0:00:08 > 0:00:13I'm travelling up and down the country in search of more cowboy builder bodges.
0:00:13 > 0:00:18The pace of the work was actually best described as leisurely.
0:00:18 > 0:00:25Cowboy builders wreck your lives and your homes and could be knocking on a door near you very soon.
0:00:25 > 0:00:30- There was nothing in the kitchen. It was just a shell.- There was no sink, no running water.
0:00:30 > 0:00:36Regular watchers of Cowboy Trap will know that I have seen loads and loads of bodged building work,
0:00:36 > 0:00:39but some of the jobs leave me gobsmacked.
0:00:39 > 0:00:44He came to collect the final payment for the second contract.
0:00:44 > 0:00:47We haven't seen hide nor hair of him since.
0:00:47 > 0:00:54Along the way, I'll be sharing some hints and tips, so that you won't go falling into the cowboy trap.
0:01:04 > 0:01:06Today, I'm in Ipswich,
0:01:06 > 0:01:11the county town of Suffolk, a place better known for its agriculture.
0:01:12 > 0:01:17Ipswich is a vibrant place with a bustling marina and waterfront.
0:01:17 > 0:01:21Over the years, it has attracted some of Britain's greats -
0:01:21 > 0:01:24Admiral Nelson, painter Thomas Gainsborough
0:01:24 > 0:01:29and the man who led Ipswich Town to European success - Sir Bobby Robson.
0:01:29 > 0:01:33But along with the goodies come the baddies.
0:01:33 > 0:01:37And there's no shortage of cowboy builders here.
0:01:37 > 0:01:42For one young couple, cowboy builders are a lesson learned the hard way.
0:01:42 > 0:01:48I've travelled to meet them to see the damage after a cowboy had a field day with their home.
0:01:48 > 0:01:55I'm hot on the case of a story of a lovely young couple called Barbara Lawer and Lee Richards
0:01:55 > 0:02:01who have lived in this 1930s semi-detached property for eight years.
0:02:01 > 0:02:0630-year-old Barbara Lawer is a charity worker for young adults with learning difficulties
0:02:06 > 0:02:11and her 29-year-old partner Lee Richards works as a postal administrator.
0:02:11 > 0:02:17At first, they rented the house, but loved it so much, they decided to buy it.
0:02:17 > 0:02:22What I like about this house is we've got a nice-sized garden, our gym at the back,
0:02:22 > 0:02:26we get on quite well with the people that live around us
0:02:26 > 0:02:29and we don't get much trouble here.
0:02:29 > 0:02:34It's a nice area to be near to famil as well and just...
0:02:34 > 0:02:40We like the house, we've been here seven, eight years and we're comfortable and happy here
0:02:40 > 0:02:43Barbara and Lee had plenty to be excited about -
0:02:43 > 0:02:47a young couple in love with each other and with their new home.
0:02:47 > 0:02:50Their thoughts soon turned to children.
0:02:50 > 0:02:56We wanted to buy the house, so we could do some work on it and then plan for a family, really.
0:02:56 > 0:03:01But the original layout of this former council house wasn't right for a young family.
0:03:01 > 0:03:06The original bathroom, it was in the kitchen.
0:03:06 > 0:03:10And the kitchen floor is freezing cold. It used to be freezing cold.
0:03:10 > 0:03:14A bit of an inconvenient place to have a bathroom,
0:03:14 > 0:03:17having to go through the kitchen.
0:03:17 > 0:03:21Also, just the layout as well, it was not a very efficient layout.
0:03:21 > 0:03:25You had little nooks and crannies where it wasn't usable space.
0:03:25 > 0:03:31Their dream was to put a single storey extension on the front of the house.
0:03:31 > 0:03:35This would turn the old downstairs toilet into a shower room.
0:03:35 > 0:03:40They planned to use the remaining space to create a big kitchen-diner.
0:03:40 > 0:03:45Once they had done that, they could think about starting a family.
0:03:45 > 0:03:49Just a nice living environment. Nothing fancy.
0:03:50 > 0:03:53They saved every penny for two years,
0:03:53 > 0:03:59then armed with plans, a £7,000 bank loan and all their cash,
0:03:59 > 0:04:02the couple were ready to look for a builder.
0:04:02 > 0:04:05They turned to the internet.
0:04:05 > 0:04:10We found the builder on a website where you can put your job that you want done,
0:04:10 > 0:04:13so I posted our job on there,
0:04:13 > 0:04:18then builders come back saying if they're interested in giving you a quote.
0:04:18 > 0:04:21Seven or eight builders came back showing an interest,
0:04:21 > 0:04:27then sort of ratings by the customer who have used them and comments on the jobs they've done for them.
0:04:27 > 0:04:32The couple contacted five builders and received quotes
0:04:32 > 0:04:36ranging from £9,000 to £22,000.
0:04:36 > 0:04:40They then spent time checking out each builder's online reviews.
0:04:40 > 0:04:45You can view their profile which has got all the information about them and their background,
0:04:45 > 0:04:50qualifications, so you had to assume they were going to be reliable and trustworthy.
0:04:50 > 0:04:54Barbara and Lee picked their builder based on the reviews
0:04:54 > 0:04:59and were given a contract with a schedule of work and payment plan.
0:04:59 > 0:05:04Their extension was to take six weeks at an initial cost of £9,000.
0:05:04 > 0:05:10With additional work, this figure would later rise to a total of £12,000.
0:05:10 > 0:05:16The builder they found seemed like a good booking, someone they felt they could trust and rely on.
0:05:16 > 0:05:22They couldn't wait to get going, but it wasn't long before alarm bells soon started to ring.
0:05:22 > 0:05:27The pace of the work was actually best described as leisurely.
0:05:28 > 0:05:35He didn't seem to go that quickly, not what we expected, not what the contract stated.
