0:00:04 > 0:00:07Cowboy builders will stop at nothing,
0:00:07 > 0:00:10and they could soon be operating in a town near you.
0:00:10 > 0:00:16Why, basically, would you leave it in a position that it were dangerous?
0:00:16 > 0:00:19Why would you do that because of money?
0:00:19 > 0:00:23We're uncovering yet another building disaster.
0:00:23 > 0:00:25We got a text to say they'd left. We came back
0:00:25 > 0:00:30and it just wasn't finished - the house was completely upside down.
0:00:30 > 0:00:37But have no fear, my team and I are here to right the wrongs those cowboy builders leave behind.
0:00:37 > 0:00:40- Is that the business, or what? - Thanks so much.- Brilliant.
0:00:40 > 0:00:43Stick with me, and I'll pass on all my hints and tips
0:00:43 > 0:00:47in the hope it'll help prevent you from falling into the Cowboy Trap.
0:00:57 > 0:01:01On today's Cowboy Trap, we'll discover cowboys
0:01:01 > 0:01:04don't discriminate - they'll even wreck their neighbours' homes.
0:01:04 > 0:01:08How somebody can just totally disregard other people -
0:01:08 > 0:01:10and they live round the corner.
0:01:10 > 0:01:14So they're driving past our house regularly and they know it's not finished.
0:01:14 > 0:01:19Although they lived round the corner, these cowardly cowboys couldn't face up to their customers.
0:01:19 > 0:01:25Once they'd had all the money, they even quit the job by sending a text.
0:01:25 > 0:01:29They said, sorry, there's no more money in the job.
0:01:29 > 0:01:33We can't come back, I'm washing my hands of it, were the words he used.
0:01:36 > 0:01:38We're in Wakefield, West Yorkshire
0:01:38 > 0:01:41with the Myers family. Laurinda and Andi have three children.
0:01:41 > 0:01:45Andi is an IT worker and Laurinda works in a school.
0:01:45 > 0:01:48She's also gone back to university to do teacher training.
0:01:48 > 0:01:52Jared's 16, Christie is nearly ten now, and Millie's four.
0:01:52 > 0:01:57We decided to have a loft conversion because of the family growing.
0:01:57 > 0:02:01Millie was young,
0:02:01 > 0:02:07and my eldest son has some special needs.
0:02:08 > 0:02:10We'd outgrown this house.
0:02:10 > 0:02:14The girls were sharing, and we had some issues on a night where,
0:02:14 > 0:02:19due to Jared's condition, that he was disturbing the other two children.
0:02:19 > 0:02:24So we knew that we really needed a house that would house our children separately.
0:02:24 > 0:02:30So obviously the loft conversion was the easiest and most accessible thing at the time.
0:02:30 > 0:02:34Laurinda and Andi realised if they extended upwards
0:02:34 > 0:02:38they could create two more bedrooms for the girls and an extra bathroom.
0:02:38 > 0:02:40There would also be a home office for Andi,
0:02:40 > 0:02:44because he has a rare brain illness and has to work from home.
0:02:44 > 0:02:47Now the search was on for a good builder.
0:02:47 > 0:02:50We looked into trying to find a few builders.
0:02:51 > 0:02:56We looked around papers, we asked friends and family if they
0:02:56 > 0:03:01knew any builders that we could try. And it all started from there,
0:03:01 > 0:03:06we got six or seven quotes and started making our decisions from there.
0:03:06 > 0:03:08They wanted a builder who could do everything -
0:03:08 > 0:03:11a one-stop shop - but they were about to make
0:03:11 > 0:03:15their final choice based on a rather surprising assumption.
0:03:15 > 0:03:18The people that we chose to go with,
0:03:18 > 0:03:26it was on the basis that we'd seen two of their vans here and there at various jobs and thought, well,
0:03:26 > 0:03:30they must be doing the right business, the vans looked tidy...
0:03:30 > 0:03:34We found that they were local people and we thought
0:03:34 > 0:03:37in this setting at the moment that that would be a good idea.
0:03:37 > 0:03:41The Myers wanted a one-stop shop builder, so after lots of quotes
0:03:41 > 0:03:44they decided on a builder who lived just up the road.
0:03:44 > 0:03:47What could be better than somebody local?
0:03:48 > 0:03:52The Myers wanted their six-week build to be finished in time for
0:03:52 > 0:03:55the end of the school summer holidays and the start of term.
0:03:55 > 0:03:59Son Jared and husband Andi both have some health issues,
0:03:59 > 0:04:03so Laurinda wanted to minimise the stress of the build.
0:04:03 > 0:04:11Because of our family circumstances with Jared, and my husband's got a condition as well,
0:04:11 > 0:04:18it meant that most of the arrangements and the dealings with builders would be myself.
0:04:18 > 0:04:19So I asked
0:04:19 > 0:04:22that they could do everything for me -
0:04:22 > 0:04:24all the building regulation fees,
0:04:24 > 0:04:28all the plans, the plumber, the electrician...
0:04:28 > 0:04:31So I was dealing directly with the builder,
0:04:31 > 0:04:36and they obviously had the rest of the people to deal with.
0:04:36 > 0:04:41While the loft was being converted to bedrooms, a bathroom and office,
0:04:41 > 0:04:45the Myers decided to have the central heating and wiring replaced too.
0:04:45 > 0:04:48They'd taken out a loan to pay for the work,
0:04:48 > 0:04:51so they agreed a fixed price with their builder to cover everything.
0:04:51 > 0:04:54And work got off to a great start.
0:04:54 > 0:04:58They turned up on time, every day -
0:04:58 > 0:05:02they didn't have breaks every two minutes, which we thought, fantastic.
0:05:02 > 0:05:06- They seemed really hard-working. - They were really good, they really got on.
0:05:06 > 0:05:12But then shortly after the builders had taken the roof off, disaster struck.
0:05:12 > 0:05:17We had atrocious weather, and they'd taken the entire roof off, and they'd covered what they could
0:05:17 > 0:05:20with tarpaulin and this weather was just awful.
0:05:20 > 0:05:25I got up in the middle of the night, and as I opened the bathroom door, it was just like,
0:05:25 > 0:05:30- well, it was like a swimming pool - it was all coming through the light fittings.- Light fittings.
0:05:30 > 0:05:32The sunk lights.
0:05:32 > 0:05:37But Laurinda didn't panic. She had faith in her hard-working builders
0:05:37 > 0:05:38and got straight on the phone to them.
0:05:38 > 0:05:44We rang them up and said "Help", and they came straight out no problems, middle of the night.
