left to do?
0:33:42 > 0:33:44We took everything out and started again.
0:33:44 > 0:33:49This wasn't in a physical state to leave as it was, so we started from scratch.
0:33:49 > 0:33:50New fuse board in there?
0:33:50 > 0:33:53New fuse board, all the positions right, the sockets in line.
0:33:53 > 0:33:56Then the relevant circuits for the points that were needed.
0:33:56 > 0:33:58So what is now left to do?
0:33:58 > 0:34:00Basically, we're ready to stick and fix now.
0:34:00 > 0:34:05Everything's been plastered, so we can put the faceplates on and get it working.
0:34:05 > 0:34:11While Tom and the guys finish up, I want to find out from Zoe what lessons she's learned.
0:34:11 > 0:34:13I think that I have to be far more cautious.
0:34:13 > 0:34:17I think we're all cautious when we step outside our front door every day.
0:34:17 > 0:34:23But in terms of doing business and having somebody come into my home and do work, who I don't personally know,
0:34:23 > 0:34:27not a relative or friend, then I need to be almost...
0:34:27 > 0:34:31Not untrusting, but far more wary, ask a lot more questions.
0:34:31 > 0:34:34Businesslike. It's a business transaction between you two guys.
0:34:34 > 0:34:37Do a proper written contract, get it all signed.
0:34:37 > 0:34:41It might seem a bit extreme, but from the experience I've had and the circumstances,
0:34:41 > 0:34:45definitely get everything in writing, get it all signed and agreed.
0:34:45 > 0:34:46Do proper research.
0:34:46 > 0:34:50Yeah, and actually personally check out the references.
0:34:50 > 0:34:55If possible, try and go to where he's done work, actually look at it myself and ask those people.
0:34:55 > 0:34:59And don't give them any keys, like you rightly say. They're not your friends.
0:34:59 > 0:35:02They are complete strangers operating in your property.
0:35:02 > 0:35:06As long as you can learn from your mistakes that you've made,
0:35:06 > 0:35:11you won't be ever, in the future, falling into the cowboy trap again.
0:35:11 > 0:35:16I can't wait to show Zoe what we've achieved in such a short time.
0:35:16 > 0:35:20I'm hoping, fingers crossed, that you like what we've done. All right?
0:35:20 > 0:35:22- OK.- So, are you ready?- Yes.
0:35:22 > 0:35:26Therefore, you can turn around and head into your kitchen.
0:35:26 > 0:35:29- OK.- Here we go.
0:35:31 > 0:35:33Oh, my God!
0:35:33 > 0:35:36I can't believe it. It's amazing!
0:35:36 > 0:35:38It does look a little different, doesn't it?
0:35:38 > 0:35:41It's completely different. It's beautiful.
0:35:41 > 0:35:43I can't believe it.
0:35:43 > 0:35:46It's beyond my imagination.
0:35:46 > 0:35:49No, it's fantastic. I love it. Thank you.
0:35:49 > 0:35:54- Cooker hood. All the cabinets in there, your cooker works.- Wow.
0:35:54 > 0:35:57One of the most important things was the electrical side of it.
0:35:57 > 0:36:00Remember, cables hanging out?
0:36:00 > 0:36:02Yeah. It's amazing.
0:36:02 > 0:36:06- I can't believe it!- Are you happy?
0:36:06 > 0:36:08Yeah. Honestly, I'm just so moved.
0:36:08 > 0:36:12It's just... I can't believe I was ever going to get to this stage...
0:36:12 > 0:36:14- I'm glad you like it. - ..for a long time.
0:36:14 > 0:36:16- I'm very glad about that.- Thanks.
0:36:16 > 0:36:21The thing is for me, one of the most important things that you can't see,
0:36:21 > 0:36:24although you can see the sockets are now on the wall,
0:36:24 > 0:36:27the most important thing, your fuse board has been replaced
0:36:27 > 0:36:30and brought up to 17th edition regulations.
0:36:30 > 0:36:34We do have an electrical safety certificate to give to you as well.