0:05:36 > 0:05:42The builder had started on the extension, removed the bathroom and cleared the kitchen,
0:05:42 > 0:05:46but was soon well behind the six-week completion schedule.
0:05:46 > 0:05:51It was six weeks for the initial build which was the extension at the front.
0:05:51 > 0:05:56- I think it was nine weeks into it when the roof finally went on. - Mm-hm.
0:05:56 > 0:05:59Although incomplete.
0:05:59 > 0:06:05By this stage of the build, Barbara and Lee were living in a house that was totally unsecure.
0:06:05 > 0:06:10They had only the most basic washing and cooking facilities.
0:06:10 > 0:06:16The conditions were shocking, but life was about to get much worse.
0:06:16 > 0:06:18The work was progressing so slowly
0:06:18 > 0:06:21and soon ground to a complete halt.
0:06:21 > 0:06:25The job was left unfinished and the builder disappeared
0:06:25 > 0:06:30with over £12,000 of Barbara and Lee's hard-earned money.
0:06:31 > 0:06:34The couple's £7,000 bank loan
0:06:34 > 0:06:38and all of their savings had just walked out of the door.
0:06:39 > 0:06:43After two months of work, their house was worse
0:06:43 > 0:06:46than when they had started the project.
0:06:46 > 0:06:49- It was disgusting.- Mm-hm.
0:06:49 > 0:06:53We've done a lot of tidying up. It was just covered in dirt.
0:06:53 > 0:06:56There was nothing in the kitchen. It was just a shell.
0:06:56 > 0:07:01There was no sink, no running water. He'd taken the toilet out.
0:07:01 > 0:07:03It was just not nice.
0:07:03 > 0:07:06Since their cowboy hightailed it with their cash,
0:07:06 > 0:07:11Barbara and Lee have been forced to live in these horrific conditions.
0:07:11 > 0:07:16With only a camping stove to make dinner, even cooking has become a chore.
0:07:16 > 0:07:22The reason we're using this hob is because we haven't had a cooker for about five months.
0:07:22 > 0:07:26It's really annoying having to cook like this.
0:07:26 > 0:07:29We're limited to what we can cook.
0:07:29 > 0:07:33It might sound quite small, but it's all hassle, it all adds up.
0:07:33 > 0:07:36- Is it nearly ready yet?- Almost.
0:07:36 > 0:07:40It would mean a lot to me to have a new kitchen.
0:07:40 > 0:07:46You know, what we'd saved up a lot of money for was to have something nice,
0:07:46 > 0:07:53just somewhere for when we have kids and we can sit down together as a family, have a little dining table
0:07:53 > 0:07:55and just little things like that.
0:07:57 > 0:07:59Thank you.
0:08:02 > 0:08:05This builder has left Barbara and Lee in a total mess.
0:08:05 > 0:08:09Not only has he failed to deliver on the work that he promised,
0:08:09 > 0:08:12he's disappeared with their hard-earned cash.
0:08:12 > 0:08:18I want to find out what we can do to help and see how much of this work is up to scratch.
0:08:20 > 0:08:26- Hello.- Hi.- You must Barbara. - Yeah, nice to meet you. - And you must be Lee.- Lee.
0:08:26 > 0:08:28- How are you, guys? - All right, thanks.
0:08:28 > 0:08:34- You've obviously had builders in the property. Have you had anything going on inside?- Yes.
0:08:34 > 0:08:38- Do you want to have a look in the kitchen?- Please.- Just through there.
0:08:38 > 0:08:43- Stick the kettle on if you don't mind or shall I? - You can if you like.
0:08:45 > 0:08:48It's confusing me somewhat, I have to say,
0:08:48 > 0:08:53cos from the outside, the brickwork and the blockwork looks fine.
0:08:53 > 0:08:59As we come on the inside, obviously, this has been prepared, ready to be a kitchen area,
0:08:59 > 0:09:03but straight away, I'm just looking at the door
0:09:03 > 0:09:07and the way that the door's been fitted at the back here.
0:09:07 > 0:09:12It definitely hasn't been measured up right. The rest of it,
0:09:12 > 0:09:17we've got electrical cables... I'm going to check whether these are live.
0:09:17 > 0:09:20Now, Doctor Who has his magic screwdriver.
0:09:20 > 0:09:22I have my magic tracer pen.
0:09:22 > 0:09:26This is something you can buy at a DIY shop no problem at all
0:09:26 > 0:09:30and it detects the presence of live power in a cable.
0:09:30 > 0:09:34As we look at this, first of all, it will not meet building regs.
0:09:34 > 0:09:38That socket is just hanging exposed, right?
0:09:38 > 0:09:44It's already got an extension lead plugged into it, but it's all open, totally exposed.
0:09:44 > 0:09:49Now I'm guaranteeing that my trusty little pen will light up.
0:09:51 > 0:09:53There you go.
0:09:53 > 0:09:56There's live juice in that.
0:09:56 > 0:09:59Now, that is just deadly, full stop,
0:09:59 > 0:10:03and it would certainly make my hair curl. I'll check these over here.
0:10:03 > 0:10:08My big worry is... I'm keeping fingers crossed now that these are not live.
0:10:09 > 0:10:11So far, so good.
0:10:11 > 0:10:14That's good news. They've already been isolated.
0:10:17 > 0:10:20Oh, look at that! That's live.
0:10:20 > 0:10:24The problem is that's a metal box that's sitting back in there.
0:10:24 > 0:10:28Should the cable, a bare cable touch that box, that's live.
0:10:31 > 0:10:35Wow, there are tripping hazards galore in there.
0:10:35 > 0:10:41As there are no sockets available, they've used trailing leads all over the place. It's quite dangerous.
0:10:41 > 0:10:44I want a closer look at this dodgy door.
0:10:44 > 0:10:49The frame is so badly banged in, it's a burglar's dream.
0:10:49 > 0:10:54It's great if your postman is delivering a rather big package.
0:10:54 > 0:10:58I think some builders leave them, so he can pop them in from the top.
0:10:58 > 0:11:03It's just not clever at all and in fact, if you pull on that,
0:11:03 > 0:11:06that whole frame is moving. It's not in position at all.
0:11:06 > 0:11:11That's no good. Where's the security in that? Nowhere.
0:11:11 > 0:11:16Around the side of the house, the security slip-ups continue.
0:11:16 > 0:11:18Just as I thought, no window.
0:11:18 > 0:11:23They've put boarding up at the window, but the thing is, first and foremost, security.
0:11:24 > 0:11:28Easily take these screws out and get in there.
0:11:28 > 0:11:33In terms of keeping the heat in, absolutely useless. It's a shame.
0:11:33 > 0:11:39Back inside, the downstairs disasters continue in what is meant to be their shower room.
0:11:40 > 0:11:42OK...
0:11:42 > 0:11:44This is a real mish-mash.
0:11:45 > 0:11:50Oh, dear. So that is to outside... Look at this!
0:11:50 > 0:11:53We've got multitudes of gaffer tape here.
0:11:53 > 0:11:56Now, I can't believe that's the builder.
0:11:58 > 0:12:01But you just never know.
0:12:01 > 0:12:03What is going on?
0:12:03 > 0:12:07I need to speak to the couple who have been living in this cowboy carnage.
0:12:08 > 0:12:12Right, the confusing thing, first and foremost, guys,
0:12:12 > 0:12:18is looking at the outside and the way he's done the brickwork and the blockwork, it ticks boxes for me.
0:12:18 > 0:12:22But as I come inside, there's a lot of problems that I don't like.
0:12:22 > 0:12:25One that I've recently come across as well
0:12:25 > 0:12:30is you're using the sink with no waste escape to the drain outside.
0:12:30 > 0:12:33It is going into a bucket underneath.
0:12:33 > 0:12:36The big problem with that is this.
0:12:36 > 0:12:40If that bucket gets knocked off and knocked over,
0:12:40 > 0:12:42- you're standing on the cable.- Yeah.
0:12:42 > 0:12:45You've got extension leads all over the place.
0:12:45 > 0:12:49Water and electricity do not make good bedfellows.
0:12:49 > 0:12:52It's as simple as that. What has gone on in here?
0:12:52 > 0:12:58Basically, what he's done, he's started little bits of everything, but finished nothing.
0:12:58 > 0:13:02He started the electrics, then the electrician and him fell out,
0:13:02 > 0:13:05so this is why we were left with the electrics as they are.
0:13:05 > 0:13:08What went wrong with the door?
0:13:08 > 0:13:12He came back and said that was a cost-cutting exercise.
0:13:12 > 0:13:15- Did he warn you in advance?- No. - He just did it?
0:13:15 > 0:13:21- He took a second-hand door and frame and put it into a hole he had already cut?- Yeah.- Yes.
0:13:21 > 0:13:25Using second-hand goods is common cowboy "connage",
0:13:25 > 0:13:27so take my advice.
0:13:27 > 0:13:29Get a cost breakdown in your quote,
0:13:29 > 0:13:33detailing exactly what fixtures and fittings are included.
0:13:33 > 0:13:37Make sure your contract states the quality of fixtures and fittings
0:13:37 > 0:13:41to be provided. This will stop disagreement further down the line.
0:13:47 > 0:13:52Lee and Barbara didn't challenge their dodgy builder about the ill-fitting door.
0:13:52 > 0:13:56Now they've been left with security and insulation issues.
0:13:58 > 0:14:02OK, so just talk me through this door frame.
0:14:02 > 0:14:07You've put the expansion foam in there. Tell us your reasons behind that.
0:14:07 > 0:14:11Initially, that was all exposed. You had an inch gap either side.
0:14:11 > 0:14:17- And the rest.- Well, yeah. During that cold spell over winter, it was absolutely freezing.
0:14:17 > 0:14:21We had this massive draught going through here and out the extension.
0:14:21 > 0:14:24In order to stop that, I packed it up either side.
0:14:24 > 0:14:28And you could bend the frame, so before that was in there,
0:14:28 > 0:14:32you could quite easily break in without actually having to break in.
0:14:32 > 0:14:39- So I could have flexed that door frame back a little and slipped in? - Yeah.- Probably not quite me!
0:14:39 > 0:14:45- Come down to the side. He's put boarding up outside, but it's only temporary.- That was actually me.- Ah!
0:14:45 > 0:14:50- So it was just...- On the inside, it was just plasterboard.
0:14:50 > 0:14:53That offers no resistance to moisture whatsoever.
0:14:53 > 0:14:57Can we go inside and look at the toilet area, talk me through that?
0:14:57 > 0:15:00- OK.- After you, Lee.
0:15:00 > 0:15:04Now, in here, I can see you've got carrier bags all over the place.
0:15:04 > 0:15:08- That's again to stop draughts, is it?- Yeah.- And mice.
0:15:08 > 0:15:13- And mice?- Yeah, they've been coming in through the gaps, haven't they?
0:15:13 > 0:15:19It's the health and safety, the hygiene factor, now you've got rodents coming into the property.
0:15:19 > 0:15:22That plasterboard there, what is that yielding?
0:15:22 > 0:15:26- Did you have to put that up?- Yeah, to prevent the draught that we had.
0:15:26 > 0:15:33- You put all the gaffer tape on it? - Yeah, and the bags behind there and expanding foam between the cavities.
0:15:33 > 0:15:39- Are we saying that behind that piece of plasterboard is nothing? - It's just an empty void, yeah.
0:15:39 > 0:15:43OK, that tells me lots. There's nothing there for venting either,
0:15:43 > 0:15:47so he hadn't created anything ready for an air vent, an extractor fan.
0:15:47 > 0:15:55This house of horrors needs walls built, insulation added, windows, kitchen and bathroom fitted,
0:15:55 > 0:15:59not to mention whole areas plastered.
0:15:59 > 0:16:03Once that's done, tiling and painting are next on the list.
0:16:03 > 0:16:08They are certainly in need of DIY advice. Here's my tip.
0:16:08 > 0:16:12This plaster is just a skim straight on to plasterboard,
0:16:12 > 0:16:17so after a couple of weeks, nice and dry, you can paint it and you can paper it.
0:16:17 > 0:16:21You've got to seal it, though, with your wash coat or your PVA base.
0:16:21 > 0:16:26Other than that, if you've got a two-coat plaster and it's a lot thicker,
0:16:26 > 0:16:30it needs loads of time to dry, a good couple of months to dry off,
0:16:30 > 0:16:33and you get something called efflorescence.
0:16:33 > 0:16:36It's like a soft type of limescale, if you like.
0:16:36 > 0:16:41You just get a rough rag and keep ragging it off until it completely disappears,
0:16:41 > 0:16:44then you're ready to paint or paper.
0:16:44 > 0:16:47If you don't make sure that happens,
0:16:47 > 0:16:53eventually, your emulsion or your paint will start to bubble and it'll drop off. You do not want that.
0:16:55 > 0:16:59'Coming up, I call in an independent chartered surveyor
0:16:59 > 0:17:03'to cast his expert eye over this bodged job.'
0:17:03 > 0:17:08They've been left with something tha will cost £6,000 or £7,000 to finish
0:17:08 > 0:17:15'And when it comes to extracting cash, I find out just how persuasive this cowboy builder could be.'
0:17:15 > 0:17:20- Whoa! You paid him the 3,000... - Yeah.- On top of the nine?- Yeah. - Oh, no, you didn't?- We did.
0:17:23 > 0:17:28In Ipswich, Barbara Lawer and Lee Richards' dream was to have a family.
0:17:28 > 0:17:32But before the patter of tiny feet came along,
0:17:32 > 0:17:34they needed to extend their home.
0:17:34 > 0:17:41They saved every penny, ready to turn their extension plans into reality.
0:17:41 > 0:17:44However, their dream was short-lived.
0:17:44 > 0:17:48They employed a builder, but nine weeks and £12,000 later,
0:17:48 > 0:17:54the heartless cowboy ran for the hills, leaving them living in a building site.
0:17:54 > 0:17:59I want to know more about their home, their plans
0:17:59 > 0:18:03and how they fell into this lowdown, dirty cowboy trap.
0:18:03 > 0:18:07We've owned the property for two and a half years probably,
0:18:07 > 0:18:11but we've lived here, renting before that, for seven or eight years.
0:18:11 > 0:18:15We thought we'd start at the back of the house and do the garden.
0:18:15 > 0:18:20- You did that yourself?- Yeah. And then work on the insides.
0:18:20 > 0:18:22We had sort of a little toilet,
0:18:22 > 0:18:28sort of a very ancient-looking kitchen with about three double unit in it and a sink
0:18:28 > 0:18:34and a little bathroom with just a bath and a sink, so we thought we'd make the kitchen a bit bigger,
0:18:34 > 0:18:39put a shower room on the front, so we've got a bit more space when we start a family.
0:18:39 > 0:18:43That was your initial dream. How do you come about the finance?
0:18:43 > 0:18:49You've either got to save up or put it on the mortgage. How did you go about doing that?
0:18:49 > 0:18:55- We saved up about 4,000 or 5,000. - About that, yeah. - Then we got a £7,000 loan.
0:18:55 > 0:18:59So when it came to finding your builder, how deep did you dig,
0:18:59 > 0:19:03how much research did you do on this particular person?
0:19:04 > 0:19:11Well, I'd heard about sites looking at builders and they get ratings and there was a website like that,
0:19:11 > 0:19:17then there's comments from other people who have used them and rated them, so we went on there.
0:19:17 > 0:19:23We had about five come out to do quotes, one of them being the builder that we used.
0:19:23 > 0:19:29He had some ratings on there, but looking back, they were small jobs like plastering a room or repointing
0:19:29 > 0:19:33nothing obviously to the scale of what we had done.
0:19:33 > 0:19:40We didn't do any research once we employed him or we were thinking of employing him for the job.
0:19:40 > 0:19:44It was just based on the feedback from that website.
0:19:44 > 0:19:48I have to be honest, I'm not a fan of them.
0:19:49 > 0:19:52If you feel you must use the internet to research builders,
0:19:52 > 0:19:55take my tip - be aware.
0:19:55 > 0:19:58Anyone can design a website.
0:19:58 > 0:20:01Reviews and photos can be fabricated.
0:20:01 > 0:20:05Only use websites run by organisations
0:20:05 > 0:20:07offering assured trader schemes.
0:20:07 > 0:20:11If you do find a builder there, still do your research.
0:20:11 > 0:20:15Speak to previous clients and check the builder's work.
0:20:15 > 0:20:21So you decided on them, you liked the personality, the price was right...
0:20:22 > 0:20:27He said to you, "Right, you can have for that 9,000..."
0:20:27 > 0:20:30a list of what you would get for the nine grand.
0:20:30 > 0:20:35The damp course, then up to the plate level, then another price for the roof,
0:20:35 > 0:20:39then for taking down the internal structures, it was all broken down.
0:20:39 > 0:20:44That was quite handy and obviously that led to us trusting him that bit more
0:20:44 > 0:20:47because we could see what we were paying for.
0:20:47 > 0:20:52When the job is starting, have you got to give him any money up front?
0:20:52 > 0:20:57We paid a £1,000 deposit before works commenced.
0:20:57 > 0:21:03- Did he say it was for anything? - It was just a deposit to secure our time slot with him.
0:21:03 > 0:21:06Then he didn't ask for any more money,
0:21:06 > 0:21:12then he turned up on the first day and said, "I need..." Whatever it wa that day, £1,000, £500.
0:21:12 > 0:21:16I had to go down the bank and get hi money out, then he'd say...
0:21:16 > 0:21:19Whoa, whoa! I need to take this a chunk at a time.
0:21:19 > 0:21:24- Getting out money, you are talking cash pound notes?- Yeah.
0:21:24 > 0:21:27Do you know why you were paying in cash pound notes?
0:21:27 > 0:21:30I guess it was just... I don't know.
0:21:30 > 0:21:34It was the easiest form of money we could get to him in the time frame.
0:21:34 > 0:21:37Your realise that's non-traceable?
0:21:37 > 0:21:43'So the seeds of doubt were planted, but when did the work worries start to sprout?'
0:21:43 > 0:21:48When is the first real alarm bell that you think, "Hang on..."?
0:21:48 > 0:21:55I suppose the alarm bells didn't go off until quite late. Probably about nine, ten weeks into it
0:21:55 > 0:22:00- when he just wasn't showing up when he said he would...- I was concerned.
0:22:00 > 0:22:04Hang on. Nine or ten weeks later? This was only going to take six.
0:22:04 > 0:22:10Well, I'm quite a laidback person, so perhaps the weather wasn't quite in their favour or...
0:22:10 > 0:22:17- He'd use the weather a lot as an excuse.- Yeah. So we'd give him those extra few weeks.
0:22:17 > 0:22:20You've now paid £9,000.
0:22:21 > 0:22:24That's a lot of money gone.
0:22:24 > 0:22:28As though parting with nine grand wasn't enough,
0:22:28 > 0:22:32they were about to make another massive money mistake.
0:22:32 > 0:22:36They had always planned on fitting a kitchen themselves
0:22:36 > 0:22:43once their builder had finished. However, this cowboy persuaded them that he was the man for the job.
0:22:43 > 0:22:46But he wanted an additional £3,000.
0:22:47 > 0:22:53He was insistent that he could get the extension work completed and the kitchen, all within...
0:22:53 > 0:22:56- Less than two weeks?- Yeah.- 11 days.
0:22:56 > 0:23:01- Whoa! You paid him the £3,000?- Yeah. - On top of the nine?- Yeah.
0:23:01 > 0:23:04- Oh, no, you didn't?- We did.
0:23:04 > 0:23:08We didn't have a bath at the time and the toilet was coming out,
0:23:08 > 0:23:12so basically it was pay the money to get the job finished.
0:23:12 > 0:23:20The couple's home was now a building site. That's when the cowboy builder stopped coming altogether.
0:23:21 > 0:23:23OK.
0:23:23 > 0:23:29- So did work just come to a halt or...?- It did, yeah. Yeah.
0:23:29 > 0:23:35And then we'd get a lot of text messages, "Really sorry. I'll definitely be there tomorrow."
0:23:35 > 0:23:42- Yeah.- And just...nothing.- And this went on day after day until even the text messages stopped.
0:23:42 > 0:23:47Yeah, they did. And he wouldn't reply. We'd try to ring him and he wouldn't answer.
0:23:47 > 0:23:53Barbara and Lee have lost more than just their hard-earned cash to this cowboy builder.
0:23:53 > 0:23:59His shoddy work has taken an emotional toll on their relationship, too.
0:23:59 > 0:24:05She was stressing quite a bit and that can strain the relationship, if you allow it to.
0:24:05 > 0:24:10That's what I'm getting at. You cannot put a price on that.
0:24:10 > 0:24:16It probably pushed as apart a bit. It kind of drew a little bit of a wedge in the relationship.
0:24:18 > 0:24:24They will get through this. They've got a great future ahead of them.
0:24:24 > 0:24:30Not sure I can say the same of their cowboy builder who created this chaos.
0:24:30 > 0:24:36- What are your feelings towards him? - Yeah, I feel angry with him for what he's done
0:24:36 > 0:24:43and how he's left us. Yeah. He's sitting in his home. I'm sure he's got all his basic amenities.
0:24:43 > 0:24:49Personally, I feel they lose out more because they've got to sleep, you know,
0:24:49 > 0:24:54- with their conscience. I go to bed...- He hasn't got one, though. - Well played.
0:24:54 > 0:25:00I can see this guy is way too nice. They do not have a conscience, mate.
0:25:00 > 0:25:03- No.- They sleep far better than any of us.
0:25:03 > 0:25:10This couple are devastated at losing their cash and now they don't have enough finances left
0:25:10 > 0:25:15to transform this house of horrors to the family home they dreamed of.
0:25:15 > 0:25:18Their plan to have kids is also on hold.
0:25:18 > 0:25:26Now I want to know if there's something we can do to turn their shattered dream into a reality?
0:25:26 > 0:25:31What could we do to help? In the short time that we're here.
0:25:31 > 0:25:33Anything that you can, really!
0:25:33 > 0:25:41It would be nice to have a kitchen. It'd be nice to have a toilet that doesn't move when you sit on it.
0:25:41 > 0:25:47To have a house that doesn't have a constant draught. You know, the smell of dust is always...
0:25:47 > 0:25:53in your nose and it gets into your lungs. There's a lot that you COULD do.
0:25:54 > 0:25:57The list is endless.
0:25:57 > 0:26:03With so much left unfinished, I'm itching to get stuck in to this job,
0:26:03 > 0:26:05but what can we start on first?
0:26:10 > 0:26:15You know, this job really is a bodge, but don't just take my word for it.
0:26:15 > 0:26:21I've asked independent chartered surveyor Graham Walker to see what he thinks about it.
0:26:24 > 0:26:29Lee and Barbara have clearly been left in the lurch
0:26:29 > 0:26:36and it won't take long for Graham to see that, but what I really want to discuss is the quality of work.
0:26:36 > 0:26:43This particular job offers me a conundrum. The moment I approached the front of the property,
0:26:43 > 0:26:51- I have seen far worse brick and block work done that's got passed by local councils.- Yeah.
0:26:51 > 0:26:56I want your take on it. What do you think has gone on here?
0:26:56 > 0:26:58Basically,
0:26:58 > 0:27:02the workmanship isn't bad. It's actually...
0:27:02 > 0:27:05- It's fair.- The outside is.
0:27:05 > 0:27:09The problem is it's only 50% complete.
0:27:09 > 0:27:14They've been paid the money and the contractor has just walked away.
0:27:14 > 0:27:19And they've been left with something that will cost them £6,000-£7,000 to finish.
0:27:19 > 0:27:25- It's really sad.- You've had a good chance to look around. What mark out of 10
0:27:25 > 0:27:28would you give the work done so far?
0:27:28 > 0:27:30The work done, out of 10...
0:27:31 > 0:27:37I'd have to say sort of 5 out of 10, but for letting the people down, his clients down,
0:27:37 > 0:27:42he's let them down totally so one would go lower. 4 out of 10.
0:27:42 > 0:27:49I think that is being very fair. Thank you very much for your input, sir. Really, really invaluable.
0:27:50 > 0:27:54I've got to be honest. Barbara and Lee have gone through hell.
0:27:54 > 0:27:58They've been hit by a proper cowboy builder. And it's dangerous.
0:27:58 > 0:28:03So I'm going to cordon the area off and class it as a no go zone.
0:28:03 > 0:28:11The only people allowed past this tape are myself and the Good Guys - and I need them on board and fast!
0:28:11 > 0:28:16I want head builder Steve and his team to get cracking on this cowboy chaos.
0:28:16 > 0:28:21First we need a plan of action. ..Steve, king of all he surveys.
0:28:21 > 0:28:26- How are you, son?- Fine. How are you? - I'm good. I'm Clive.
0:28:26 > 0:28:29You've had a good look around.
0:28:29 > 0:28:35What I'd really like is to get the kitchen done and the toilet and shower area done.
0:28:35 > 0:28:40Have you got a rough ballpark of how long you think it would take?
0:28:40 > 0:28:44At least three weeks in there to sort all that out.
0:28:44 > 0:28:47There's quite a bit to finish off.
0:28:47 > 0:28:55I can't wait to see what it's like when it's completed. Thanks. I'll catch up with you later. Cheers.
0:28:57 > 0:29:04Coming up: can laidback Lee muster up what it takes to confront his cowboy builder?
0:29:04 > 0:29:10Don't be too gentle with him. Be nice and succinct, but be firm at the same time, yeah?
0:29:10 > 0:29:18And I can't wait to see the look on Barbara and Lee's faces when I reveal their transformed home.
0:29:18 > 0:29:22It's unrecognisable from what it was.
0:29:23 > 0:29:30In Ipswich, Lee Richards and Barbara Lawer found a builder online who they trusted
0:29:30 > 0:29:32to extend their house.
0:29:32 > 0:29:37Their dream was to create a more spacious home, fit for their future family.
0:29:37 > 0:29:43But after paying £12,000, the cash-greedy cowboy upped and left with their money,
0:29:43 > 0:29:47leaving their house ruined and risk-filled.
0:29:51 > 0:29:58Steve and his team have been hard at work fixing endless builder blunders in the shower room
0:29:58 > 0:30:04and kitchen. Even a kitchen specialist has been brought in to make this house a home.
0:30:05 > 0:30:12Today we've made some units up. We had a second-hand kitchen. So we've made a kitchen from it.
0:30:12 > 0:30:18We made the units fit, then we've picked tops up, started making the tops.
0:30:18 > 0:30:25The length of the kitchen is quite long. And we've put the doors, drawers and handles on.
0:30:25 > 0:30:32Now I know the job's not finished yet, but my fascination for fixes is getting the better of me.
0:30:32 > 0:30:35I can't resist a sneaky peek.
0:30:35 > 0:30:41It's nice to be back in Ipswich. From the outside, not much has changed, but I do notice
0:30:41 > 0:30:46the lead flashing has been put on properly on the extension roof.
0:30:46 > 0:30:51More importantly, I need to find out and get an update of what's been going on inside. Let's go.
0:30:53 > 0:30:58There used to be just a sheet of tarpaulin here. Now there's a door.
0:30:58 > 0:31:02We've got a toilet. It's been plastered.
0:31:02 > 0:31:05That was a hole in the wall there.
0:31:05 > 0:31:09Now we've got a window, wall's built up. Fantastic.
0:31:09 > 0:31:12Let's have a look at the kitchen.
0:31:12 > 0:31:18Oh... I'm loving the floor tiles, loving the wall tiles.
0:31:18 > 0:31:22Still grout to finish, paint the walls...
0:31:23 > 0:31:29But it looks... It's amazing, really. I'm well chuffed. The units are in.
0:31:29 > 0:31:31Starting to look like a kitchen.
0:31:31 > 0:31:38Do you remember this doorframe? It was actually falling out and there was a gap at the top
0:31:38 > 0:31:43where I said the postman could deliver parcels.
0:31:43 > 0:31:46We've got a new door, a new doorframe.
0:31:46 > 0:31:52Just needs a bit of two-coat render on the front. Get that sorted.
0:31:52 > 0:31:58I'm thrilled by how things are coming along. I can't wait to see the final rooms.
0:31:58 > 0:32:03But it's not about me. What do Barbara and Lee think?
0:32:03 > 0:32:07They've been checking progress for a couple of days.
0:32:07 > 0:32:15- Now it looks amazingly different. - It's almost there now. We're so pleased.
0:32:15 > 0:32:22Little bits of titivation to do, but I'm really looking forward to that finished article.
0:32:22 > 0:32:28I think it'll look great. And I'm really super chuffed with the craftsmanship.
0:32:28 > 0:32:35They've been really hardworking. Compared to what we were used to, they've been brilliant.
0:32:35 > 0:32:40These guys start at nine o'clock, sometimes finishing at six or seven.
0:32:40 > 0:32:46You've been used to cowboys. These guys really want to go that extra mile for you.
0:32:46 > 0:32:49You can see they've done that.
0:32:50 > 0:32:54'Talking of cowboys, we can't forget Barbara and Lee's dodgy builder
0:32:54 > 0:33:01'who left their house in chaos. It's time for a showdown with the man who blighted this couple's life.
0:33:01 > 0:33:04'I want Lee to call him.'
0:33:06 > 0:33:12I'll give you an opportunity to speak to him, but is there any questions, specifically, you'd ask?
0:33:12 > 0:33:18Em, well, I suppose it's how he left us over that winter period,
0:33:18 > 0:33:25- how could you leave someone like that?- Yeah.- Why you'd take someone's money and not finish the job.
0:33:25 > 0:33:29- Yeah.- Those are the most important things to me.
0:33:29 > 0:33:33Now I know, Lee, you are an absolute gent. Right?
0:33:33 > 0:33:40So I don't want you to be too gentle with him. Be nice and succinct, but be firm at the same time.
0:33:40 > 0:33:43Let's go for it, son.
0:33:44 > 0:33:47The number's not in use anymore!
0:33:47 > 0:33:55- Wow.- He's changed his phone number. - He's laying low. He's definitely laying low on this occasion.
0:33:55 > 0:34:01It's a shame because it's a right of reply for him. What is your feeling about that,
0:34:01 > 0:34:05the number's not in use, he's discarded that Sim card?
0:34:05 > 0:34:09I'm not really that surprised. I thought he'd do it a lot earlier.
0:34:09 > 0:34:15- It's a typical cowboy builder trait, by the way.- It's a coward's trait. - A coward's trait.
0:34:15 > 0:34:19You are so right. You are so right.
0:34:19 > 0:34:26Our team did eventually track down the cowboy. He claimed Barbara and Lee owed HIM money!
0:34:26 > 0:34:30But he also agreed to do some work on their house. He never showed up.
0:34:30 > 0:34:34The case is now in the hands of the courts.
0:34:36 > 0:34:41A couple of weeks later, the work of the Good Guys is complete.
0:34:41 > 0:34:45I can't wait to see the final transformation.
0:34:50 > 0:34:55That's much better. The last time I was here, things weren't finished.
0:34:55 > 0:34:59Now it looks very much like it's finished. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
0:34:59 > 0:35:04The difference since my last visit is massive.
0:35:04 > 0:35:09You know, it's amazing what a couple of weeks' difference can make.
0:35:09 > 0:35:14The job, for me now, looks so much better. I'm sure they'll love it.
0:35:14 > 0:35:19Remember, the kitchen is the main part of the home.
0:35:19 > 0:35:24Remember the top tip about painting onto plaster? They've done that.
0:35:24 > 0:35:29They gave it the wash coat first to seal the plaster, then top coated it with the emulsion.
0:35:29 > 0:35:32They've done a cracking job.
0:35:32 > 0:35:36It's almost hard to remember what it was like when I first visited.
0:35:36 > 0:35:41We had trailing leads all over the place, cables, tripping hazards.
0:35:41 > 0:35:47We had live cables in the wall and, to be honest, it was dangerous. It really was.
0:35:47 > 0:35:52Now it just feels great. It looks so much bigger.
0:35:52 > 0:35:58The colour's just spot on. I couldn't have picked it better. Let's look at that shower room.
0:35:59 > 0:36:04The first thing I notice in here is we haven't got a tarpaulin.
0:36:04 > 0:36:08And I'll just make sure that the toilet's secure.
0:36:08 > 0:36:11Last time it was all over the place.
0:36:11 > 0:36:14We've got the chrome towel rail in.
0:36:14 > 0:36:20I'm going to be honest with you. For you, maybe, you might not like this colour.
0:36:20 > 0:36:24I do. I really do. I'm loving this orange.
0:36:24 > 0:36:30It really does go well. A beautiful accent wall, particularly for this shower area. Ahh!
0:36:30 > 0:36:36That looks so good, so different. We've got a nice big shower tray.
0:36:36 > 0:36:41You've got a monster shower head. Really cool. I'm liking that.
0:36:41 > 0:36:45I tell you now, it's just so much better.
0:36:46 > 0:36:49Loving it.
0:36:49 > 0:36:51I hope they love it.
0:36:51 > 0:36:55'Next, a quick catch up with builder Steve.'
0:36:55 > 0:37:02- Hey, Steve.- How are you, mate? - Good to see you!- And you. Nice to see you again.
0:37:02 > 0:37:06- What a difference compared to a few weeks ago!- A little bit better.
0:37:06 > 0:37:09You're having a laugh!
0:37:09 > 0:37:13- What were you doing in here? - Well, the kitchen was a mess.
0:37:13 > 0:37:19- When we first came in, they had a little Calor gas heater.- Yes. - They were cooking on that.
0:37:19 > 0:37:24Water was pouring into a bucket. We sorted that out, tiled the floor,
0:37:24 > 0:37:28- the walls. Job done again. - Great finish. It's a lovely job.
0:37:28 > 0:37:31It's made a massive difference.
0:37:31 > 0:37:38- Yeah.- There are still little bits here and there for them to do, but we've got a usable kitchen.
0:37:38 > 0:37:44- They've got a usable shower and toilet.- That's it.- And the job is looking absolutely top dog.
0:37:44 > 0:37:52'As Steve heads off, it's time to show Barbara and Lee their new kitchen and shower room.
0:37:52 > 0:37:58'I can't wait.' Before we go in and take a good look around, remind us what it was like.
0:37:58 > 0:38:03Let's start with the kitchen. Can you remember the horrors?
0:38:03 > 0:38:07- You can't really forget it.- No! - It's all ingrained.- Yeah.
0:38:07 > 0:38:12- Just a sink and a bucket, really! - And a plyboard worktop.- Yeah.
0:38:12 > 0:38:16You have a giggle, then you think how did you live like that?
0:38:16 > 0:38:20Yeah, it was so dark in there. One little bulb - it was horrible.
0:38:20 > 0:38:25- A back door held in by four bits of wood.- A camping stove!
0:38:25 > 0:38:29- It was all I was cooking on. - And the mice. We had several mice.
0:38:29 > 0:38:34We had no cupboard doors or anything, so they went in and out.
0:38:34 > 0:38:37Pasta, biscuits, crisps... They enjoyed the lot.
0:38:37 > 0:38:43We want to put all that nightmare behind you. What are you hoping for?
0:38:43 > 0:38:47- To have a functional kitchen and shower room!- Are you ready to look?
0:38:47 > 0:38:51- We are, yes.- Yeah. - Follow me. Come on.
0:38:51 > 0:38:57And the first thing you notice now is you've got the door on, all fixed properly. No gap at the top.
0:38:57 > 0:39:00Come and have a look at the kitchen.
0:39:03 > 0:39:09It's a million times better than anything we could have thought of, let alone what it was.
0:39:09 > 0:39:15- And it's a big space, too.- Yeah. - It's bigger than you think, for the size of the property.
0:39:15 > 0:39:17- It's a nice, big kitchen.- Yeah.
0:39:17 > 0:39:24But one of the most important things is... I don't remember who it was who slopped out the buckets. You!
0:39:24 > 0:39:32- 80% him!- OK, well, seeing as it was actually Lee, he should open the cupboard under the sink.
0:39:32 > 0:39:37- And see what we've got. OK. - ..No, there's no bucket!
0:39:37 > 0:39:41- No bucket!- No bucket. - You've got a proper trap now.
0:39:41 > 0:39:44It's all fixed in.
0:39:44 > 0:39:48The whole thing just looks so much better.
0:39:48 > 0:39:50- No leaks?- No leaks.- Good.
0:39:50 > 0:39:55You've got the security of the back door and, of course, the surround.
0:39:55 > 0:40:01Remember, you'd the gap at the top. I japed that if the postman couldn't get a parcel through the front,
0:40:01 > 0:40:08he could lob it in through there. Lee, what's the best thing for you in here?
0:40:08 > 0:40:15Aside from not having to empty the bucket, it's the tiles. I love them. We chose them a long time ago.
0:40:15 > 0:40:20I think they look great. I really like that. Barbara?
0:40:20 > 0:40:26- What's the big thing for you? - Having a proper cooker. - Yeah?- Not a camping stove.
0:40:26 > 0:40:33Something I can cook anything and everything on. I'm not the best cook, but I do the odd roast.
0:40:33 > 0:40:38Only a few weeks ago, this was a kitchen nightmare.
0:40:38 > 0:40:46In fact, it was a ghastly, grimy galley where Barbara and Lee were forced to cook on a camping stove.
0:40:46 > 0:40:50'What a difference the Good Guys have made!
0:40:50 > 0:40:57'The bathroom is unrecognisable, too. I hope Barbara and Lee are suitably impressed.'
0:40:57 > 0:41:00I love it!
0:41:00 > 0:41:05The detail in the shower, the centrepiece, the glass door.
0:41:05 > 0:41:10- The sink, the taps... - Remind us what that wall was like.
0:41:10 > 0:41:17We actually had the partition just about here, so it's been a long time since we've seen that!
0:41:17 > 0:41:24- We didn't want to see it.- What was there was a piece of plasterboard with a metal pole sticking through.
0:41:24 > 0:41:28- And it was just breeze block, I think.- Yeah. And holes.
0:41:28 > 0:41:33- And holes.- I hope it makes a difference to your lives.
0:41:33 > 0:41:35- It has. Looking at it...- It will.
0:41:35 > 0:41:42- It will just make our lives... - I feel happy! - Normal, really. And enjoyable
0:41:42 > 0:41:49to think about having a wash, not thinking I have to traipse out the house to someone else's.
0:41:49 > 0:41:55- You can come in your own shower room.- I'm well chuffed with being able to do something.
0:41:55 > 0:42:01It doesn't matter what age anyone is that gets hit by cowboy builders, it's always horrible.
0:42:01 > 0:42:05For a young couple starting out, it can knock your confidence.
0:42:05 > 0:42:08But there are good guys out there and you will find them.
0:42:08 > 0:42:13- They'll do you a fantastic job and you really deserve it.- Thank you.
0:42:13 > 0:42:19- Good luck in the future. - Thanks very much.- Take good care. Cheers now, guys.- Bye.
0:42:22 > 0:42:25I've got to say, that job is a cracker.
0:42:25 > 0:42:31Remember, Lee and Barbara are a very young couple and in the future they'll need loads more craftsmen
0:42:31 > 0:42:38and tradesmen, but they've got to do their research so they won't fall into the cowboy trap.
0:42:38 > 0:42:44However, I have got one more job to do and that's to take the evidence about their cowboy builder
0:42:44 > 0:42:48to the local Trading Standards office to see what they'll do.
0:42:48 > 0:42:55Talking of cowboy builders, I've got a message for you: we're on your trail, so look out!
0:42:55 > 0:43:01If you've had a problem with builders and would like to tell your story on Cowboy Trap,
0:43:01 > 0:43:03then please call us.
0:43:10 > 0:43:12Or you can send us an email.
0:43:14 > 0:43:17Help us round up the cowboys!
0:43:30 > 0:43:34Subtitles by Subtext for Red Bee Media Ltd - 2012