0:05:44 > 0:05:48- Two o'clock in the morning. - Really apologetic. - They were great for that.
0:05:48 > 0:05:50Dealt with it...
0:05:50 > 0:05:54And at that we thought, do you know what - these are really nice chaps.
0:05:54 > 0:05:56Great. This is just what we need.
0:05:56 > 0:05:58- We thought we'd got lucky, really. - Totally.
0:05:59 > 0:06:02The builders continued to impress the Myers,
0:06:02 > 0:06:06until halfway through the build when they made a costly mistake.
0:06:06 > 0:06:08They misread the architect's drawings,
0:06:08 > 0:06:13and as a result they got the structural calculations wrong.
0:06:13 > 0:06:18They'd said that they could either use steels, or they could do it in timber.
0:06:18 > 0:06:23They chose the timber option, but they've misread the diagram
0:06:23 > 0:06:29and the calculations were wrong for the loadings for the joists that they'd used, basically.
0:06:29 > 0:06:35The builders did redo the work, but it took longer and cost extra for materials.
0:06:35 > 0:06:36Take my tip...
0:06:42 > 0:06:45Some builders try and charge the customers extra
0:06:45 > 0:06:50to correct THEIR mistakes, but it's not your responsibility to pay.
0:06:50 > 0:06:54Because Laurinda and Andi had agreed a fixed price for the whole job,
0:06:54 > 0:06:58the builders had no choice but to stomach the extra costs.
0:06:58 > 0:07:01Because they did that, it put them back x-amount of time.
0:07:01 > 0:07:08It also cost more for the extra materials. And that's when we noticed a difference in them, weren't it?
0:07:08 > 0:07:11Yeah. It started sort of going downhill from there.
0:07:12 > 0:07:16The build was finally about to run off the rails, when the Myers handed
0:07:16 > 0:07:20the builders the keys, packed their bags and went on holiday.
0:07:20 > 0:07:25We went away to France with other family members, and I thought
0:07:25 > 0:07:29great, we're going to get back, we're going to decorate this loft...
0:07:30 > 0:07:33And then when I got on holiday, they sent a text message.
0:07:33 > 0:07:38Oh, yeah - and if your builder starts contacting you by text, begin to worry.
0:07:38 > 0:07:41The text message basically said
0:07:42 > 0:07:48that they'd not been paid for the past x-amount of days' work.
0:07:48 > 0:07:54They'd been working for free due to the problems they'd had with the trusses et cetera,
0:07:54 > 0:07:58and as a result that they'd have to do some other jobs to bring some money in.
0:07:58 > 0:08:03The Myers had the shine taken off their holiday by the builders' text tantrum -
0:08:03 > 0:08:08but nothing could have prepared the family for what greeted them when they got home.
0:08:08 > 0:08:10It just wasn't finished.
0:08:10 > 0:08:14The house was completely upside down. Totally upside down.
0:08:14 > 0:08:19We couldn't get into bedrooms, we could only just get into our kitchen...
0:08:19 > 0:08:23And the rooms - when we got upstairs, the rooms were nowhere near ready.
0:08:23 > 0:08:26What work they had done was absolutely atrocious,
0:08:26 > 0:08:30and what was so upsetting is the rest of it appeared like they were really getting on with it.
0:08:30 > 0:08:33This was just...
0:08:33 > 0:08:36thrown on the walls, and it was just awful.
0:08:36 > 0:08:37So we were well behind.
0:08:37 > 0:08:41There were no way that we were going to be able to paint these bedrooms and get them ready.
0:08:42 > 0:08:45Laurinda and Andi paid £20,000 to the builders
0:08:45 > 0:08:48for their loft conversion, rewiring, and central heating.
0:08:48 > 0:08:51But they were left with a building site.
0:08:51 > 0:08:54There's damage all over the house, an abandoned bathroom,
0:08:54 > 0:08:57and the new staircase and fire doors are dangerous.
0:08:57 > 0:09:03So let's see what sort of loft conversion the Myers got for their money.
0:09:03 > 0:09:05This is not what we were expecting at all.
0:09:05 > 0:09:07We were hoping that it was going to be at least tidy
0:09:07 > 0:09:10and they would have made good of what area they'd damaged.
0:09:10 > 0:09:13This is kind of the worst of it for me.
0:09:13 > 0:09:16The staircase is obviously unsafe -
0:09:17 > 0:09:21all these areas are not actually screwed in, they just slot out.
0:09:21 > 0:09:26The stairs themselves are just kind of floating here, they don't touch anything at all.
0:09:26 > 0:09:30They do on this end, there's a little plank of wood just slotted in.
0:09:30 > 0:09:34The worst part of it is the different heights of these stairs.
0:09:34 > 0:09:38You don't notice it as much going up as you actually do when you're coming down.
0:09:38 > 0:09:41That's the issue, coming down the stairs -
0:09:41 > 0:09:44as you walk up, they're all different heights.
0:09:46 > 0:09:50Down here - as you come down there you catch your leg there, look,
0:09:50 > 0:09:54as you're coming down because it overhangs.
0:09:54 > 0:09:57It's not good at all. It's even worse thinking that the children
0:09:57 > 0:10:03are coming down here, and they're much smaller than us so obviously they don't have that leg stride.
0:10:03 > 0:10:06The building inspector says the stairs are dangerous
0:10:06 > 0:10:07and must be rebuilt,
0:10:07 > 0:10:11and all the new fire doors upstairs must be made safe.
0:10:11 > 0:10:13The casings here
0:10:14 > 0:10:16are poorly fitted.
0:10:17 > 0:10:20There's gaps round the edges of the frame.
0:10:20 > 0:10:22So the doors don't actually fit properly -
0:10:22 > 0:10:26you can see as we shut this door just how bad it is.
0:10:26 > 0:10:29They even put the doors on the wrong way round -
0:10:29 > 0:10:33you can see that there's the hole here, but as we shut the door...
0:10:35 > 0:10:37..you can see it just doesn't fit at all,
0:10:37 > 0:10:39so that's not a fire door
0:10:39 > 0:10:42cos obviously it'd allow something to go straight underneath.
0:10:42 > 0:10:45One year on, and the Myers have run out of money.
0:10:45 > 0:10:50When the building inspector failed everything,
0:10:50 > 0:10:52it put a different picture on it.
0:10:52 > 0:10:55Then when we start getting quotes as well, something that we thought
0:10:55 > 0:10:59were going to take a few hundred to solve
0:10:59 > 0:11:02then turned into a few thousand and a bit more besides that.
0:11:02 > 0:11:04And it was...
0:11:04 > 0:11:09There was no way that we were going to be able to cover that type of bill.
0:11:09 > 0:11:17I only work part time, and I still have to pay for my university fees as well. So there was just no way.
0:11:17 > 0:11:22The girls are sleeping in the loft conversion, but Laurinda and Andi are worried for their safety
0:11:22 > 0:11:27because they know there is so much wrong with the staircase and the fire doors.
0:11:27 > 0:11:30Coming up, and independent chartered surveyor
0:11:30 > 0:11:35warns the builders' bodges have put the family at even greater risk if ever a fire should break out.
0:11:35 > 0:11:39Staircases are just a path for fire to spread through a house very, very quickly,
0:11:39 > 0:11:43and it's something that needs to be addressed sooner rather than later.
0:11:46 > 0:11:48We're in Wakefield, West Yorkshire.
0:11:48 > 0:11:52The Myers couldn't sell their house, so like many families
0:11:52 > 0:11:56they decided to extend it by converting the loft.
0:11:56 > 0:12:00Local builders offered them a fixed price job to add two extra bedrooms,
0:12:00 > 0:12:02a new bathroom, and a home office.
0:12:03 > 0:12:07The house would also be rewired, and new central heating installed -
0:12:07 > 0:12:11but the builders quit by sending a text when the money ran out.
0:12:11 > 0:12:15Now the loft conversion has failed essential safety checks.
0:12:15 > 0:12:18The stairs and fire doors are dangerous, and the family have been
0:12:18 > 0:12:22ordered to make their home safe by the building control officer.
0:12:22 > 0:12:24We've stepped in to help.
0:12:25 > 0:12:27It's time for me to see the damage for myself.
0:12:27 > 0:12:29Hiya. Laurinda?
0:12:29 > 0:12:31- Hi.- Hi. Andi?- Hi there.
0:12:31 > 0:12:36- Do you mind showing me what the damage is?- Absolutely, come on in.
0:12:36 > 0:12:38'The builders came to convert the loft -
0:12:38 > 0:12:42'but when they rewired and fitted new central heating,
0:12:42 > 0:12:46'they left a trail of destruction throughout the house.'
0:12:46 > 0:12:48OK, so just talk us through what's going on here.
0:12:48 > 0:12:52This is most of the pipework for the loft conversion.
0:12:52 > 0:12:56We had a full central heating system fitted at the same time.
0:12:56 > 0:12:57All those cables are coming in, look -
0:12:57 > 0:13:00they shouldn't be that close to any hot pipe.
0:13:00 > 0:13:03So you're right, it's looking a real mess.
0:13:03 > 0:13:06'These builders have made a right mess of the ceilings downstairs.
0:13:06 > 0:13:10'The hallway has been blighted too.'
0:13:10 > 0:13:13They've definitely taken a hammer to that roof void there.
0:13:13 > 0:13:16I think it were their favourite tool actually.
0:13:16 > 0:13:20You can see all the hammerhead marks as they've just crashed into it.
0:13:20 > 0:13:23But they haven't unknown what's underneath,
0:13:23 > 0:13:25and yet they've just crashed on with the hammer.
0:13:25 > 0:13:29'The higher you get up the house, the worse the damage gets.'
0:13:29 > 0:13:31Ooh! I didn't see that.
0:13:31 > 0:13:38- OK, so this is the new staircase up to the loft?- It is, yeah.
0:13:38 > 0:13:41All right. OK. That's an open void.
0:13:41 > 0:13:43Now, that doesn't meet fire regulations,
0:13:43 > 0:13:50cos whilst all that's open, if there was ever a fire down here this staircase will act as a chimney.
0:13:50 > 0:13:56And a real big killer of course is the smoke and the toxics that come from that smoke,
0:13:56 > 0:14:00and that would just travel straight through. And that's why that has to be completely sealed off.
0:14:00 > 0:14:02Considering I've got two of my girls up there.
0:14:02 > 0:14:04Yeah. That is just bang out of order.
0:14:04 > 0:14:07They should have known that, and
0:14:07 > 0:14:11for fire safety that needs completely enclosing.
0:14:11 > 0:14:16'But there's another problem with the safety of the stairs, just around the corner.'
0:14:16 > 0:14:18This is totally my biggest worry.
0:14:18 > 0:14:21As you can see the newel post is supposed to reach the floor -
0:14:21 > 0:14:26it doesn't, and if you wobble it it's not very safe.
0:14:26 > 0:14:28I don't like that.
0:14:28 > 0:14:29And this is even worse -
0:14:29 > 0:14:31the staircase doesn't reach the floor.
0:14:31 > 0:14:35- Did you say that you've got two girls moving up here?- Yeah.
0:14:35 > 0:14:40No. I mean, that's not even safe for adults, I mean... No.
0:14:41 > 0:14:43'Carefully up the dodgy stairs,
0:14:43 > 0:14:46'and there's another fire hazard lurking.'
0:14:46 > 0:14:50- Now these are supposed to be fire doors?- Yes, they are.
0:14:50 > 0:14:53- Er...no, they're not.- No.
0:14:53 > 0:14:57- So they don't meet fire regs. - No, not at all.
0:14:57 > 0:15:00You've got gaps all around - all around the perimeter, the top and
0:15:00 > 0:15:06the bottom - which means smoke will easily ingress into the bedrooms.
0:15:06 > 0:15:08- They must have known that. - Absolutely.
0:15:08 > 0:15:13'The fire doors and frames have all failed building control,
0:15:13 > 0:15:16'because they won't stop the spread of fire or smoke.
0:15:16 > 0:15:19'The bathroom has been abandoned too.'
0:15:19 > 0:15:21- Great room(!)- Yeah...
0:15:22 > 0:15:24Lovely room, but...
0:15:24 > 0:15:26- Nothing's fitted.- Right.
0:15:26 > 0:15:30The worry is as well, you see, the reason we got this fitted up here
0:15:30 > 0:15:34- is so that the girls weren't running up and down a staircase anyway.- Yes.
0:15:34 > 0:15:38- So not only can they not use it, but they're running up and down a dangerous staircase.- Correct.
0:15:38 > 0:15:45'Despite the fire risk, Laurinda has had to let the girls move up into their new bedrooms.
0:15:45 > 0:15:49'Because of all the disruption, her son Jared had to go and stay at his gran's house.'
0:15:49 > 0:15:55The other issue is Jared's been without a bedroom for so long, and he's got Asperger's.
0:15:55 > 0:16:00And it was his GCSE year, so the worst year of his life.
0:16:00 > 0:16:02Loads of pressure.
0:16:02 > 0:16:07He had no bedroom, so he had to stay at my mum and dad's house, and that's why we were so forced
0:16:07 > 0:16:12into the position of having the girls into their bedrooms. We've got nowhere else to go.
0:16:12 > 0:16:16'The building control officer has ordered the family to have
0:16:16 > 0:16:20'the house made safe - but their funds are exhausted.
0:16:20 > 0:16:23'I wonder what we can do to help.'
0:16:23 > 0:16:28What could we do for you that would help you move on?
0:16:28 > 0:16:29Doing the stairs.
0:16:29 > 0:16:34- Make it safe, isn't it?- It's the staircase. Getting the staircase...
0:16:34 > 0:16:37Knowing that it's safe.
0:16:37 > 0:16:44Knowing that we can finally get this job signed off by the local council would make the world of...
0:16:44 > 0:16:49take a massive weight off our shoulders. It really would.
0:16:49 > 0:16:53At the moment they've put an order on it as well, saying it has to be done within 21 days.
0:16:53 > 0:16:55- OK. It has to be done within 21 days.- Yeah.
0:16:55 > 0:16:58OK. Here's a deal for you.
0:16:58 > 0:17:00I'm going to get in
0:17:00 > 0:17:07a top geezer, to come in and make a bespoke staircase, all right,
0:17:07 > 0:17:10sort out the fire doors,
0:17:10 > 0:17:14sort out the security for the window that's on the landing, all right,
0:17:14 > 0:17:18and then I'm going to show you what they've done.
0:17:18 > 0:17:21- How's that?- Brilliant. - Is that a deal?
0:17:22 > 0:17:26This isn't only a big job - it's a race against time.
0:17:26 > 0:17:30The Myers have been given just 21 days to make their house safe.
0:17:30 > 0:17:33And the clock is ticking big time.
0:17:33 > 0:17:36Fortunately, I know the team that can put this right.
0:17:36 > 0:17:39It's time to bring on the good guys.
0:17:48 > 0:17:52Before the good guys get stuck in making this loft conversion safe,
0:17:52 > 0:17:58I want to get the verdict of independent chartered surveyor Colin Harrop on this builder's work.
0:17:58 > 0:18:04Colin, what can only be described as a mess but a dangerous mess to boot.
0:18:04 > 0:18:08You've had a look around - what have you found that's just not to your liking?
0:18:08 > 0:18:11I think some of my main problems are with the structure, the way that
0:18:11 > 0:18:14it's actually been put together and the real bones of the thing.
0:18:14 > 0:18:17This staircase, for instance, there is an awful lot wrong with it.
0:18:17 > 0:18:20It doesn't have a continuous handrail round it,
0:18:20 > 0:18:25the newel post at the bottom hasn't been taken down and firmly fixed to the structure, so it's loose,
0:18:25 > 0:18:29and one of the main problems is that building regulations require
0:18:29 > 0:18:33staircases to have evenly-sized rises between the stairs,
0:18:33 > 0:18:35so that walking up and down them feels safe
0:18:35 > 0:18:38and you don't have to actually look down and see how big
0:18:38 > 0:18:40the next step is.
0:18:40 > 0:18:44In the case of this staircase, it hasn't been done in accordance with the regulations
0:18:44 > 0:18:48and there are some pretty fundamental things that need to be done.
0:18:48 > 0:18:52And then of course, we're talking about fire risk.
0:18:52 > 0:18:55Obviously here where the staircase is open at the back,
0:18:55 > 0:19:00there's a problem there cos it could act like a chimney if there was any smoke.
0:19:00 > 0:19:03And in terms of fire, we're talking about fire doors -
0:19:03 > 0:19:07they're a real hash. What do you think of them?
0:19:07 > 0:19:08They're not fire doors.
0:19:08 > 0:19:11They don't actually stop heat and smoke passing from one room
0:19:11 > 0:19:15to another, which is the point of fire doors.
0:19:15 > 0:19:20They should have closers on them, they should be basically in positions whereby you can
0:19:20 > 0:19:25walk out of a room and not have to worry that if a fire does break out, the entire house burns down.
0:19:25 > 0:19:29Staircases are just a path for fire to spread through a house very, very quickly,
0:19:29 > 0:19:33and it's something that needs to be addressed sooner rather than later.
0:19:33 > 0:19:39So big safety issues here, lots of problems - marks out of ten, if you would.
0:19:39 > 0:19:42Personally, I'd give this a one out of ten, and I think the one is
0:19:42 > 0:19:45there more for effort than actual quality of build.
0:19:45 > 0:19:48Well, one out of ten it shall be. Nothing to be proud of.
0:19:48 > 0:19:50One out of ten for effort!
0:19:50 > 0:19:53These builders broke all the rules.
0:19:53 > 0:19:57Coming up, the Myers' friends and family all rally round to help.
0:19:57 > 0:20:03We've tiled the bathrooms... I just help out wherever I can.
0:20:06 > 0:20:10We're in Wakefield, helping make the Myers' home safe.
0:20:10 > 0:20:14The family needed two extra bedrooms, a bathroom, and a home office.
0:20:14 > 0:20:19So when they couldn't sell their house, they decided to extend up into the roof.
0:20:19 > 0:20:22The builders promised a fixed price deal to convert the loft,
0:20:22 > 0:20:26rewire the house, and install new central heating.
0:20:26 > 0:20:28But when the money ran out, they quit by text.
0:20:28 > 0:20:33And then the Myers found their work broke all the building regulations.
0:20:33 > 0:20:36Now the council have given them 21 days to make their home safe.
0:20:36 > 0:20:40We've brought in the good guys to replace the dangerous staircase
0:20:40 > 0:20:44up to the loft, and install the fire doors correctly.
0:20:44 > 0:20:47Richard is leading our team today. So, what's the plan?
0:20:47 > 0:20:51Now, Richard, loads of problems gone on in the property - dangerous
0:20:51 > 0:20:56not just with the staircase but electrics, gas, whatever...
0:20:56 > 0:21:00what is your plan? What are you going to do, and how long do you think it's going to take you?
0:21:00 > 0:21:04Well, the first plan is to get somebody sorting the fire doors
0:21:04 > 0:21:07- and putting the new casings where needed.- Yes.
0:21:07 > 0:21:13I'm going to go back to work and start making a staircase and once it's ready, we're going to erect
0:21:13 > 0:21:18a scaffold tower, remove the landing window, take the old stairs out and fit the new one.
0:21:18 > 0:21:22- Fantastic. How long do you think it's going to take?- We should be done for end of the week.