0:36:34 > 0:36:37So that has been passed for all the work that's been done in here.
0:36:37 > 0:36:40That's peace of mind, more than anything else.
0:36:41 > 0:36:44The good guys have removed and reinstalled all the kitchen units,
0:36:44 > 0:36:47levelling and aligning them correctly.
0:36:47 > 0:36:51We've refitted the worktops and plumbed in the appliances -
0:36:51 > 0:36:53washing machine, dishwasher, sink and hob.
0:36:53 > 0:36:56We've tested and rewired the electrics and fitted
0:36:56 > 0:37:00smart new under-cupboard down lights to provide a contemporary look.
0:37:00 > 0:37:03We've made good all the walls and, once the plaster is dry,
0:37:03 > 0:37:06Zoe will be able to select the tiles for her splashbacks.
0:37:06 > 0:37:11It's the perfect setting for Zoe to host dinner parties.
0:37:11 > 0:37:15It's amazing! Honestly, I can't believe it.
0:37:19 > 0:37:23Back in Leamington Spa, we've almost finished transforming the Prabhakas' building site
0:37:23 > 0:37:27into a garden safe for young Bhaveeni and Dev to play in.
0:37:27 > 0:37:29James is adding the finishing touches.
0:37:31 > 0:37:33Basically, since you were here last,
0:37:33 > 0:37:37cleared it all back, graded all the ground back.
0:37:37 > 0:37:41Brought in some topsoil from one of our suppliers.
0:37:41 > 0:37:46One of the UK's top lawn suppliers has supplied us with the lawn, which has been brilliant of them.
0:37:46 > 0:37:48So, that's all gone in.
0:37:48 > 0:37:52We were going to go for a usual sort of shaped lawn.
0:37:52 > 0:37:56But what we've done is gone for something that's a little bit more interesting.
0:37:56 > 0:37:58We've put these circular patterns in.
0:37:58 > 0:38:04With what we've had to use, we feel that we've got the best out of it.
0:38:04 > 0:38:06You've called in loads of favours.
0:38:06 > 0:38:09I know you've done a great job for us, an absolutely stunning job.
0:38:09 > 0:38:11So you're planting out at the moment,
0:38:11 > 0:38:15how long do you think it's going to take before you've all finished?
0:38:15 > 0:38:19I reckon we'll probably give it another hour, hour-and-a-half
0:38:19 > 0:38:23and we'll have everything in and looking fairly pristine.
0:38:23 > 0:38:26Then just a clean down, prune through and we'll be all done.
0:38:26 > 0:38:30While they're finishing up, I want to find out what Sangeeta and Rohit have learned
0:38:30 > 0:38:32from their building nightmare.
0:38:32 > 0:38:35I think we did everything that was required.
0:38:35 > 0:38:39We did the research, spoke to people, we asked him to give us a contract,
0:38:39 > 0:38:41we visited where he was working.
0:38:41 > 0:38:46But the whole experience... is quite a nightmare.
0:38:46 > 0:38:51And I don't think I would ever get any building work done again.
0:38:51 > 0:38:54You've got to, though. I don't want you to do that, you see.
0:38:54 > 0:38:57That's an easy out at this stage.
0:38:57 > 0:39:01I just want to...pick the bones out of that a little bit.
0:39:01 > 0:39:06You did do a lot, you did tick a lot of my boxes. You did get a contract,
0:39:06 > 0:39:09you did go and look at his previous work.
0:39:09 > 0:39:12If I remember rightly, it was ongoing works.
0:39:12 > 0:39:16- It wasn't completed works.- It was ongoing and the owner was not there.
0:39:16 > 0:39:23So, we don't know how that ended up and whether that particular homeowner was ripped off, too.
0:39:23 > 0:39:25So we have to make sure it's a finished project,
0:39:25 > 0:39:28the builder isn't there with us and we talk to the homeowner.
0:39:28 > 0:39:32But I don't want you not to have builders or to think that way.
0:39:32 > 0:39:34There are great builders out there.
0:39:34 > 0:39:37Sangeeta and Rohit have learned an expensive lesson.
0:39:37 > 0:39:42But now it's time for them to see that there really are some great guys out there.
0:39:42 > 0:39:45Now, before we go out and show you what we've done,
0:39:45 > 0:39:49just remind us, Sangeeta, what it was like out there before we arrived.
0:39:49 > 0:39:55Well, in the back garden, the fences were all broken.
0:39:55 > 0:39:57There were lots of muck dumped there.
0:39:57 > 0:40:00There was lots of pieces of rubble there.
0:40:00 > 0:40:02So, was there a garden?
0:40:02 > 0:40:05It wasn't a garden. It was a back yard.
0:40:05 > 0:40:06It was a rubbish tip.
0:40:06 > 0:40:12Yes. I would never let my kids out because it wasn't safe. It wasn't secure.
0:40:12 > 0:40:15- Are we ready, are we excited?- Yes.
0:40:15 > 0:40:17- Are we really excited?- Yeah!
0:40:17 > 0:40:20Good. OK, follow me. Let's go.
0:40:26 > 0:40:28- Here you go.- Oh, my God.
0:40:28 > 0:40:30Wow!
0:40:30 > 0:40:34Keep going forward, let's take a closer look.
0:40:34 > 0:40:35Oh, my God.
0:40:37 > 0:40:40- The kids have gone!- Ooh! - What do you think?
0:40:40 > 0:40:44It's beautiful. It's amazing.
0:40:44 > 0:40:49So, what we've got is new decking down. 32 mil thick.
0:40:49 > 0:40:54Much, much better, obviously, than it was originally.
0:40:54 > 0:40:57- Yeah, definitely.- The balustrades, the stairs, the whole thing.
0:40:57 > 0:41:01- What do you think? Good? - It's amazing, I can't believe it.
0:41:01 > 0:41:04And then how about that garden?
0:41:04 > 0:41:10It looks just amazing. It doesn't look like, you know, my house.
0:41:10 > 0:41:12It doesn't look like your house!
0:41:12 > 0:41:15I agree with you.
0:41:15 > 0:41:18- It agree with you.- It's beautiful.
0:41:18 > 0:41:20- And quite secure.- Very secure.
0:41:20 > 0:41:24The good guys have transformed the rear of the Prabhakars' family home
0:41:24 > 0:41:28from a building site into a safe and tranquil garden oasis.
0:41:28 > 0:41:34We've removed all the building debris, dismantled all the decking and reassembled it,
0:41:34 > 0:41:37ensuring that the supports are in firm foundations.
0:41:37 > 0:41:40We've erected a new fence to keep the children safe
0:41:40 > 0:41:43and we've gone so much further.
0:41:43 > 0:41:47We enlisted students and former students from the local horticultural college
0:41:47 > 0:41:53to help clear and then landscape and plant the kind of garden you'd see featured in a magazine spread.
0:41:53 > 0:41:57There's a beautiful new lawn and exotic planting.
0:41:57 > 0:42:02It's just the kind of finish you can expect when you call in the professionals.
0:42:02 > 0:42:05Guys, step in. We've got Warwickshire College guys here.
0:42:05 > 0:42:08We've got James and his team.
0:42:08 > 0:42:12- These are the guys responsible. - Thank you.- It's quite all right.
0:42:12 > 0:42:17I think they've given you now what was a bit of a bomb site
0:42:17 > 0:42:19- to a beautiful garden oasis. - Definitely.
0:42:19 > 0:42:22- Thank you.- Thank you very much.
0:42:23 > 0:42:25Well, how about that?
0:42:25 > 0:42:29One beautiful garden oasis and a very happy family indeed.
0:42:29 > 0:42:31I'm off to track down some more dodgy builders
0:42:31 > 0:42:35in the hope that it prevents you from falling into the cowboy trap.
0:42:55 > 0:42:59Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:42:59 > 0:43:02E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk