0:00:04 > 0:00:08I'm journeying across the UK uncovering shoddy workmanship
0:00:08 > 0:00:11by cowboy builders and rogue traders.
0:00:11 > 0:00:17Every time I rang the office to talk to the boss and said, "What about this? Why haven't they got that?
0:00:17 > 0:00:21"This bit's missing," that's when he'd turn round and say, "Well, that's not included any more."
0:00:21 > 0:00:27You know, I still can't believe the amount of people that are getting caught out by these bodging builders.
0:00:27 > 0:00:30Essentially, all the work's been condemned and we've been
0:00:30 > 0:00:34highly recommended to get all of it repaired and start from scratch.
0:00:34 > 0:00:40But don't worry, the good guys are in town to sort out the mess left behind by these so-called tradesmen.
0:00:40 > 0:00:44I love it. I love the colour. Everything's amazing. It's great.
0:00:44 > 0:00:46Stick with me and I'll give you the hints and tips
0:00:46 > 0:00:50that should help prevent you from falling into The Cowboy Trap.
0:00:58 > 0:01:02Today, we're travelling between Newcastle and South Yorkshire.
0:01:02 > 0:01:06We'll meet homeowners who bought top- of-the-range bathrooms and kitchen,
0:01:06 > 0:01:09but then hired completely the wrong people to fit them.
0:01:09 > 0:01:14They left me with, for over a week, with no water and gas
0:01:14 > 0:01:17and I had to borrow a camping gas stove from my mum
0:01:17 > 0:01:20to cook meals for my little girl.
0:01:20 > 0:01:25We're also meeting a doctor who dreamed of hotel-style luxury
0:01:25 > 0:01:28with a new wet room, but relaxation was the last thing he got.
0:01:28 > 0:01:31The transformer they placed on the top bathroom, which was just
0:01:31 > 0:01:34literally placed in the loft, had started burning.
0:01:37 > 0:01:39First up, we're off to Hoyland, South Yorkshire,
0:01:39 > 0:01:43where project manager Jane Townsend lives with her daughter Elysia.
0:01:43 > 0:01:49She longed for a dream kitchen with no expense spared to create a luxury stylish look.
0:01:49 > 0:01:56This was no impulse decision. True to her professional field of work, Jane had meticulously done her homework.
0:01:56 > 0:01:59I had specs and measurements and a good idea of colours
0:01:59 > 0:02:01and what I was looking for and how I wanted it to be finished.
0:02:01 > 0:02:05Having set her heart on a kitchen design,
0:02:05 > 0:02:07Jane just needed someone to supply and install.
0:02:07 > 0:02:10Then, by coincidence, she was involved in a work project
0:02:10 > 0:02:14which meant she was dealing with commercial building contractors.
0:02:14 > 0:02:18I actually asked each company if they did domestic work
0:02:18 > 0:02:22and if they'd be interested to look at a domestic kitchen,
0:02:22 > 0:02:26and this company was the only one that said yes, they did that kind of work.
0:02:26 > 0:02:31Jane wanted references for the company, but they seemed to be fairly thin on the ground.
0:02:31 > 0:02:35He didn't have any written references or any phone numbers I could give,
0:02:35 > 0:02:38but he quoted his previous project.
0:02:38 > 0:02:42The one reference Jane did get said that the kitchen fitters
0:02:42 > 0:02:44had completed a commercial kitchen on time,
0:02:44 > 0:02:47so when the company boss told Jane that they could do her kitchen
0:02:47 > 0:02:50in five days she thought, "Bring it on."
0:02:50 > 0:02:54The timeframe had to be quite quick, I was entertaining that month,
0:02:54 > 0:02:56and he said there was no problem,
0:02:56 > 0:03:01that they could do what I needed in the timeframe and on the budget.
0:03:01 > 0:03:06Even before work started, alarm bells should have been ringing for Jane.
0:03:06 > 0:03:09The kitchen company boss had promised to provide
0:03:09 > 0:03:13a full quote detailing measurements, what she was paying for, the works.
0:03:13 > 0:03:15But the quotes she got weren't up to scratch.
0:03:15 > 0:03:18I never did get an accurate piece of paper,
0:03:18 > 0:03:22and I've got three quotes now and they're all different.
0:03:22 > 0:03:26But we were on a tight schedule, so he said, "Don't worry about it,
0:03:26 > 0:03:29"I know exactly what it is, we're manufacturing on site,
0:03:29 > 0:03:33"so we've got the right measurements here even though you've not got them on paper, we'll just crack on."
0:03:33 > 0:03:36The work began, but with no signed quote or contract,
0:03:36 > 0:03:39so Jane had nothing to hold the kitchen company to.
0:03:39 > 0:03:42- From day one, it was trouble. - It was this to-ing and fro-ing.
0:03:42 > 0:03:46They didn't turn up, then they left early.
0:03:46 > 0:03:49They were on their phones, and that's when I realised
0:03:49 > 0:03:52there was this big breakdown of communication,
0:03:52 > 0:03:54and every time I rang the office to talk to the boss
0:03:54 > 0:03:58and said, "What about this? Why haven't they got that? This bit's missing,"
0:03:58 > 0:04:01that's when he'd say, "Well, that's not included any more."
0:04:01 > 0:04:06Jane's lack of a written quote quickly became a problem.
0:04:06 > 0:04:07Take my tip -
0:04:07 > 0:04:09before any work starts get a full written quote
0:04:09 > 0:04:13detailing everything that is included in the price.
0:04:13 > 0:04:16Make sure you list all the things the contractor is supplying
0:04:16 > 0:04:18and all the goods you will provide.
0:04:18 > 0:04:21The contract should also state when payment is due.
0:04:21 > 0:04:23If Jane had done these things,
0:04:23 > 0:04:26she would have been saved from a nasty surprise.
0:04:26 > 0:04:31As the job progressed, it was a series of threatening phone calls.
0:04:31 > 0:04:36"If you don't pay I'm not going to let the driver deliver X."
0:04:36 > 0:04:42"If you don't pay I'm going to have the fitters remove what they've already put in until you do pay."
0:04:42 > 0:04:47And so I ended up sort of paying cheques
0:04:47 > 0:04:51or cash in increments as things came on lorries.
0:04:51 > 0:04:54To top it all, Jane noticed that the kitchen fitters
0:04:54 > 0:04:56were also doing her gas and electrics.
0:04:56 > 0:05:00I was quite surprised that the head fitter
0:05:00 > 0:05:04was the chap that was also doing the electrics and the plumbing,
0:05:04 > 0:05:08and he told me he was qualified to do all that kind of thing,
0:05:08 > 0:05:13whereas I was expecting a different person for each trade.
0:05:13 > 0:05:17After three weeks on a job that was supposed to take five days,
0:05:17 > 0:05:19Jane's kitchen still wasn't finished.
0:05:19 > 0:05:23The fitters promised they'd be back, but Jane never saw them again.
0:05:23 > 0:05:30She paid out almost £10,000 for a stylish top of the-range kitchen, but was left with a mess.
0:05:30 > 0:05:32There are cupboard doors missing,
0:05:32 > 0:05:36the walls are unfinished and the electrics are positively dangerous.
0:05:36 > 0:05:41What I was left with was faulty electrics.
0:05:41 > 0:05:45I have no tiles on the walls. I have bare plaster.
0:05:45 > 0:05:48My water treatment system is not connected up
0:05:48 > 0:05:52and there are cupboard doors missing, just the general finish.
0:05:52 > 0:05:59I mean, what doors and drawer fronts we've got are uneven and wobbly.
0:05:59 > 0:06:04And the kickboards on the floor aren't fitted properly
0:06:04 > 0:06:07and in some cases are just pushed in just to hide the gaps.
0:06:07 > 0:06:09But a lot of bits are actually missing.
0:06:09 > 0:06:13It makes it very difficult to clean and keep tidy.
0:06:13 > 0:06:18It's time for me to see for myself exactly what Jane's been left with.
0:06:24 > 0:06:26- Hello.- Hello.- Are you Jane?- I am.
0:06:26 > 0:06:28Hi, I'm Clive from Cowboy Trap.
0:06:28 > 0:06:32- Would you mind showing me around? - Not at all.- Thank you.
0:06:32 > 0:06:36'Just exactly what has Jane had to put up with?'
0:06:36 > 0:06:40So it's definitely unfinished, Jane, that's for sure.
0:06:40 > 0:06:43Just explain to me what you should have had.
0:06:43 > 0:06:46I can see what you've got, but what SHOULD you have had?
0:06:46 > 0:06:50What I should have had was...
0:06:50 > 0:06:55pink tempered glass where all the tiling should be instead of tiles.
0:06:55 > 0:06:57Flush touch opening units,
0:06:57 > 0:07:01and obviously there are cupboard doors missing.
0:07:01 > 0:07:03I should have also had safe electrics.
0:07:03 > 0:07:08I found that the electrics occasionally spark at you or don't work at all.
0:07:08 > 0:07:12- Right, OK.- And certain things like the cooker point
0:07:12 > 0:07:16- shouldn't actually be over the cooker.- No, it shouldn't.
0:07:16 > 0:07:20It's what's called the combustion zone, and it's well within it,
0:07:20 > 0:07:22and it needs to be out of that.
0:07:22 > 0:07:24They said they were going to move that switch
0:07:24 > 0:07:27and put it inside a cupboard, but, as you can see, that was never done.
0:07:27 > 0:07:32No. I mean, just looking at those end panels there, the end panels look like they're out of line.
0:07:32 > 0:07:36You've got doors missing and this looks... I mean, you've got a granite worktop,
0:07:36 > 0:07:40so it looks like this was a very expensive kitchen.
0:07:40 > 0:07:44- I think in the end it's cost me just shy of £10,000. - That's quite expensive, really.
0:07:44 > 0:07:48- And how long has it been like this? - Two years, nearly to the day.
0:07:48 > 0:07:55- It's a complete mess as you look at it, and yet it could be fantastic. - I'm hoping so.
0:07:55 > 0:07:58'This certainly isn't the dream kitchen Jane hoped for.'
0:07:58 > 0:08:03What can we do by bringing the good guys that will help you?
0:08:03 > 0:08:08I think, having my daughter in the house, it's the electrics,
0:08:08 > 0:08:11because they do spark and some don't work.
0:08:11 > 0:08:15It would be nice to know that when she's making a cup of tea in the kitchen
0:08:15 > 0:08:20and she's messing with the kettles and things that there isn't going to be a nasty bang.
0:08:20 > 0:08:24So getting the electrics sorted is a big thing.
0:08:24 > 0:08:27Tiles to stop the dust from the plaster.
0:08:27 > 0:08:30And just being able to keep everything clean.
0:08:30 > 0:08:34Well, I'm charged with sorting that out for you, OK?
0:08:34 > 0:08:38- So, leave that with me, OK? Shake on it.- Thank you.
0:08:38 > 0:08:41'Jane needs a kitchen that's safe and stylish.
0:08:41 > 0:08:44'We need to banish the dodgy sockets and crumbling plaster.'
0:08:44 > 0:08:50We really need to help Jane put all her worries behind her and get this kitchen sorted once and for all.
0:08:50 > 0:08:53It's time to bring on the good guys.
0:09:01 > 0:09:06'Coming up, just exactly what has Jane had to put up with?'
0:09:06 > 0:09:11And I was asked to get in the van and come to the bank with them.
0:09:13 > 0:09:15Next we're heading to Newcastle.
0:09:15 > 0:09:18Fahad Shabbir is a surgeon for the NHS.
0:09:18 > 0:09:21He works long days doing a stressful job,
0:09:21 > 0:09:25but he had the perfect idea to create a tranquil haven at home.
0:09:25 > 0:09:30He wanted to replace both the tired and dated bathrooms at his house
0:09:30 > 0:09:32with stylish modern wet rooms.
0:09:32 > 0:09:36He'd seen just what he wanted on his holidays.
0:09:36 > 0:09:39I'd stayed at some nice hotels in Dubai and Dominican, too.
0:09:39 > 0:09:43I've seen a few wet rooms and I knew for a fact that that's what I wanted in my house.
0:09:43 > 0:09:47Fahad knew if he wanted five-star hotel-style luxury,
0:09:47 > 0:09:50he would need to buy high-quality fittings.
0:09:50 > 0:09:53He went out and bought the best he could afford,
0:09:53 > 0:09:56smart suites and expensive marble tiles.
0:09:56 > 0:10:00Now all he needed was some top-class bathroom fitters
0:10:00 > 0:10:02to fit the materials he'd bought.
0:10:02 > 0:10:05I had about six or seven people come in.
0:10:05 > 0:10:09Some of them hadn't done wet rooms - they'd done bathrooms,
0:10:09 > 0:10:12but they weren't particularly experienced in wet rooms.
0:10:12 > 0:10:15Some quotes were extortionate, so that was a no-no.
0:10:15 > 0:10:20This particular builder, I found their advertisement on the internet,
0:10:20 > 0:10:24looked at their website. It sounded perfectly reasonable.
0:10:24 > 0:10:27'They told Fahad they'd fitted wet rooms before
0:10:27 > 0:10:29'and came in with a good price.
0:10:29 > 0:10:32'They said one wet room would be ready in two weeks.'
0:10:32 > 0:10:36The initial quote they gave me for the first bathroom
0:10:36 > 0:10:38was five grand, which was fine.
0:10:38 > 0:10:42Then they gave me a quote for the second bathroom for 3,500.
0:10:42 > 0:10:48I didn't have that much money and I said, "Look, I can't afford it right now, maybe at a later stage."
0:10:48 > 0:10:53And then instantly he dropped to 2,500, which I was surprised at, but fair enough.
0:10:53 > 0:10:55If I'm getting a bargain, why not?
0:10:55 > 0:10:58Fahad should have heard alarm bells ringing
0:10:58 > 0:11:00when the builder promised a cut-price job
0:11:00 > 0:11:03to fit his luxury-hotel quality wet rooms.
0:11:03 > 0:11:09Take a tip from me, if your builder drops the price unexpectedly ask why.
0:11:09 > 0:11:12If the quote is for labour only, ask the builder to specify
0:11:12 > 0:11:16how many days' work are required for plumbers, electricians and tilers.
0:11:16 > 0:11:20Ask what their daily rate is. Do your sums to work out
0:11:20 > 0:11:23how the builder has managed to reduce the price.
0:11:23 > 0:11:28Fahad thought he was paying for professionals, but he soon began to have his doubts.
0:11:28 > 0:11:31A couple of tiles they placed on the floor,
0:11:31 > 0:11:35two days later the tiles started cracking.
0:11:35 > 0:11:38When we finally had the sink installed,
0:11:38 > 0:11:41there was no pressure for cold water.
0:11:41 > 0:11:44When you turned the hot water on in the shower,
0:11:44 > 0:11:46when we finally started using the shower,
0:11:46 > 0:11:48the radiator started heating up.
0:11:48 > 0:11:51And while the work was going wrong inside the house,
0:11:51 > 0:11:54outside was left in a monumental mess.
0:11:54 > 0:11:58Fahad may have wanted wet rooms like those in a Dubai hotel,
0:11:58 > 0:12:02but it seems it was the builders who wanted to be waited on hand and foot.
0:12:02 > 0:12:05We were actually very decent with them.
0:12:05 > 0:12:07They would get coffee every hour on the hour.
0:12:07 > 0:12:10I had a housemate delivering coffee just about every hour on the hour.
0:12:10 > 0:12:14Every time I'd come home for lunch we'd call them downstairs,
0:12:14 > 0:12:17make them lunch and sit with them for about half an hour or so.
0:12:17 > 0:12:21So, in between long shifts at the local hospital,
0:12:21 > 0:12:25Fahad was also serving up a five-star service to his builders.
0:12:25 > 0:12:30They repaid him with bodged building work, which led to fire and flood.
0:12:30 > 0:12:35We were sat in the lounge after dinner. We were having drinks and a nice time.
0:12:35 > 0:12:38A mate went upstairs to the spare room, and then shouted for me.
0:12:38 > 0:12:40And when I went upstairs,
0:12:40 > 0:12:44water was just pouring down from the ceiling straight on the bed.
0:12:44 > 0:12:48It turned out that one of my lodgers had had a shower in the top bathroom
0:12:48 > 0:12:52and water had seeped through the floor into the ceiling
0:12:52 > 0:12:54and just started pouring out.
0:12:54 > 0:12:57And we almost had a fire close to the attic,
0:12:57 > 0:13:00or in the attic, with a lot of insulation.
0:13:00 > 0:13:03The electrician has actually said it's a matter of time,
0:13:03 > 0:13:06weeks if not months, until you actually have a fire in the house.
0:13:06 > 0:13:10And if... It's my savings, it's my investment,
0:13:10 > 0:13:12it's my house that I've bought.
0:13:12 > 0:13:15How can I just sit and watch it burn?
0:13:15 > 0:13:18But Fahad stuck with his bodging builders.
0:13:18 > 0:13:21He thought he was in too far to stop now.
0:13:21 > 0:13:23The toilet's coming away.
0:13:23 > 0:13:25There's not enough water pressure in the sink.
0:13:25 > 0:13:29The radiator starts heating up when you turn hot water on.
0:13:29 > 0:13:33The floor in the top bathroom is tilting away from the wet room
0:13:33 > 0:13:37and that's why a lot of water was seeping outside the bathroom,
0:13:37 > 0:13:42so, essentially, all the work's been condemned and we've been highly recommended
0:13:42 > 0:13:45to get all of it repaired and start from scratch.
0:13:45 > 0:13:48The builders said the job would take three and a half weeks,
0:13:48 > 0:13:52but after 13 weeks on site, they cut and ran.
0:13:52 > 0:13:55They've done most of the work,
0:13:55 > 0:13:59but they've left both the bathrooms unfinished
0:13:59 > 0:14:02and they've left saying they're away for a six-week course.
0:14:02 > 0:14:05They didn't give any specific dates or any specific times
0:14:05 > 0:14:07on when they might return to finish the work.
0:14:07 > 0:14:12Fahad paid the builders £7,500,
0:14:12 > 0:14:17but they ruined his £12,000 worth of quality tiles and fittings.
0:14:17 > 0:14:21When they scarpered, they left all their rubbish dumped outside his house.
0:14:21 > 0:14:25Fahad fears all his hard-earned money has gone down the drain,
0:14:25 > 0:14:28along with his dream.
0:14:28 > 0:14:30I'm absolutely exhausted, because, as a surgeon,
0:14:30 > 0:14:32you're already working so many hours
0:14:32 > 0:14:35and you're bringing back a lot of stress from work.
0:14:35 > 0:14:38The last thing you need is stress at home.
0:14:38 > 0:14:42Fahad's dreams have been dashed and his house looks like a demolition site.
0:14:42 > 0:14:46After spending all that money, he shouldn't have holes in the ceiling.
0:14:46 > 0:14:50If you come in, you can see three spots work, three don't.
0:14:50 > 0:14:55A nice big hole up there and that's what the electrician's classed as a fire hazard,
0:14:55 > 0:14:58because the wires haven't been earthed,
0:14:58 > 0:15:02and that's why we've been told not to use the shower in this bathroom.
0:15:02 > 0:15:03Dangerous electrics?
0:15:03 > 0:15:05They're potentially lethal.
0:15:05 > 0:15:09The floors... You can see cracked floors there,
0:15:09 > 0:15:13which is quite unacceptable in a wet bathroom.
0:15:13 > 0:15:17If you lean over, there's a nice big gap underneath the wall-hung loo,
0:15:17 > 0:15:18so essentially,
0:15:18 > 0:15:22the floor's not watertight and that's where water can go in.
0:15:22 > 0:15:25What you don't want in a wet room is a floor that leaks.
0:15:25 > 0:15:30If you switch the shower on, the radiator starts heating up.
0:15:30 > 0:15:32I don't know what they've done there.
0:15:32 > 0:15:34And that's only wet room one.
0:15:34 > 0:15:37Fahad was done not once, but twice.
0:15:37 > 0:15:40A lot of issues with this one.
0:15:40 > 0:15:44This floor's tilting away from the wet area rather than towards,
0:15:44 > 0:15:49so there was a lot of water seeping out of the bathroom there,
0:15:49 > 0:15:54going into this bedroom, causing a lot of damage in the floors there.
0:15:56 > 0:16:00If you come in you can see cracked tiles there,
0:16:00 > 0:16:03and especially in the wet area now.
0:16:03 > 0:16:06Because of that, that shower is not usable.
0:16:06 > 0:16:08We've been told not to turn this on at all.
0:16:08 > 0:16:14This is where they were supposed to put a mirror and demister on.
0:16:14 > 0:16:15Have a look at that.
0:16:15 > 0:16:19There's a huge tile missing from underneath the loo.
0:16:19 > 0:16:21That's where we had the water damage.
0:16:21 > 0:16:25Water ran this way, went underneath the loo. There's a huge space in the floor
0:16:25 > 0:16:29where they should have placed a tile and that's how water got into the ceiling
0:16:29 > 0:16:33and started pouring through the ceiling below.
0:16:33 > 0:16:39Fahad's hopes of using his dream wet rooms are on hold until he can get them sorted out.
0:16:39 > 0:16:42It's time for me to find out what's been going on.
0:16:44 > 0:16:46DOORBELL RINGS
0:16:49 > 0:16:52- Hi.- Hi. - Hi, I'm Clive from Cowboy Trap.
0:16:52 > 0:16:57- Do you mind if I come in and have a look around?- Please do.- Thank you.
0:16:57 > 0:17:01Fahad's wet rooms have been left in a right old mess,
0:17:01 > 0:17:05so I want to sit down with him and find out what we can do to make things right.
0:17:05 > 0:17:09What could we do that would help you move forward
0:17:09 > 0:17:14and to help the process of getting those wet rooms right?
0:17:14 > 0:17:21I think, at this stage, if we can have them made electric safe and watertight
0:17:21 > 0:17:25and usable at least, that would be a way forward.
0:17:25 > 0:17:29OK. Well, look, charge me with getting that sorted, all right?
0:17:29 > 0:17:33- And we will get the good guys in and then we'll show you what we've done. - OK.
0:17:33 > 0:17:35OK. Deal.
0:17:35 > 0:17:37We've got to get these wet rooms sorted,
0:17:37 > 0:17:41make the electrics safe and the tile floors completely watertight.
0:17:41 > 0:17:44It's time to bring in the good guys.
0:17:52 > 0:17:56'Coming up, Fahad puts his builder on the spot.'
0:17:56 > 0:18:02Can you tell us if the electrician you had is a qualified electrician?
0:18:05 > 0:18:07We're back to Hoyland, South Yorkshire.
0:18:07 > 0:18:11Jane Townsend wanted a top-of-the-range fitted kitchen.
0:18:11 > 0:18:14She paid the kitchen company almost £10,000,
0:18:14 > 0:18:17but was left with missing doors and untiled walls.
0:18:17 > 0:18:21The electrics are dangerous and the cooker switch
0:18:21 > 0:18:23has been fitted in the combustion zone.
0:18:23 > 0:18:27She'd be unable to reach it if one of the pans caught fire.
0:18:27 > 0:18:30The good guys are standing by,
0:18:30 > 0:18:35but first I want to get an independent chartered surveyor to give his verdict on the work.
0:18:35 > 0:18:38What problems have you found in this kitchen?
0:18:38 > 0:18:39The main problems - firstly,
0:18:39 > 0:18:41the electrical installation.
0:18:41 > 0:18:44Secondly, the kitchen units themselves.
0:18:44 > 0:18:46And, thirdly, the tiling on the walls.
0:18:46 > 0:18:49I think my main concern is probably the electrical installation.
0:18:49 > 0:18:52That hasn't been done properly, hasn't been certified.
0:18:52 > 0:18:55That's something that needs to be picked up on.
0:18:55 > 0:18:59The thing that bothers me is the fact that switch is in the combustion zone.
0:18:59 > 0:19:03Anybody worth their salt in electrical work - if they'd have been qualified,
0:19:03 > 0:19:05they would have known that and moved it.
0:19:05 > 0:19:10Absolutely right. When it comes to electrical work in houses, you can't afford to take shortcuts.
0:19:10 > 0:19:14You need to get things done by a qualified electrician. At the end,
0:19:14 > 0:19:16they should give you a certificate to say,
0:19:16 > 0:19:19"Here's what I've done - it's in accordance with regulations."
0:19:19 > 0:19:22Now, what about in terms of the actual units themselves?
0:19:22 > 0:19:24Have you seen any problems?
0:19:24 > 0:19:28In terms of the kitchen cupboards, they need finishing off properly and snagging.
0:19:28 > 0:19:30- There are gaps and open mitres. - Yeah.
0:19:30 > 0:19:35In terms of the cupboard doors, of course, they're missing from some of the units.
0:19:35 > 0:19:37The tiling obviously isn't finished,
0:19:37 > 0:19:42which it needs to be really to make the kitchen usable and stop areas of the wall getting damp.
0:19:42 > 0:19:45So, marks out of ten, what would you give them?
0:19:45 > 0:19:49I think we've got to give it a zero because at the moment it isn't certified,
0:19:49 > 0:19:53it isn't safe to use, so therefore you can't really give it any marks.
0:19:54 > 0:19:55Zero out of 10?
0:19:55 > 0:19:59If these guys are kitchen fitters, I'm the Sugar Plum Fairy.
0:19:59 > 0:20:03Our good guys will have to find just the right doors and work wonders with the tiling
0:20:03 > 0:20:05to give this kitchen the finish it deserves.
0:20:05 > 0:20:11As for the dangerous electrics, we need a professional to sort them out.
0:20:11 > 0:20:14- Tell us what your plan of action is. - Behind the cooker's first priority.
0:20:14 > 0:20:17You know, the cable's just in connector blocks.
0:20:17 > 0:20:21No cooker outlet unit is on or whatever,
0:20:21 > 0:20:23so that's the main job.
0:20:23 > 0:20:24There's a lot of cosmetic jobs.
0:20:24 > 0:20:29Sockets not being fitted, so we'll do that and we'll take, obviously, the dishwasher out,
0:20:29 > 0:20:33washing machine, see what's behind there. Once we've done that, put good.
0:20:33 > 0:20:36OK. How long do you think it's going to take you?
0:20:36 > 0:20:39Three, four hours today, maybe a couple of hours tomorrow.
0:20:39 > 0:20:43OK. Will you be able to certificate the work that you've carried out?
0:20:43 > 0:20:46Yes. We'll probably also test the work that's been done as well...
0:20:46 > 0:20:49- Oh, that's a top job. - ..while we're here.
0:20:49 > 0:20:52- Well played. I'll let you carry on and get those tools sorted.- Cheers.
0:20:52 > 0:20:55While Scott and the guys start putting things right,
0:20:55 > 0:20:57'I want to sit down with Jane.
0:20:57 > 0:21:00'I want to know how badly things went wrong.'
0:21:00 > 0:21:03So the work is carried out and then they leave site.
0:21:03 > 0:21:06How does this all culminate in them going?
0:21:06 > 0:21:09Things were all wired up, so the kitchen was now working,
0:21:09 > 0:21:13but there were leaks and there were things not fitting properly.
0:21:13 > 0:21:16But they were saying, "It's only going to be another couple of days."
0:21:16 > 0:21:21And then the fitters seem to have some sort of real altercation on the phone
0:21:21 > 0:21:24and he came back in and he said that head office
0:21:24 > 0:21:28said I was to pay the fitters before they left tonight.
0:21:28 > 0:21:32And I said, "No, the agreement was that I'd pay a final bill
0:21:32 > 0:21:35"and you get your wages from your boss.
0:21:35 > 0:21:38"I haven't employed you, he employed you."
0:21:38 > 0:21:40I was told that wasn't right
0:21:40 > 0:21:45and they've been told that I was going to pay them in cash that day.
0:21:45 > 0:21:49And they insisted that I get in the van with them and go to the bank,
0:21:49 > 0:21:52which I did and I drew out the money,
0:21:52 > 0:21:56and they signed a piece of paper saying they'd received it.
0:21:56 > 0:22:01Do you know, Jane, that shocked me because you are...
0:22:01 > 0:22:03very savvy, right?
0:22:03 > 0:22:04And...
0:22:04 > 0:22:07And they were very big.
0:22:07 > 0:22:08Was it intimidation?
0:22:08 > 0:22:09It was.
0:22:11 > 0:22:14Single woman on her own, single mum.
0:22:14 > 0:22:15Three burly guys.
0:22:15 > 0:22:20Three angry burly guys because they've not been paid by work,
0:22:20 > 0:22:25and, yes, you're intimidated, but also you think,
0:22:25 > 0:22:28"Well, hang about, they might not have done a very good job,
0:22:28 > 0:22:31"but they're getting messed about, too."
0:22:31 > 0:22:35You went to the bank, you drew out the money, you gave it to them.
0:22:35 > 0:22:39- Did the job get finished?- No. They did sign a piece of paper
0:22:39 > 0:22:41saying that they'd had the money though,
0:22:41 > 0:22:44- so I've got some sort of receipt. - Mmm-hmm.
0:22:44 > 0:22:48And they packed up the van and they said they would be back the following day
0:22:48 > 0:22:52to finish up the loose ends and they were going to their head office
0:22:52 > 0:22:56to pick up the missing parts which they'd been told were now there.
0:22:56 > 0:22:58And I never saw them again.
0:22:58 > 0:22:59Urgh. OK.
0:22:59 > 0:23:03- How much was it that you gave them? - £1,300.
0:23:03 > 0:23:04Take a tip from me,
0:23:04 > 0:23:07don't let the builders take you to the cleaners
0:23:07 > 0:23:10and certainly don't let them take you to the bank.
0:23:13 > 0:23:16If you're being strong-armed into handing over money,
0:23:16 > 0:23:17call a friend for help.
0:23:20 > 0:23:23Our team is on the job now, righting all the wrongs.
0:23:23 > 0:23:29We've got quite a challenge on our hands to source doors to complete the contemporary look Jane wants,
0:23:29 > 0:23:32and plenty of work to make the electrics safe.
0:23:32 > 0:23:36'Coming up, I can wait to show Jane just what the good guys can do.'
0:23:36 > 0:23:38I love it. I love the colour.
0:23:38 > 0:23:40Everything's just amazing. Looks great.
0:23:43 > 0:23:47We're back in Newcastle where surgeon Fahad Shabbir wanted to replace
0:23:47 > 0:23:52the dated bathrooms in his house with two hotel-style luxury wet rooms.
0:23:52 > 0:23:53After 13 weeks on a job
0:23:53 > 0:23:58they said would be done in just three, Fahad's builders quit.
0:23:58 > 0:24:01They left behind a ton of rubbish, a leaking floor,
0:24:01 > 0:24:04damaged tiles, a half hung mirror and dangerous electrics.
0:24:04 > 0:24:09We're standing by to fix all the damage, but first,
0:24:09 > 0:24:13I want to find out how an independent chartered surveyor scores the work.
0:24:13 > 0:24:15My assessment of the work is
0:24:15 > 0:24:17it's been carried out to a pretty poor standard.
0:24:17 > 0:24:21There's certain elements that are required in a wet room
0:24:21 > 0:24:24to keep it watertight which have been missed out,
0:24:24 > 0:24:28such as the strengthening of the floor, which is required
0:24:28 > 0:24:31otherwise the tiles will crack and begin to uplift.
0:24:31 > 0:24:34A tanking system to the floor and walls,
0:24:34 > 0:24:36all joints should have been taped,
0:24:36 > 0:24:42and also we noticed that the plasterboard they've fitted to the walls and ceiling
0:24:42 > 0:24:45isn't the correct type of plasterboard for a wet room.
0:24:45 > 0:24:48There's also the electrical installations,
0:24:48 > 0:24:51and also there's some items that haven't been finished off.
0:24:51 > 0:24:54I'd give it two out of ten.
0:24:54 > 0:24:57I feel that the quality of workmanship is poor.
0:24:57 > 0:25:01It's not been finished off correctly and there's certain elements
0:25:01 > 0:25:07that are required for a wet room that haven't been installed on this occasion.
0:25:07 > 0:25:09Two out of ten. This work is shocking.
0:25:09 > 0:25:14Top priority for our good guys is going to be getting the electrics safe and sorted.
0:25:14 > 0:25:18Dangerous electrics and wet rooms certainly don't mix.
0:25:18 > 0:25:22'Today, our team is led by Alan. So what's the plan of action?'
0:25:22 > 0:25:26What problems have you found that's not to your liking?
0:25:26 > 0:25:29The list is quite extensive, but primarily the main thing for us
0:25:29 > 0:25:32is the electrical installation is clearly not safe.
0:25:32 > 0:25:33It's been done by an amateur.
0:25:33 > 0:25:36Also the integrity of the floor - it's leaking.
0:25:36 > 0:25:39The tiling is in an appalling state.
0:25:39 > 0:25:44Some of the tiles are so badly cracked that they're leaking water through the ceiling.
0:25:44 > 0:25:48That needs to be addressed. And also the plastering work that's been done
0:25:48 > 0:25:51has clearly been done by an amateur.
0:25:51 > 0:25:55- So what needs to be done? - The first thing we need to do is address the electrics.
0:25:55 > 0:25:59That's probably the most important thing - people's safety is involved here.
0:25:59 > 0:26:03Then, of course, we need to understand why the floors are leaking and cracking.
0:26:03 > 0:26:07I can't wait to show him exactly what the good guys can do.
0:26:07 > 0:26:11While Alan and the good guys get stuck in fixing all the problems,
0:26:11 > 0:26:15I want to find out from Fahad how his perfect wet rooms ended up a washout.
0:26:15 > 0:26:19What happened was I came back home for lunch,
0:26:19 > 0:26:23and as soon as I entered the property, I could smell something burning.
0:26:23 > 0:26:26I could smell rubber and plastic and a whole lot of other stuff.
0:26:26 > 0:26:30I traced the smell with my housemate upstairs.
0:26:30 > 0:26:35It was on the second floor, the second bathroom that they were working on.
0:26:35 > 0:26:38There was a bit of smoke,
0:26:38 > 0:26:43loads of horrid rubber, plastic burning smell.
0:26:43 > 0:26:47Both the builders were outside. I gave them a shout,
0:26:47 > 0:26:50one of them came in, switched the electrics off,
0:26:50 > 0:26:53stuck his hand into the ceiling, pulled the electrics down
0:26:53 > 0:26:56and it turned out to be the transformer that was burning.
0:26:56 > 0:27:02So if we hadn't picked it up
0:27:02 > 0:27:07there would have been a fire because that was the loft.
0:27:07 > 0:27:09- So it was in the roof void? - Absolutely.
0:27:09 > 0:27:13And what they then did was, they changed the transformer
0:27:13 > 0:27:16and to reassure me they said,
0:27:16 > 0:27:19"Well, we've pushed the insulation away from the transformer."
0:27:19 > 0:27:22That didn't sound very technical.
0:27:22 > 0:27:25You then did what in terms of speaking to the builder about it?
0:27:25 > 0:27:31I told them that I was worried about what was going on upstairs
0:27:31 > 0:27:33and it was unsafe.
0:27:33 > 0:27:36They sort of brushed it aside as,
0:27:36 > 0:27:39"Oh, don't worry, it's not a problem at all.
0:27:39 > 0:27:42"It happens all the time, transformers burn,
0:27:42 > 0:27:44"it's not going to cause a fire.
0:27:44 > 0:27:48"We've pushed all the insulation away, so you'll be safe now."
0:27:48 > 0:27:50It still didn't sound right.
0:27:50 > 0:27:54It's very important that any electrical work meets all the safety rules.
0:27:54 > 0:27:59Take a tip from me...
0:28:01 > 0:28:04Check the professional qualifications of any electrician
0:28:04 > 0:28:06before they start work.
0:28:06 > 0:28:09It is almost impossible to have electrical work certified later
0:28:09 > 0:28:13by a qualified electrician if they didn't do the work themselves.
0:28:18 > 0:28:20It's time to phone Fahad's builder.
0:28:20 > 0:28:24We hope using a different phone number will fool him into answering.
0:28:24 > 0:28:30Well, Fahad, when was the last time you spoke to your builder, had any dialogue at all?
0:28:30 > 0:28:36It was several weeks ago when I phoned him and asked for
0:28:36 > 0:28:39his insurance and he asked why.
0:28:39 > 0:28:41I told him that there had been a fire in the house
0:28:41 > 0:28:46and there'd been water damage and I'd spoken to my insurance and they wanted details of his insurance.
0:28:46 > 0:28:49And then he said, "We've gone bankrupt".
0:28:49 > 0:28:51Do you believe he's gone bankrupt?
0:28:51 > 0:28:55- No.- OK, so he just said that to fob you off, in your opinion?
0:28:55 > 0:28:58- Yeah.- I'm going to give you the opportunity to speak to your builder.
0:28:58 > 0:29:02What questions would you like to put to him?
0:29:02 > 0:29:05The one thing I'd like to ask him is
0:29:05 > 0:29:08why has he left a wet room
0:29:08 > 0:29:10not waterproofed
0:29:10 > 0:29:13leaving us with a water damaged property?
0:29:13 > 0:29:16Why the electrics have not been earthed
0:29:16 > 0:29:19and they've, apparently, been done illegally and they're so unsafe?
0:29:19 > 0:29:24And why has he not come back to sort out the problems?
0:29:24 > 0:29:26OK, I think they're three great questions.
0:29:26 > 0:29:29The number is actually in the phone.
0:29:29 > 0:29:34All I would ask you to do is to put it on speakerphone so we can all hear what he's got to say for himself.
0:29:34 > 0:29:36OK.
0:29:38 > 0:29:40DIALLING TONE
0:29:43 > 0:29:46'Surprisingly, Fahad's builder picks up.'
0:29:46 > 0:29:53I wanted to ask why you've left the wet room, the floor in the wet room, not watertight?
0:29:53 > 0:29:58'The builder says that Fahad never contacted him to say there were any problems in the house.'
0:29:58 > 0:30:04We did contact you to tell you that there's been water damage and there's been a fire in the house,
0:30:04 > 0:30:09but you never gave us details of your insurance and you never came back.
0:30:09 > 0:30:11You were supposed to come back to finish the work.
0:30:11 > 0:30:14'Again, the builder says that Fahad hadn't contacted him,
0:30:14 > 0:30:16'but claims he'd been getting threats on the internet.'
0:30:16 > 0:30:19I've never put any threats on the internet.
0:30:19 > 0:30:20What you're saying is incorrect.
0:30:20 > 0:30:22I've made numerous phone calls.
0:30:22 > 0:30:27I've got records of several texts I've sent you, very detailed texts.
0:30:27 > 0:30:30You've never replied to a single one of them.
0:30:30 > 0:30:32What about the electrics?
0:30:32 > 0:30:37The electrics haven't been earthed and, apparently, they've been done illegally.
0:30:37 > 0:30:42Can you tell us if the electrician you had is a qualified electrician?
0:30:42 > 0:30:43LINE GOES DEAD
0:30:43 > 0:30:45And he's hung up.
0:30:45 > 0:30:50And he's hung up because that hit a huge nerve.
0:30:50 > 0:30:53- Yeah.- I'm amazed, first of all, that he's answered the phone call
0:30:53 > 0:30:57because normally they tend not to do that, so it caught him off guard.
0:30:57 > 0:31:00He didn't know what that number was, he wasn't familiar with it.
0:31:00 > 0:31:04But your line of questioning was great because it really put him on the back foot.
0:31:04 > 0:31:07- He had no answer for that at all. - Yeah.
0:31:07 > 0:31:10The most important bit was the electrical factor.
0:31:10 > 0:31:13- Yeah.- The fact that it was unearthed and left dangerous.
0:31:13 > 0:31:16Fahad really caught that cowboy on the hop.
0:31:16 > 0:31:22The guys he had doing those electrics made an utter mess and I've got a message for these cowboy builders.
0:31:22 > 0:31:25You know who you are and now we know who you are.
0:31:25 > 0:31:30And by revealing your tricks and techniques, we'll prevent others from falling into your trap.
0:31:30 > 0:31:37Coming up, I can't wait to show Fahad his wonderful wet rooms once the professionals are done and dusted.
0:31:37 > 0:31:40Oh, wow. That's beautiful.
0:31:42 > 0:31:44We're finishing up in South Yorkshire.
0:31:44 > 0:31:50Jane Townsend wanted a smart contemporary top of the range kitchen, but that's not what she got.
0:31:50 > 0:31:52It's two years since her fitters abandoned the job.
0:31:52 > 0:31:55Her kitchen has since been discontinued so we've come up
0:31:55 > 0:31:58with a radical design solution to complete the missing units.
0:31:58 > 0:32:03Andy's been hard at work cooking up what he hopes will be a dream result for Jane.
0:32:03 > 0:32:06- Hey, Andy.- Hello, mate. How are we doing?- I'm good.
0:32:06 > 0:32:10I'm sorry to disturb your siliconing, but I'm loving this.
0:32:10 > 0:32:12- Brilliant, isn't it?- Yeah.
0:32:12 > 0:32:15To be honest, I wouldn't have thought it would have gone.
0:32:15 > 0:32:18I'd have never dreamt of bringing back a red door to go with this combination.
0:32:18 > 0:32:22It was desperation, mate, and I tell you what, we've pulled it off.
0:32:22 > 0:32:25I think it's great. I'm hoping she's going to love the colour.
0:32:25 > 0:32:30I tell you what, I think she will because she'll love that tiling, as well. That looks the business.
0:32:30 > 0:32:33That's where we got the colour from, basically.
0:32:33 > 0:32:36- Great idea.- Yeah.- So, you're now finishing off the silicon work.- Yeah.
0:32:36 > 0:32:38So, how long have you got left?
0:32:38 > 0:32:40We're just about wrapped up, Clive, just about wrapped up.
0:32:40 > 0:32:43Just got the silicon to do and we're about done.
0:32:43 > 0:32:45Fantastic. It looks like you've done a great job.
0:32:45 > 0:32:49- Brilliant.- I can't wait to show her what the good guys are capable of.
0:32:49 > 0:32:55Before we see if Jane's impressed, I want to find out what she's learnt from her kitchen cowboys.
0:32:55 > 0:32:58Just tell me what you think you've learnt from having a cowboy builder
0:32:58 > 0:33:01in your property, and what you would do differently next time?
0:33:01 > 0:33:07I'd certainly make sure that all the paperwork was in order first
0:33:07 > 0:33:11and that it had been checked by both of us and signed off.
0:33:11 > 0:33:14And that it was very detailed, so I knew what it was.
0:33:14 > 0:33:17I'd also speak to more than one company.
0:33:17 > 0:33:23I'd certainly take up the references and make sure that they were monitored and we knew exactly
0:33:23 > 0:33:26what they were supposed to be doing and the timeframe in which they were supposed to do it.
0:33:26 > 0:33:29So it's all about making sure you're on top of the job, really.
0:33:29 > 0:33:32- Yes.- From start to finish, you're in control.
0:33:32 > 0:33:34- A business like fashion.- Yes.
0:33:34 > 0:33:40OK, now, before we go in and see the kitchen, just tell me what it was like before we arrived.
0:33:40 > 0:33:44I had electrics that used to spark at you.
0:33:44 > 0:33:48I had holes in the wall and bare plaster.
0:33:48 > 0:33:51I had missing cupboard doors and wonky kickboards.
0:33:51 > 0:33:59OK. Now, there is a slight change gone on in there and for the first time I'm sort of slightly worried.
0:33:59 > 0:34:02I love it, I hope you're going to, all right?
0:34:02 > 0:34:04So, let's go and take a look.
0:34:04 > 0:34:06- Are you ready? - Yes.- Are you suitably excited?
0:34:06 > 0:34:07- Yes.- Come on then, let's go.- OK.
0:34:09 > 0:34:11After you, Jane.
0:34:14 > 0:34:16It's really different.
0:34:16 > 0:34:19- What about the door? - That's a real surprise.
0:34:19 > 0:34:21I wasn't expecting anything like that. I love it.
0:34:21 > 0:34:24It is beautiful.
0:34:24 > 0:34:26- It is amazing.- Phew!
0:34:26 > 0:34:27That was my big worry.
0:34:27 > 0:34:30I just wouldn't have thought about it.
0:34:30 > 0:34:33That was my big worry, because it's so different, but it's obviously the
0:34:33 > 0:34:35- same style, but Andy's done a great job there.- He has.
0:34:35 > 0:34:40I think selecting that colour is fantastic because, I mean, the tiles
0:34:40 > 0:34:43themselves, as well, the job on those tiles, what do you think to that?
0:34:43 > 0:34:45I think they're beautiful. I love it. I love the colour.
0:34:45 > 0:34:47Everything's just amazing.
0:34:47 > 0:34:51- It's great.- And remember those sockets that were on the wall?
0:34:51 > 0:34:55Yes, I remember the sockets.
0:34:55 > 0:34:57- They've gone. - They have, they've gone.
0:34:57 > 0:35:00They're tucked under nicely, because you remember that switch that was in
0:35:00 > 0:35:05- what I said was the combustion zone right above your cooker?- Yes.- That's gone now, just to the side, look.
0:35:05 > 0:35:08You've got those wonderful stainless steel angles going on there.
0:35:08 > 0:35:10And then you wanted the lighting.
0:35:10 > 0:35:12Yeah. That's great.
0:35:12 > 0:35:17And, of course, the stainless steel reflects the tile colour, so everything just sits in lovely.
0:35:17 > 0:35:22- Yeah.- It's beautiful. - The reflection on the whole kitchen looks so different.
0:35:22 > 0:35:25- I think we've done a stunning job, do you?- It's amazing.
0:35:25 > 0:35:28It is much, much better than I could even imagine it being done.
0:35:28 > 0:35:30It's such a relief. It's beautiful.
0:35:30 > 0:35:32I'm just absolutely blown away.
0:35:32 > 0:35:34I'm absolutely amazed.
0:35:34 > 0:35:40And the speed of it all being done when it's been sat in that sort of mess for so long.
0:35:40 > 0:35:42- Yeah.- It's just incredible.
0:35:42 > 0:35:45Jane's kitchen misery is now ancient history.
0:35:45 > 0:35:49She was left with unfinished walls, unsafe electrics and missing cupboard doors.
0:35:49 > 0:35:56The good guys have worked wonders with the dramatic mosaic tiles in shades of pink, red and gold.
0:35:56 > 0:35:58We've sorted out the wiring, too.
0:35:58 > 0:36:00Now everything is safe and certified.
0:36:00 > 0:36:07And to top it off, we've got those stunning red glossy doors which give the whole room a real lift.
0:36:07 > 0:36:12Two years after the kitchen cowboys walked off the job, Jane's finally got her dream.
0:36:12 > 0:36:16- I've got one final thing to give you and it's very important.- OK.
0:36:16 > 0:36:20It's a piece of paper, but it's an important piece of paper.
0:36:20 > 0:36:26Let me tell you what it is. This is your electrical safety certificate.
0:36:26 > 0:36:30- OK.- Because remind us what was happening with your old sockets?
0:36:30 > 0:36:33If you plugged anything in they sparked at you.
0:36:33 > 0:36:35Yeah, which is pretty dangerous.
0:36:35 > 0:36:42OK, these guys have done the job, they've tested all of their work and now you've got an official
0:36:42 > 0:36:45test certificate there, so that will be stored away.
0:36:45 > 0:36:51Just in case in the future you ever want to sell the property, really important that you've got that, that
0:36:51 > 0:36:54it's all been tested and what they call up to 17th edition regulations.
0:36:54 > 0:37:02That, I'll be honest with you, to me is as important as this wonderful kitchen. But it looks the business.
0:37:02 > 0:37:06I'm going to leave you to get cooking really, I suppose. You're going to enjoy cooking in here now.
0:37:06 > 0:37:08Yes, very much.
0:37:08 > 0:37:11- Yeah?- It is, it's wonderful. Thank you so much.
0:37:11 > 0:37:17It's been an absolute pleasure and I hope that we never, ever get any more cowboy tradespeople in your property.
0:37:17 > 0:37:20I hope so, too.
0:37:21 > 0:37:23We're making our final visit to Newcastle.
0:37:23 > 0:37:29Fahad Shabbir wanted hotel style luxury wet rooms, but ended up with leaking floors and lethal electrics.
0:37:29 > 0:37:36He bought high class materials, but his builders were definitely low rent.
0:37:36 > 0:37:40Now our guys have nearly finished making good in both the wet rooms.
0:37:40 > 0:37:44Tell us about what you've been doing with the upstairs wet room, and then this one.
0:37:44 > 0:37:47So, upstairs, first of all the electrics were very unsafe.
0:37:47 > 0:37:53There were live wires in an environment with water, which is an absolute no no.
0:37:53 > 0:37:56And, secondly, the floors were leaching water through the ceilings,
0:37:56 > 0:37:58so we replaced the floors and we sorted out the electrics.
0:37:58 > 0:38:00In here we had the same problem.
0:38:00 > 0:38:04We had leaking floors, but more importantly, the electrics were terrible.
0:38:04 > 0:38:07All the light fittings here weren't fire rated,
0:38:07 > 0:38:10so not only were they electrically unsafe, it was also a fire hazard.
0:38:10 > 0:38:13So we replaced the lighting with the correct type of lighting for this
0:38:13 > 0:38:18environment, bearing in mind this is a Zone One, which is around water.
0:38:18 > 0:38:24Well, I've got to be honest, I can't wait to show the homeowners two safe working wet rooms.
0:38:24 > 0:38:29Hopefully, there will be no more cowboys causing havoc in Fahad's home.
0:38:29 > 0:38:31But before we see if he likes the wonderful wet rooms,
0:38:31 > 0:38:34I want to find out what he's learned about having cowboy builders.
0:38:34 > 0:38:39Just tell us what you think you've learned from having cowboy builders in your property.
0:38:39 > 0:38:43The most important thing I've learned from this experience,
0:38:43 > 0:38:47which I hope no-one else has to go through, is not to hesitate.
0:38:47 > 0:38:50Not to hesitate asking for references, checking on
0:38:50 > 0:38:56previous work, asking for the right qualifications and insurances and asking to see them.
0:38:56 > 0:39:00So, you've learned a lot of lessons in that short space of time.
0:39:00 > 0:39:02What are you actually hoping for?
0:39:02 > 0:39:07I'm hoping that at the end of the day both the wet rooms are usable.
0:39:07 > 0:39:13You can go in, you can have a shower and not have to worry about leaks or electricity or
0:39:13 > 0:39:16being electrocuted, and just not worry about any of that.
0:39:16 > 0:39:22- So, are you ready, sir, to go and take a look at what the good guys have done?- I am.
0:39:22 > 0:39:24- After you.- OK.
0:39:27 > 0:39:29Oh. Wow.
0:39:30 > 0:39:32It's beautiful.
0:39:32 > 0:39:34It's made a difference, hasn't it?
0:39:34 > 0:39:38Yeah, absolutely. You can see there are no cracks no more.
0:39:38 > 0:39:41- No more cracked tiles.- Yeah.
0:39:41 > 0:39:45That looks like it's been redone, because you can see the neat borders now.
0:39:45 > 0:39:50That back box in the toilet is now secure, so that when
0:39:50 > 0:39:53you sit on the toilet it doesn't feel like it's falling forward.
0:39:53 > 0:39:55You're not going to go flying off.
0:39:55 > 0:39:57- You're not.- OK. - So, that's all been sorted.
0:39:57 > 0:39:59- Excellent.- You remember that hole in the ceiling?
0:39:59 > 0:40:03- Oh, God, yeah, yeah.- It's now gone.
0:40:03 > 0:40:08- Right.- So really it's just waiting for that plaster to settle now before it needs a coat of paint.
0:40:08 > 0:40:15The other thing is, of course, we talked about the electrics which are now safe, so how does that feel?
0:40:15 > 0:40:18What's your feeling now that you can take a shower?
0:40:18 > 0:40:20Well, relieved. Absolutely relieved.
0:40:20 > 0:40:23If there's an absolute guarantee that all the electrics are safe and
0:40:23 > 0:40:28I'm not going to get electrocuted in the shower, then, yeah.
0:40:28 > 0:40:30Do you remember what the problem was with the LEDs?
0:40:30 > 0:40:33- Yeah, they didn't work. - They didn't work.
0:40:33 > 0:40:36I tell you what, check this out.
0:40:36 > 0:40:39Oh, wow. That's beautiful!
0:40:39 > 0:40:41They're working and they're working properly.
0:40:41 > 0:40:43It's a beautiful feature, as well.
0:40:43 > 0:40:49- Yeah.- Fantastic. But the main thing is they've made you safe.- Yeah.
0:40:49 > 0:40:52What are you thinking? What's your overall opinion?
0:40:52 > 0:40:56- It's amazing.- OK, so we've seen wet room number one.- Mm-hm.
0:40:56 > 0:40:59Shall we go and check out the wet room upstairs, number two?
0:40:59 > 0:41:01- Yeah.- Come on.- OK.
0:41:01 > 0:41:06'Fahad had double the wet room trouble, but our team has been busy fixing both.'
0:41:06 > 0:41:12- Wow. Look at the floor. - Now, remind us what the problems were with that floor.
0:41:12 > 0:41:17Yeah, the whole floor was tilting away from the drain rather than towards the drain.
0:41:17 > 0:41:19It wasn't laid properly.
0:41:19 > 0:41:23There were plenty of cracked tiles, even inside the wet room.
0:41:23 > 0:41:25The whole floor has been redone
0:41:25 > 0:41:28and it looks like it is still tilting in the right direction now.
0:41:28 > 0:41:31It definitely is. And what do you make of your mirror,
0:41:31 > 0:41:32because you didn't have that before?
0:41:32 > 0:41:34The mirror's on. Right.
0:41:34 > 0:41:39Yeah, we basically, didn't have a mirror there for about 13 weeks.
0:41:39 > 0:41:43I'm overwhelmed because not only it looks beautiful, it's usable, as well.
0:41:43 > 0:41:47Fahad's wet room woes have now been hung out to dry.
0:41:47 > 0:41:51His cowboy builders left him with badly installed bathroom fittings,
0:41:51 > 0:41:54dangerous electrics and leaking floors.
0:41:54 > 0:41:57But these wet rooms are the business.
0:41:57 > 0:42:01The floors slope gently towards the drain so the water flows away.
0:42:01 > 0:42:04We've replaced the tiles to provide a watertight finish.
0:42:04 > 0:42:08The fittings are secure and the finish is top class.
0:42:08 > 0:42:12And, most importantly, the electrics are safe and certified.
0:42:12 > 0:42:16This is the kind of finish you can expect when you call the professionals in.
0:42:16 > 0:42:18Above all else, it's safe.
0:42:18 > 0:42:22- Yeah.- And that's paramount, as far as I'm concerned.
0:42:22 > 0:42:25So, enjoy your wet room, sir.
0:42:25 > 0:42:29- I indeed will do. - And keep those cowboys at bay.
0:42:29 > 0:42:31- I will do.- All right, you enjoy.
0:42:31 > 0:42:33- Thank you very much.- Cheers.
0:42:35 > 0:42:41You know, I am so happy that Fahad's dreams of his wet rooms have finally been realised.
0:42:41 > 0:42:45And, remember, there are more good guys than cowboys out there.
0:42:45 > 0:42:50You just need to do your research and that way you won't go falling into The Cowboy Trap.
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