0:21:22 > 0:21:24- So, four or five days, job's a good 'un?- Yes.
0:21:24 > 0:21:27OK, I can't wait to show them what the good guys are capable of.
0:21:27 > 0:21:32While Richard and the guys get stuck in, I want to track back with Laurinda and Andi.
0:21:32 > 0:21:37I want to find out why the fact the builders live locally was such a big attraction,
0:21:37 > 0:21:41and who did they speak to about the builders' previous work.
0:21:41 > 0:21:43Did you physically see any of their previous completed work?
0:21:43 > 0:21:45- No.- No.
0:21:45 > 0:21:49Because if anybody came to your house and knocked on the door
0:21:49 > 0:21:51and said, "I'm thinking of employing these builders,
0:21:51 > 0:21:58"I know they've been working on your house what can you tell us about them?" I think
0:21:58 > 0:22:02- your answer would be, I'm guessing it would be, "Don't touch them with a barge pole."- Absolutely.
0:22:02 > 0:22:05Now that could have been you knocking on somebody else's door.
0:22:05 > 0:22:12I can't stress this enough, go and check out the previous completed work that these guys have done, OK?
0:22:12 > 0:22:15Not halfway through a build, completed job.
0:22:15 > 0:22:19Do you know we recommended them, though, we actually recommended these guys to other people.
0:22:19 > 0:22:22Initially, thankfully, the lady across the road
0:22:22 > 0:22:30needed a new sealed unit so they did that, which is a small job, and then my best friend needed
0:22:30 > 0:22:36some work doing in an attic again a small job, so they didn't get burned, there were no big issue with them.
0:22:36 > 0:22:42But a friend of mine wanted a full extension and I'm so glad now, looking back in retrospect,
0:22:42 > 0:22:45that I didn't say, "You know these guys turn up on time..."
0:22:45 > 0:22:47So she got somebody else in.
0:22:47 > 0:22:53When friends and neighbours heard the Myers had found builders, they wanted the number too.
0:22:53 > 0:22:59This is very common but take my tip, only hire a builder when
0:22:59 > 0:23:03you've seen with your own eyes one of their previous completed jobs.
0:23:03 > 0:23:06Lots of friends and neighbours get burned by cowboys
0:23:06 > 0:23:08who are inadvertently recommended
0:23:08 > 0:23:11before they've botched the job or do a runner.
0:23:11 > 0:23:14It's much safer to praise your builder after he's finished.
0:23:16 > 0:23:19So when did the Myers start to worry they had hired the wrong builders?
0:23:19 > 0:23:27How soon into the build roughly did you think the first alarm bells sounded?
0:23:27 > 0:23:33- It was when there was the issues with the trusses.- Yes.
0:23:33 > 0:23:40What happened was the engineer had obviously done the drawings and the building regulations guy came out
0:23:40 > 0:23:47and said that they'd place some of these trusses in the wrong place and they either had to replace
0:23:47 > 0:23:54as per drawings or go back to the guy that did the drawings to recalculate and see if they could do it that way.
0:23:54 > 0:23:59They went back to the engineer, he said "No, this is how it should be, this is how it's got to be."
0:23:59 > 0:24:07So then they had to replace it all and that's when things started to go a little bit wrong.
0:24:07 > 0:24:10OK, in what way? Just fill us in.
0:24:10 > 0:24:14The general attitude of them...
0:24:14 > 0:24:20started to change. You could see that they were getting annoyed, that there was something wrong,
0:24:20 > 0:24:25they were getting quite irate over things that weren't quite as relaxed as they were when they started.
0:24:25 > 0:24:29Annoyed with who, themselves, you guys?
0:24:29 > 0:24:33It was the building regs officers actually. Initially it was because of him they thought.
0:24:33 > 0:24:37They kept saying he's made us do this, so this is going to cost us
0:24:37 > 0:24:42x-amount of money. It's going to cost us more time to do it and so on and so forth.
0:24:42 > 0:24:49Then they started saying that the insulation was going to cost them more because they needed...
0:24:49 > 0:24:52an x-amount thickness more than what they expected.
0:24:52 > 0:24:54- Yes.- It started snowballing.
0:24:54 > 0:24:57But don't forget your building inspector
0:24:57 > 0:25:02is very, very important and if these guys are veering off the plan,
0:25:02 > 0:25:07then he'll be annoyed with them and that's the way it should be, because they are putting you at risk.
0:25:08 > 0:25:11The council's building control officer Michael Addy
0:25:11 > 0:25:15has written to the Myers giving them 21 days to make their house safe.
0:25:15 > 0:25:21He explains why it's so important to make sure all the fire doors meet the building regulations.
0:25:21 > 0:25:25The doors must be standard FD20, but what does that mean?
0:25:25 > 0:25:30The FD20 means a 20-minute resistant fire door.
0:25:30 > 0:25:34So if there was a fire within this particular room here,
0:25:34 > 0:25:39that door and frame would stay in position for 20 minutes,
0:25:39 > 0:25:43giving people time to get out of the dwelling
0:25:43 > 0:25:48and time for the fire service to get here, and hopefully
0:25:48 > 0:25:52find the fire and fight the fire without injuring themselves.
0:25:52 > 0:25:58As well as holding back the fire for 20 minutes, the door must have some additional features.
0:25:58 > 0:26:04This is a completed fire door with cover lath forming a rebate to house the fire door.
0:26:04 > 0:26:11The door is held in position with three hinges to stop the fire door from bowing in case of a fire,
0:26:11 > 0:26:16and the door has a latch so that the door can be closed and engaged.
0:26:16 > 0:26:23It is also very important that a smoke alarm is fitted on every floor when you extend into the loft.
0:26:23 > 0:26:26Smoke would be allowed to lap
0:26:26 > 0:26:30and filter through the door and activate the smoke alarm
0:26:30 > 0:26:34that's positioned on the ceiling, which would give that early warning.
0:26:35 > 0:26:39By enforcing the rules, the council building control officer
0:26:39 > 0:26:43is protecting the Myers family from their bodging builder's shortcuts.
0:26:43 > 0:26:48We hope that now we've got the good guys in to put right the wrongs, the family can finally get
0:26:48 > 0:26:52their completion certificates to prove their home is safe.
0:26:52 > 0:26:56Coming up - the Myers family have rallied to get the job finished
0:26:56 > 0:26:59including cousin Mark who's is a gas safe engineer.
0:26:59 > 0:27:02Quality of work were rubbish and I think they've just got to a point
0:27:02 > 0:27:06where they couldn't finish it but didn't know what to do, so they just walked away.
0:27:09 > 0:27:13In Wakefield, we're helping make the Myers family safe.
0:27:13 > 0:27:18Mum Laurinda and dad Andi have three children, Jared, Christie and Millie.
0:27:18 > 0:27:21They wanted a bedroom for each of the kids and a home office for Andi,
0:27:21 > 0:27:25so they decided to extend up into the roof.
0:27:25 > 0:27:30Some local builders promised they could do the loft conversion for a fixed price of £20,000,
0:27:30 > 0:27:36but they didn't finish the job, and even worse, they broke the building regulations.
0:27:36 > 0:27:41Now the two young girls are sleeping in the loft, but it's not safe.
0:27:41 > 0:27:44The stairs are dangerous and the fire doors aren't up to standard.
0:27:44 > 0:27:47Our team has stepped in to make them good.
0:27:47 > 0:27:53Richard has taken on the task of building a bespoke staircase for the family at his workshop.
0:27:53 > 0:27:56And we're not the only good guys on the job.
0:27:56 > 0:27:59Laurinda's cousin Mark has stepped in to help too.
0:27:59 > 0:28:03He's a gas safe engineer and he's offered to finish the gas central heating
0:28:03 > 0:28:07and the plumbing for the abandoned bathroom in his free time.
0:28:07 > 0:28:11We've always helped each other, so that's what we do.
0:28:11 > 0:28:14So we just look after each other, basically.
0:28:14 > 0:28:16When it's finished, they'll be happy.
0:28:16 > 0:28:21The kids will all have their own rooms, more space, be less stress,
0:28:21 > 0:28:24everybody not climbing on top of each other.
0:28:24 > 0:28:26Go back to being normal, I suppose.
0:28:26 > 0:28:31The entire family has really rallied to get the job finished.
0:28:31 > 0:28:33Andi's dad, Michael, has done what he can.
0:28:33 > 0:28:39I've helped with tiling, we've tiled kitchen, we've tiled the bathrooms.
0:28:39 > 0:28:45I just help out wherever I can, with putting bits of plumbing.
0:28:45 > 0:28:50I've plumbed bathrooms in and you just generally just muck in
0:28:50 > 0:28:55and do whatever you possibly can with the resources available.
0:28:55 > 0:28:59Andi has been hard at it too but the stress of the build
0:28:59 > 0:29:02and his brain disorder has had a serious impact on family life.
0:29:02 > 0:29:06I have been in and out of hospital quite a few times
0:29:06 > 0:29:11and they've put a lot of that down to the stress and anxiety of this job that we had done.
0:29:11 > 0:29:15The conversion not getting finished, knowing that I can't get it finished myself.
0:29:15 > 0:29:19The Myers' original builders said they'd have the new bedroom plastered
0:29:19 > 0:29:23and ready for the family to decorate when they got back from holiday.
0:29:23 > 0:29:28But almost as soon as the Myers had packed their bags and got into the car to drive to France,
0:29:28 > 0:29:30the build went seriously wrong.
0:29:30 > 0:29:34They sent a text message and on the text message it stated
0:29:34 > 0:29:39that because of the financial issues that they would...
0:29:39 > 0:29:42have to leave the job temporarily
0:29:42 > 0:29:49and return in smaller periods of time basically, an odd day here or an odd day there.
0:29:49 > 0:29:53Obviously we tried calling them and couldn't get through.
0:29:53 > 0:29:57About half an hour later they did answer the phone and explained...
0:29:57 > 0:29:59well, exactly what I said.
0:29:59 > 0:30:03They'd run out of money and they were having to go on to other jobs to try and earn some.
0:30:03 > 0:30:09I thought it was really naughty sending a text message and I agreed to them doing other jobs
0:30:09 > 0:30:12as long as when we got home the loft was at a standard
0:30:12 > 0:30:15that we could just carry on, it weren't going to hold me up.
0:30:15 > 0:30:21When the Myers returned home from holiday, nothing could have prepared them for what they were about to see
0:30:21 > 0:30:23when they walked through their front door.
0:30:23 > 0:30:28The loft was in a mess, they'd not finished anything.
0:30:28 > 0:30:33Basically from coming home, we'd driven six hours' solid driving to come home,
0:30:33 > 0:30:37we did five and a half hours of cleaning up before we could even unload our car.
0:30:37 > 0:30:42Thinking of converting your loft and don't want it to end in catastrophe?
0:30:42 > 0:30:47Then follow my, Clive's five, top tips to create extra space, not a huge problem.
0:30:47 > 0:30:50Make sure you don't have to raise the roof.
0:30:50 > 0:30:54Not every loft is worth converting.
0:30:54 > 0:30:56Your roof may be too low.
0:30:56 > 0:30:58A dormer window can add extra head height
0:30:58 > 0:31:02but building regulations dictate the minimum headroom.
0:31:02 > 0:31:05Don't break the rules by rushing into the roof.
0:31:05 > 0:31:08To convert the loft space into living accommodation,
0:31:08 > 0:31:10even for a home office,
0:31:10 > 0:31:13you must make sure the work meets building regulations.
0:31:13 > 0:31:16You may also need planning permission,
0:31:16 > 0:31:18so check with your local council.
0:31:18 > 0:31:21Don't risk a covert conversion.
0:31:21 > 0:31:26Work affecting any wall, floor or ceiling of any adjoining property
0:31:26 > 0:31:28requires a party wall agreements
0:31:28 > 0:31:30Don't convert on the sly.
0:31:30 > 0:31:33You must have a completion certificate from building control
0:31:33 > 0:31:35when you sell your house.
0:31:35 > 0:31:38Make sure you calculate the real cost,
0:31:38 > 0:31:42for a basic fit out with bedroom and bathroom,
0:31:42 > 0:31:45expect to pay at least £30,000.
0:31:45 > 0:31:49Always allow a contingency fund for unexpected problems.
0:31:49 > 0:31:53Going up may be an ideal time to go green.
0:31:53 > 0:31:56Converting your loft is the perfect opportunity
0:31:56 > 0:32:01to improve insulation and maybe even add solar panels to your roof
0:32:01 > 0:32:04to generate extra energy for your home.
0:32:04 > 0:32:07Coming up - what would the Myers like to
0:32:07 > 0:32:11say to their builder who broke the rules when he converted their loft?
0:32:11 > 0:32:13That's a big if.
0:32:13 > 0:32:14If there was any chance that
0:32:14 > 0:32:18they could pay towards some of the costs that we've had to outlay.
0:32:21 > 0:32:24We're with the Myers family in Wakefield.
0:32:24 > 0:32:27Their building control officer has given them 21 days
0:32:27 > 0:32:31to make their new loft conversion meet all the safety rules.
0:32:31 > 0:32:36The builders bodged the staircase and the fire doors, now if fire breaks out
0:32:36 > 0:32:39it could rapidly spread through the whole house
0:32:39 > 0:32:42putting the two young girls in the loft bedrooms in grave danger.
0:32:42 > 0:32:46We're hoping to help get the family their vital completion certificate,
0:32:46 > 0:32:48which will prove the conversion is safe.
0:32:48 > 0:32:53I wonder what they would like to say now to the builder who left them in such danger.
0:32:53 > 0:32:56For me it's that staircase and them fire doors.
0:32:56 > 0:32:57He's got to have known
0:32:57 > 0:33:01that they didn't meet regulations, that they weren't safe.
0:33:01 > 0:33:03What would you like back from him?
0:33:03 > 0:33:06It's fairly obvious that you wouldn't want him to come back
0:33:06 > 0:33:11and do any remedial works, of which you've done loads already anyway.
0:33:11 > 0:33:14But what would you like to get back?
0:33:14 > 0:33:17Would you like to get money back?
0:33:17 > 0:33:24I don't think we'd even get money back, I doubt it would worth trying to go down that route.
0:33:24 > 0:33:26For me, personally,
0:33:26 > 0:33:28I think if, it's a big if,
0:33:28 > 0:33:30there was any chance
0:33:30 > 0:33:35that they could pay towards some of the costs we've had to outlay.
0:33:35 > 0:33:39Would you like to take the opportunity to speak to him or not?
0:33:39 > 0:33:41I don't want to speak to him, I think I'd get too upset.
0:33:41 > 0:33:46- I'd rather not, no.- You would rather not, all right. Do you know what? I rather would.
0:33:46 > 0:33:49It's ringing.
0:33:49 > 0:33:54'The builder answers right away, he says he believes the stairs were passed OK.
0:33:54 > 0:33:58'When I ask about the fire doors, he says he hasn't got time to talk
0:33:58 > 0:34:02'but if we send him a quotation for the work, he'll take it from there.'
0:34:02 > 0:34:04Here's the deal then,
0:34:04 > 0:34:07we've put a load of it right now anyway, all right?
0:34:07 > 0:34:14But of course Laurinda and Andi have had to fork out a fair few quid as well for remedial works.
0:34:14 > 0:34:17We reckon roughly about a grand, right?
0:34:17 > 0:34:20There or thereabouts.
0:34:20 > 0:34:24Now I reckon as a goodwill gesture to these lovely people,
0:34:24 > 0:34:27I reckon a grand would do you a massive favour.
0:34:27 > 0:34:32'The builder says he doesn't mind paying to put all his work right.
0:34:32 > 0:34:35'He will give Laurinda and Andi £1,000
0:34:35 > 0:34:38'and he adds anyone who's got a problem come to me and I will sort it out.'
0:34:38 > 0:34:43- This guy has actually spoken to us...- Hmm.
0:34:43 > 0:34:49I'm hoping he'll be as good as his word and I'll be in touch to find out if that's the case.
0:34:49 > 0:34:54Unfortunately, Laurinda and Andi's builder let himself down again
0:34:54 > 0:34:57and didn't pay back the £1,000.
0:34:57 > 0:35:03Fortunately, our team of good guys is on the job now and this is the dramatic part of the build.
0:35:03 > 0:35:08We're taking the dangerous staircase out and replacing it with custom-made stairs.
0:35:08 > 0:35:12Getting the old stairs out is the easy bit, they come apart no problem.
0:35:12 > 0:35:16Now we've just got to get them out of the house.
0:35:16 > 0:35:21The guys have got a cunning plan, put some scaffold up, take the landing window out,
0:35:21 > 0:35:24and there's a convenient hole to pass the old staircase through.
0:35:24 > 0:35:28Now for the tricky bit, the new staircase has been made in Richard's workshop,
0:35:28 > 0:35:31so that means we've got to get it into the house somehow.
0:35:31 > 0:35:38I'm looking forward to seeing their smiles later when I show them what the good guys can do.
0:35:38 > 0:35:41Coming up. I hope we can get the family the safety sign off
0:35:41 > 0:35:45they need, and I can't wait to see their reaction to the new stairs.
0:35:45 > 0:35:47Spot on.
0:35:47 > 0:35:49Absolutely spot on.
0:35:52 > 0:35:54Our work is almost done in Wakefield.
0:35:54 > 0:35:58The Myers family was left in danger when their builder
0:35:58 > 0:36:02bodged the essential safety elements of their new loft conversion.
0:36:02 > 0:36:07The stairs were dangerous and the fire doors and frames failed to meet the regulations.
0:36:07 > 0:36:10The building inspector gave them 21 days to make the house safe.
0:36:10 > 0:36:15The family have all pulled together to help get them out of this mess.
0:36:15 > 0:36:18Laurinda's cousin Mark, who is builder, has finished installing
0:36:18 > 0:36:24the new plumbing and heating, and Andi's dad has completed the bathroom in the loft upstairs.
0:36:24 > 0:36:26They've done a fantastic job.
0:36:26 > 0:36:29There's a smart new shower cubicle and shiny white suite.
0:36:29 > 0:36:34The contemporary look is completed with the elegant black tiles.
0:36:34 > 0:36:39By the time we leave, the family should be safe and finally able to make themselves at home.
0:36:39 > 0:36:45Our good guy Richard has just finished installing the new staircase.
0:36:45 > 0:36:48Now that is a top-looking job, Richard,
0:36:48 > 0:36:52and I've got to tell you now that makes a world of difference, mate.
0:36:52 > 0:36:56Just tell us what you've done, did you have any problems taking
0:36:56 > 0:36:58the old one out, and have you sorted out that fire risk?
0:36:58 > 0:37:00The stairs came out relatively easy.
0:37:00 > 0:37:05Brought the new stairs in, fit it into place, kept the spindles so
0:37:05 > 0:37:08they are less than 100 mm to stop the child's head getting stuck in them.
0:37:08 > 0:37:13Before, they were well over 100mm and they didn't meet building regs at all.
0:37:13 > 0:37:17In terms of the fire safety aspect of it, it was all open at the back as well, wasn't it?
0:37:17 > 0:37:23It was. Well, we've double plaster boarded it underneath and where it goes through into the ceiling
0:37:23 > 0:37:27at the other side, so it should all comply now with building regulations.
0:37:27 > 0:37:32So all we need now is the building control officer to come in, check it out,
0:37:32 > 0:37:35pass it off, and Laurinda and Andi are going to be well happy.
0:37:35 > 0:37:40I can't wait to show Laurinda and Andi their safe new staircase.
0:37:40 > 0:37:45Andi's dad says all the work is just what the family needs to get back on their feet.
0:37:45 > 0:37:51Hopefully, everything will get passed and it's a great thing for the grandchildren
0:37:51 > 0:37:58on a safety aspect, and things can start moving forward.
0:37:58 > 0:38:01Laurinda and Andi should be rightly chuffed by the way
0:38:01 > 0:38:05their families have supported them through this challenge.
0:38:05 > 0:38:08I wonder what else they've learned from the whole ordeal.
0:38:08 > 0:38:11Now, guys, before I show you what the good guys are capable of,
0:38:11 > 0:38:15just remind me what it was like before we arrived, what the problems were,
0:38:15 > 0:38:21and what have you learned from the experience of having a cowboy builder in your property.
0:38:21 > 0:38:24So starting with the problems you had.
0:38:24 > 0:38:28The staircase being the worst problem we had,
0:38:28 > 0:38:33uneven treads on the stairs, the gaps in the banister rails were too wide.
0:38:33 > 0:38:36- Was it a bit of a mess, Laurinda? - It was atrocious.
0:38:36 > 0:38:39Door didn't line up, there were gaps in them, they wouldn't shut properly.
0:38:39 > 0:38:42The whole thing was just awful,
0:38:42 > 0:38:48no bathrooms, we had no bathroom up there, no heating, nothing.
0:38:48 > 0:38:52What would you say you've learned from this experience that you can take forward?
0:38:52 > 0:38:57Definitely to check on references for the future.
0:38:57 > 0:39:01Try and plan to see any of their other previous work that they've done,
0:39:01 > 0:39:03speak to the tenants of those buildings
0:39:03 > 0:39:09and see if we can get their opinions on their work, and the people themselves.
0:39:09 > 0:39:12What about you, Laurinda, what would you do?
0:39:12 > 0:39:17Definitely that and ask about, recommends, see if people know people.
0:39:17 > 0:39:19I've got to say though,
0:39:19 > 0:39:24I think we'd stick to the people we know now rather than going any further afield.
0:39:24 > 0:39:27And don't forget no payments upfront,
0:39:27 > 0:39:31always make sure you've got a proper contract, a full written contract.
0:39:31 > 0:39:39So, what are you hoping for, what are you hoping in the short space of time we could have done for you?
0:39:39 > 0:39:43- Made that staircase safe.- Yes. - That is paramount, wasn't it? - That is it, definitely.
0:39:43 > 0:39:49Well, I, personally, because I can, have had a sneak peek
0:39:49 > 0:39:53and I can't wait to show you what the good guys have done.
0:39:53 > 0:39:55- Are you ready?- Yes.
0:39:55 > 0:39:56- Yes.- Let's go.
0:39:59 > 0:40:01Ta-da!
0:40:01 > 0:40:03- What do you reckon?- Spot on.
0:40:03 > 0:40:06- Absolutely spot on.- Doesn't wobble.
0:40:06 > 0:40:09- It doesn't wobble.- That looks great.
0:40:09 > 0:40:12Lovely and strong that's the main thing,
0:40:12 > 0:40:16and of course, you've got these spindles that were too far apart,
0:40:16 > 0:40:20are now absolutely accurate.
0:40:20 > 0:40:26You've got such a great set of stairs going on here and loads of safety.
0:40:26 > 0:40:31- I think Richard and the guys have done it absolutely amazing. - Definitely.
0:40:31 > 0:40:33- Problems with fire doors remember that?- Yeah.
0:40:33 > 0:40:35They've all been resolved.
0:40:35 > 0:40:39So we sorted out the reveals all round the doors,
0:40:39 > 0:40:43so you've got no fire problems with those doors any more.
0:40:43 > 0:40:50However, there is one final part of the jigsaw that I think is very important.
0:40:50 > 0:40:53Now in this envelope,
0:40:53 > 0:40:59this is from your local council building regs office, right,
0:40:59 > 0:41:03your building control have now actually passed the work for the stairs
0:41:03 > 0:41:07and those doors upstairs as well,
0:41:07 > 0:41:11with all the fire risk that you had originally, that's now all been passed off.
0:41:11 > 0:41:15So you've got local authority building control completion certificate
0:41:15 > 0:41:19and you've got your electrical 17th edition regs safety certificate.
0:41:19 > 0:41:21So tell you what, take care of one each, how's that?
0:41:21 > 0:41:24- Fantastic.- Fantastic. - Is that the business or what?
0:41:24 > 0:41:26- Absolutely, thanks so much. - Brilliant.
0:41:26 > 0:41:31We've removed all the fire doors, remade the frames, and rehung the doors
0:41:31 > 0:41:34paying careful attention to all the special details
0:41:34 > 0:41:37which allow them to provide extra safety in the event of a fire.
0:41:37 > 0:41:42The good guys removed the dangerous staircase and built a new bespoke set
0:41:42 > 0:41:46of stairs to transform this hellish hallway into a stairway to heaven.
0:41:46 > 0:41:50Now the essential safety works have been completed,
0:41:50 > 0:41:53the new loft conversion meets the building regulations.
0:41:53 > 0:41:58The local inspector is satisfied and has issued the completion certificate.
0:41:58 > 0:42:03That's great news for the family, now they have reassurance they're all safe.
0:42:03 > 0:42:06How are you feeling right now about this whole thing?
0:42:06 > 0:42:09- Relieved.- Relieved, yes, definitely, over the moon.
0:42:09 > 0:42:13It's amazing, not only have we got all this done,
0:42:13 > 0:42:17we now know good builders and joiners to go back to.
0:42:17 > 0:42:19I think that's important too.
0:42:19 > 0:42:22Just bearing in mind of course that there are good builders out there,
0:42:22 > 0:42:26all you've got to do is your research and you will find them.
0:42:26 > 0:42:31It's really great to see this family all smiling again after all the stress.
0:42:31 > 0:42:37The Myers family needed a happy ending to this story and I hope that we've helped write one for them.
0:42:37 > 0:42:39And with the help of friends and family,
0:42:39 > 0:42:42they've managed to pull together to get through all the mess.
0:42:42 > 0:42:49So remember, stick together and that way you won't go falling into the Cowboy Trap.
0:42:58 > 0:43:01Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:43:01 > 0:43:05E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk