0:00:08 > 0:00:11We're travelling all over the UK to meet the homeowners
0:00:11 > 0:00:16living with the grim consequences of employing a cowboy builder.
0:00:16 > 0:00:20I couldn't believe it. I'd given him £5,000,
0:00:20 > 0:00:23he hasn't done much in two weeks, not even one room.
0:00:23 > 0:00:27With their shoddy workmanship or downright lies,
0:00:27 > 0:00:30cowboy builders are unscrupulous villains
0:00:30 > 0:00:33who destroy dreams and wreck lives.
0:00:33 > 0:00:35The stress of all these problems,
0:00:35 > 0:00:39having worked hard and saved all my life,
0:00:39 > 0:00:43just led me to have an ulcer, which I still have to this day.
0:00:43 > 0:00:45We've got the good guys in our party
0:00:45 > 0:00:49to turn these botched builds into ideal homes.
0:00:49 > 0:00:53The chippers have been in. Beautifully finished.
0:00:53 > 0:00:55But now, running water. Hello.
0:00:55 > 0:00:58- It's incredible, isn't it? - You've got a home now.
0:00:58 > 0:01:02Yeah, it's like a dream. A dream come true.
0:01:02 > 0:01:07It's thought cowboy builders cost Britons over £700 million each year.
0:01:07 > 0:01:10So if you think you know how to spot one, think again.
0:01:10 > 0:01:16The next 45 minutes could help keep you out of the Cowboy Trap.
0:01:27 > 0:01:30'On today's Cowboy Trap, a heartbreaking house renovation
0:01:30 > 0:01:32'which went so badly wrong,
0:01:32 > 0:01:35'it ruined a romance for ever.'
0:01:35 > 0:01:37It destroyed the relationship
0:01:37 > 0:01:41because she couldn't see any light at the end of the tunnel.
0:01:41 > 0:01:44'And, three years after we rescued her,
0:01:44 > 0:01:48'we visit a cowboy-builder victim in Lancashire to see how she's doing.'
0:01:48 > 0:01:51I love that conservatory.
0:01:51 > 0:01:54I had a vision it would be and now it is.
0:01:54 > 0:01:57It's lovely now, I do enjoy it.
0:01:57 > 0:01:59'Our first saga
0:01:59 > 0:02:02'revolves around a home in the London district of Tooting.'
0:02:02 > 0:02:07'Now, Tooting High Street is a high street with a history.'
0:02:07 > 0:02:10'The Romans build a road - Staines Street - from London to Chichester
0:02:10 > 0:02:15'and Tooting High Street is built on that very thoroughfare.'
0:02:15 > 0:02:18'But it's not only roads that Tooting is famous for.'
0:02:19 > 0:02:22The sitcom Citizen Smith was set here in Tooting,
0:02:22 > 0:02:27where Wolfie Smith presided over the Tooting Popular Front
0:02:27 > 0:02:29and that's still a funny idea -
0:02:29 > 0:02:33quite unlike today's Cowboy Trap, which is no laughing matter.
0:02:33 > 0:02:38Although some of the building work you'll see is an absolute joke.
0:02:38 > 0:02:40'And a danger to life and limb.'
0:02:40 > 0:02:44'The unlucky victim of this bodged build
0:02:44 > 0:02:46'lives in this two-bedroom flat,
0:02:46 > 0:02:50'home to Anil Dussoye, a 67-year-old retired hospital porter.'
0:02:50 > 0:02:53'Anil was born in Mauritius.'
0:02:53 > 0:02:55'He moved to London in 1979
0:02:55 > 0:02:57'and absolutely loved it.'
0:02:57 > 0:03:00London was very exciting.
0:03:00 > 0:03:04It was all music and girls and dancing.
0:03:04 > 0:03:07'When he wasn't hitting the dance floor,
0:03:07 > 0:03:10'Anil worked at St George's Hospital as a porter.'
0:03:10 > 0:03:15'When he was 32, after eight years living in a room at a hospital,
0:03:15 > 0:03:18'Anil decided to find his own place.'
0:03:18 > 0:03:22The reason was I wanted to start my own business.
0:03:22 > 0:03:26At the same time, I didn't want to work in hospital any more
0:03:26 > 0:03:29because, having worked eight years, I thought that was enough.
0:03:30 > 0:03:35'Anil purchased this two-bedroom flat for £22,000.'
0:03:35 > 0:03:37'Those were the days!'
0:03:37 > 0:03:39'But, despite having much more space,
0:03:39 > 0:03:42'he didn't really make the most of it.'
0:03:42 > 0:03:46For almost 20 years, Anil basically lived in just one room of the flat.
0:03:46 > 0:03:50He was used to living like that after his hospital accommodation.
0:03:50 > 0:03:53And he worked long hours, often seven days a week.
0:03:53 > 0:03:55But, as Anil approached retirement,
0:03:55 > 0:03:58it was time to do something about his surroundings,
0:03:58 > 0:04:01especially as there was now a woman in his life.
0:04:01 > 0:04:06She wanted not to get married, but to live together.
0:04:06 > 0:04:09I said "I'm going to get the place sorted
0:04:09 > 0:04:11"and we can live together."
0:04:13 > 0:04:17'After being lonely for so long, Anil was on cloud nine.'
0:04:17 > 0:04:20'He set out to create a home fit for his princess.'
0:04:20 > 0:04:22'He had to renovate the flat,
0:04:22 > 0:04:25'updating the kitchen, bathroom and flooring
0:04:25 > 0:04:29'and bringing the electrics and plumbing up to date.'
0:04:29 > 0:04:31'He also wanted to create more space
0:04:31 > 0:04:34'by removing a chimney breast in his kitchen.'
0:04:34 > 0:04:37The dream was to modernise the place,
0:04:37 > 0:04:41make it look nice, have some nice furniture in it
0:04:41 > 0:04:45and decorate the whole place, inside and out.
0:04:46 > 0:04:49'Anil was chatting about his plans in the hospital
0:04:49 > 0:04:52'when a colleague mentioned a builder who would be ideal.'
0:04:52 > 0:04:56'Anil phoned the builder and he said he was available.'
0:04:56 > 0:05:00He looked round and told me there was a lot of work to be done,
0:05:00 > 0:05:02"Don't worry, we'll do everything."
0:05:02 > 0:05:06"We'll do the place inside out and you won't recognise it."
0:05:06 > 0:05:09"It's going to be really nice, very homely
0:05:09 > 0:05:12"and you're going to be very happy."
0:05:14 > 0:05:16'The builder quoted £19,500
0:05:16 > 0:05:20'to refurbish the kitchen and bathroom and replace the flooring.'
0:05:20 > 0:05:23'It also covered modernising the electrics
0:05:23 > 0:05:26'and plastering and decorating throughout.'
0:05:26 > 0:05:29'Anil gave him the green light
0:05:29 > 0:05:33'and the builder drew up a contract of staged payments - good -
0:05:33 > 0:05:36'but didn't detail the work that needed to be completed
0:05:36 > 0:05:39'to trigger the payments - bad.'
0:05:39 > 0:05:41He said to me "Don't worry,
0:05:41 > 0:05:44"I'm going to do everything you want me to do,
0:05:44 > 0:05:47"even though it's not in the contract."
0:05:49 > 0:05:54'Does that sound too good to be true to you? It does to me.'
0:05:54 > 0:05:58'But our Cowboy Trap victim failed to spot the warning signs.'
0:05:59 > 0:06:02Anil then made a catalogue of errors.
0:06:02 > 0:06:05He failed to carry out any checks on the builder or take up references
0:06:05 > 0:06:09and he didn't get any other contractors round for a quote.
0:06:09 > 0:06:11He paid a five-grand lump sum upfront
0:06:11 > 0:06:15and the contract he signed was a joke. Dear, oh, dear.
0:06:16 > 0:06:20'And the builder immediately began to take advantage
0:06:20 > 0:06:22'of this unwitting victim.'
0:06:22 > 0:06:26I didn't even look at the contract. I just trusted him.
0:06:26 > 0:06:28I just gave him the money.
0:06:29 > 0:06:32'The builder started work in November 2009,
0:06:32 > 0:06:35'promising the job would be done in six weeks.'
0:06:35 > 0:06:39'He suggested Anil move out because it was going to get messy.'
0:06:39 > 0:06:40'Phew - not half.'
0:06:40 > 0:06:46I did ask the hospital if I could have accommodation for eight weeks
0:06:46 > 0:06:48and they said yes
0:06:48 > 0:06:52and I stayed there for six months.
0:06:52 > 0:06:55'Six months?! Nightmare.'
0:06:55 > 0:06:58Moving out of his home would prove Anil's undoing.
0:06:58 > 0:07:03He had no way of keeping tabs on his builder's progress - or lack of it.
0:07:03 > 0:07:05And, because he worked long hours,
0:07:05 > 0:07:08it wasn't possible to carry out checks.
0:07:08 > 0:07:11So Anil failed to notice what was really happening -
0:07:11 > 0:07:13nothing.
0:07:14 > 0:07:19'Take my advice - don't embark on a major building project
0:07:19 > 0:07:21'if you're not there to supervise.'
0:07:21 > 0:07:24'And, if you can't be there, ask a neighbour or friend
0:07:24 > 0:07:28'to make sure your builders are turning up when they're meant to.'
0:07:28 > 0:07:31'Ask them to alert you with any concerns
0:07:31 > 0:07:36'and act on them by talking them through with your builder.'
0:07:38 > 0:07:41'The rented accommodation was costing Anil £400 a month
0:07:41 > 0:07:45'and he became concerned that the project was proceeding
0:07:45 > 0:07:47'at a snail's pace.'
0:07:47 > 0:07:49When I looked, I couldn't believe it -
0:07:49 > 0:07:51he hasn't done much work.
0:07:51 > 0:07:55But he's... I said to myself "I've given him £5,000,
0:07:55 > 0:07:59"he hasn't done much work in two weeks, not even one room."
0:08:00 > 0:08:04'Anil also noticed what little work was being done
0:08:04 > 0:08:06'was being done badly.'
0:08:06 > 0:08:09'The electrics were awful, the plumbing pitiful,
0:08:09 > 0:08:12'the flooring absolutely dreadful,
0:08:12 > 0:08:14'the front door looked dodgy
0:08:14 > 0:08:18'and the boiler stuck out like a sore thumb in the living room.'
0:08:18 > 0:08:22I challenged him, he said "Everything takes time,
0:08:22 > 0:08:25"plastering takes time, I've got to get everything in order"
0:08:25 > 0:08:29and he said "Don't worry, after eight weeks, you'll be OK."
0:08:29 > 0:08:31"You'll get your place back."
0:08:31 > 0:08:34So I just believed him.
0:08:34 > 0:08:37'Anil was being asked to hand over money
0:08:37 > 0:08:40'like there was no tomorrow.'
0:08:40 > 0:08:43'£5,000 here, £5,000 there -
0:08:43 > 0:08:46'in addition to the £5,000 upfront payment
0:08:46 > 0:08:49'and a one-off payment of £2,000.'
0:08:49 > 0:08:53'Before he knew it, Anil had handed over £17,000
0:08:53 > 0:08:56'and some extra money for materials.'
0:08:56 > 0:08:59When people asked me "Why did you give him that kind of money?",
0:08:59 > 0:09:02I said "To be honest, I don't know."
0:09:02 > 0:09:05It was very stupid, very naive of me.
0:09:06 > 0:09:08'It was now February 2010
0:09:08 > 0:09:12'and the project still didn't look anywhere near completion.'
0:09:12 > 0:09:15'Anil decided to go to America with his girlfriend
0:09:15 > 0:09:17'to take his mind off it.'
0:09:17 > 0:09:20'The builder promised he could move back in when he returned.'
0:09:20 > 0:09:23When I got to New York, I did call him.
0:09:23 > 0:09:27When I called him, he was not answering his phone.
0:09:27 > 0:09:31So when I came back, I looked at the place and he hasn't been there
0:09:31 > 0:09:33for one week.
0:09:33 > 0:09:38'Anil called the builder, who said he would not be doing any more work
0:09:38 > 0:09:40'because he'd run out of cash.'
0:09:40 > 0:09:44He said "If you want me to finish the job, give me all the money."
0:09:44 > 0:09:48I said "No, because I'm not happy about the quality of the work."
0:09:48 > 0:09:50He said "What's wrong with it?"
0:09:50 > 0:09:54I pointed out all the jobs, like the electrics, the gas, everything,
0:09:54 > 0:09:57and he said "It'll be sorted out."
0:09:57 > 0:09:59I said "No, I'm not happy about it."
0:10:00 > 0:10:03'You won't be surprised to hear that the parting of the ways
0:10:03 > 0:10:05'was far from amicable.'
0:10:05 > 0:10:09'The cowboy was supposed to pay back all the cash he took for materials,
0:10:09 > 0:10:11'but he didn't.'
0:10:11 > 0:10:15'What he did do was vanish off the face of the earth.'
0:10:15 > 0:10:17I spent nearly another £5,000
0:10:17 > 0:10:20buying all these units, all the floors - everything.
0:10:20 > 0:10:25I bought them thinking he was going to give me the money back.
0:10:25 > 0:10:29'Anil had been left in an incomplete building site.'
0:10:29 > 0:10:32'Water was coming through the ceiling,
0:10:32 > 0:10:36'he had no central heating and the shower was in a shocking state.'
0:10:36 > 0:10:39'Anil had to go to the local gym to wash.'
0:10:39 > 0:10:43'As you can imagine, his girlfriend wasn't impressed.'
0:10:43 > 0:10:45'He tried to track down the builder,
0:10:45 > 0:10:50'but it became apparent the cowboy had disappeared into the sunset.'
0:10:50 > 0:10:53I went round to his place,
0:10:53 > 0:10:56but when I asked people there, they said "He's moved out,
0:10:56 > 0:10:58"he doesn't live there any more."
0:11:00 > 0:11:03'Anil had hit rock bottom.'
0:11:03 > 0:11:06'His home was a wreck, his money had run out
0:11:06 > 0:11:10'and, worst of all, the havoc unleashed by this bodger
0:11:10 > 0:11:12'led to his girlfriend leaving him.'
0:11:12 > 0:11:15It destroyed the relationship
0:11:15 > 0:11:18because she couldn't see any light at the end of the tunnel
0:11:18 > 0:11:22because I wasn't going anywhere, I didn't have a place
0:11:22 > 0:11:25and she was living in hospital accommodation,
0:11:25 > 0:11:28so she said "We're not getting anywhere"
0:11:28 > 0:11:31and we started having rows and rows.
0:11:32 > 0:11:36'Eventually, the rows became too much.'
0:11:36 > 0:11:39'Anil's partner left him and he was alone again.'
0:11:39 > 0:11:43'This cowboy took Anil's money and trashed his flat,
0:11:43 > 0:11:45'he also robbed him of his future.'
0:11:45 > 0:11:47'And, to add injury to insult,
0:11:47 > 0:11:50'he wrecked Anil's health too.'
0:11:50 > 0:11:52The stress of all these problems,
0:11:52 > 0:11:56having worked hard and saved all my life,
0:11:56 > 0:11:58just led me to have an ulcer
0:11:58 > 0:12:02because I was thinking about it all the time, I was not eating,
0:12:02 > 0:12:04I was losing a bit of weight
0:12:04 > 0:12:08and I developed an ulcer, which I still have to this day.
0:12:11 > 0:12:13Such a shame, this one -
0:12:13 > 0:12:16this guy's spent years working for the NHS, helping others.
0:12:16 > 0:12:19He's put up with basic living conditions
0:12:19 > 0:12:21because he's worked such long hours.
0:12:21 > 0:12:25His crumb of comfort was the thought of spending his twilight years
0:12:25 > 0:12:28in a warm, snug home with the woman he loved.
0:12:28 > 0:12:31Now all that's gone thanks to a cowboy builder.
0:12:31 > 0:12:35'But what is the full extent of this building bodge?'
0:12:35 > 0:12:39'How dangerous is the disaster zone the cowboy left behind?'
0:12:39 > 0:12:42'We asked independent building surveyor Simon Levy
0:12:42 > 0:12:45'to inspect the work.'
0:12:45 > 0:12:47'He's been through it thoroughly
0:12:47 > 0:12:50'and we're about to discuss his findings.'
0:12:51 > 0:12:56'Firstly, the first thing you see when you arrive - the front door.'
0:12:56 > 0:12:58That entrance door is
0:12:58 > 0:13:00an appalling piece of workmandship.
0:13:00 > 0:13:03The door itself has been fitted into
0:13:03 > 0:13:06a completely deformed and defective frame,
0:13:06 > 0:13:11which should've been replaced. I don't know why it was installed.
0:13:11 > 0:13:14In winter, his heating's going to be bleeding out into fresh air.
0:13:14 > 0:13:16Well, the gap is huge.
0:13:16 > 0:13:19It doesn't conform to any decent standard of workmanship.
0:13:20 > 0:13:24'As soon as you cross the threshold, things get worse.'
0:13:24 > 0:13:27You can't leave a house like this.
0:13:27 > 0:13:30No, the electrical installation and the plumbing installation
0:13:30 > 0:13:32were left incomplete.
0:13:32 > 0:13:35The electrics were left still connected
0:13:35 > 0:13:39and therefore elements of the installation were profoundly unsafe.
0:13:39 > 0:13:44'Like light switches hanging off the walls - unbelievable.'
0:13:44 > 0:13:48'As is the fact Anil was abandoned without the heating.'
0:13:48 > 0:13:53The pipes were left in a condition - without caps on the ends
0:13:53 > 0:13:57so that you could get contamination in the pipes, cause blockages -
0:13:57 > 0:13:59the job was left in disarray.
0:13:59 > 0:14:03'Disarray up, disarray down,
0:14:03 > 0:14:05'disarray all around.'
0:14:05 > 0:14:10The flooring is a tragic waste of good building materials.
0:14:10 > 0:14:15The job has been done so badly, the whole floor needs to now come up
0:14:15 > 0:14:18because it's just lifted up,
0:14:18 > 0:14:21there's been no expansion joint provided round the outside
0:14:21 > 0:14:24and the job has to be started again.
0:14:24 > 0:14:28Whether or not you can use that flooring again, I'm not sure.
0:14:28 > 0:14:31'This floor was clearly laid by someone
0:14:31 > 0:14:34'who had no idea what they were doing.'
0:14:34 > 0:14:38'And Simon fears the same goes for the steel supports in the ceiling,
0:14:38 > 0:14:40'and that's serious.'
0:14:40 > 0:14:42'If the steels aren't right,
0:14:42 > 0:14:45'this side of the building could collapse like a pack of cards.'
0:14:45 > 0:14:50They've taken out the chimney breast - you've got a suspicion there.
0:14:50 > 0:14:52I can't see any visible evidence
0:14:52 > 0:14:55of a steel having been installed from within the building
0:14:55 > 0:15:00and I recommend exploratory work to find out what's going on there.
0:15:00 > 0:15:02If your suspicions are proved right,
0:15:02 > 0:15:05that means there's a massive chimney stack,
0:15:05 > 0:15:08a massive load, that isn't supported
0:15:08 > 0:15:12and that's bearing... that's on top of Anil's head.
0:15:12 > 0:15:15Well, it's in breach of the building regulations
0:15:15 > 0:15:17and it's exceedingly dangerous.
0:15:18 > 0:15:22'Whether the chimney breast upstairs is being adequately supported
0:15:22 > 0:15:25'needs to be investigated as soon as possible.'
0:15:25 > 0:15:27'I think I know the answer,
0:15:27 > 0:15:30'but I'll ask Simon for his verdict anyway.'
0:15:30 > 0:15:34After what you've seen, how would you mark this builder out of 10?
0:15:34 > 0:15:36- It's going to be a 1. - 1 out of 10.
0:15:36 > 0:15:41- There's paint on the walls and that's it.- He's lucky to get that!
0:15:41 > 0:15:44'No kidding - check out the evidence.'
0:15:45 > 0:15:49'A badly hung front door,
0:15:49 > 0:15:51'a badly laid floor,
0:15:51 > 0:15:55'the ceiling is sloppy,
0:15:55 > 0:15:57'the electrics are shocking,
0:15:57 > 0:16:00'the plumbing pathetic,
0:16:00 > 0:16:03'the shower room shambolic
0:16:03 > 0:16:08'and, according to a heating expert, the boiler needs condemning.'
0:16:08 > 0:16:11And remember, in the kitchen,
0:16:11 > 0:16:15Anil asked the builder to remove the chimney stack to create more space.
0:16:15 > 0:16:19So were the right steels put in to support the rest of the stack?
0:16:19 > 0:16:21Time to bring in our good guys.
0:16:23 > 0:16:25'And here they are -
0:16:25 > 0:16:29'head honcho Richard Burgess and his colleague Tony.'
0:16:29 > 0:16:33'They head straight for the suspicious steels.'
0:16:35 > 0:16:37Here we go -
0:16:37 > 0:16:39all shall be revealed.
0:16:39 > 0:16:43'It's not good news - there isn't a steel support of any kind
0:16:43 > 0:16:46'stopping the chimney breast upstairs from crashing down.'
0:16:46 > 0:16:49'The cracks appearing on the exterior
0:16:49 > 0:16:53'may be due to this schoolboy error.'
0:16:55 > 0:16:59'Richard's men get the materials they need to salvage the situation.'
0:16:59 > 0:17:04'And now it's time for Burgess's boys to swing into action.'
0:17:04 > 0:17:07'First job - making safe that danger zone
0:17:07 > 0:17:11'and getting the support wall up as quick as possible.'
0:17:11 > 0:17:13'Then they make hay with the RSJ.'
0:17:13 > 0:17:17'A solid start, but can the good guys help Anil's dream renovation
0:17:17 > 0:17:19'get back on track?'
0:17:19 > 0:17:22'Only time will tell.'
0:17:27 > 0:17:30I'm in South London, where 67-year-old Anil Dussoye's dreams
0:17:30 > 0:17:34of retiring with his girlfriend to his renovated flat in Tooting
0:17:34 > 0:17:36were shattered by a cowboy builder.
0:17:36 > 0:17:40Well, our good guys have finished their work,
0:17:40 > 0:17:42so let's see how Anil's getting on.
0:17:44 > 0:17:47'Let's hope the building doesn't fall down
0:17:47 > 0:17:50'when I knock on the door.'
0:17:50 > 0:17:52- Hi, how are you? - I'm good, how are you?
0:17:52 > 0:17:56- Not too bad, thanks.- I tell you what - this is looking good.
0:17:56 > 0:18:00- It does look nice. - Can I take a look at the other work?
0:18:00 > 0:18:04'As soon as I enter, I can't resist a quick peek.'
0:18:04 > 0:18:07'It's not just the door that's massively improved.'
0:18:07 > 0:18:09'Remember the kitchen before?'
0:18:09 > 0:18:11'Now check it out.'
0:18:11 > 0:18:15'Our good guys cooked up a treat for Anil
0:18:15 > 0:18:18'and that horrible hall - not so horrible now.'
0:18:18 > 0:18:22'The transformation is astonishing.'
0:18:22 > 0:18:25'Before I take a closer look,
0:18:25 > 0:18:28'I want to chat to Anil about how he got into this mess.'
0:18:28 > 0:18:32'First, I want to hear about the money side of things.'
0:18:32 > 0:18:35- I gave him £5,000 upfront. - That's a lot of money.
0:18:35 > 0:18:38I don't know what happened, what came over me,
0:18:38 > 0:18:40I just gave him £5,000.
0:18:40 > 0:18:44After four weeks, well, three to four weeks,
0:18:44 > 0:18:46he asked me for another £5,000.
0:18:46 > 0:18:50- So, four weeks - you're £10,000 down.- £10,000.
0:18:50 > 0:18:53- And what had he done in those four weeks?- Not much.
0:18:53 > 0:18:56- Like what? - He was just stripping the plaster
0:18:56 > 0:18:59in the bedroom and the front room.
0:18:59 > 0:19:02Must've been heavy plaster - 10 grand's worth of plaster stripping.
0:19:02 > 0:19:05When I gave him money, he didn't buy anything.
0:19:05 > 0:19:08He only bought a few sacks of plaster - that was it.
0:19:10 > 0:19:14'Oh, dear. £10,000 for basically nothing.'
0:19:14 > 0:19:16'Take a tip from me -
0:19:16 > 0:19:19'before you agree any building project, draw up a contract
0:19:19 > 0:19:22'with a detailed payment schedule.'
0:19:22 > 0:19:25'It should include what the builder needs to have achieved
0:19:25 > 0:19:27'to trigger the next payment.'
0:19:27 > 0:19:31'Don't hand over money unless a stage is completed
0:19:31 > 0:19:33'and keep a chunk until the end -
0:19:33 > 0:19:36'only pay that if you're 100 per cent happy.'
0:19:39 > 0:19:44'It's fair to say that at no stage was Anil 100 per cent happy.'
0:19:46 > 0:19:49This must've had a tremendous effect on you emotionally.
0:19:49 > 0:19:52You're haemorrhaging money
0:19:52 > 0:19:56and nothing's happening to the home that you've got all your hopes on.
0:19:56 > 0:20:00If I didn't give him that money, he could've left the job,
0:20:00 > 0:20:03then I would need another builder and I'd been in the same...
0:20:03 > 0:20:07- Having seen his work, that might've been good.- Looking back, yes.
0:20:07 > 0:20:12'Looking at this mess, it would've been better if he'd never started.'
0:20:12 > 0:20:16'His start wasn't great - his finish was even worse.'
0:20:16 > 0:20:18He disappeared on a Friday
0:20:18 > 0:20:21and when I came in, I just looked around
0:20:21 > 0:20:25and there were no clothes, no tools, there was nothing.
0:20:25 > 0:20:29I said "What's happening?" I called him and he didn't answer.
0:20:29 > 0:20:32How much money has he disappeared with?
0:20:32 > 0:20:38Altogether, it was £17,500.
0:20:38 > 0:20:43And how much money do you think he spent on your home in that time?
0:20:43 > 0:20:45About £2,000.
0:20:45 > 0:20:48'And the builder hadn't just left Anil poorer -
0:20:48 > 0:20:52'this cowboy had also left him in severe danger.'
0:20:52 > 0:20:56If this thing happened to fall down, what am I going to do?
0:20:56 > 0:20:58There are kids living upstairs.
0:20:58 > 0:21:00Doesn't bear thinking about.
0:21:00 > 0:21:03And the electrics were not right,
0:21:03 > 0:21:05so I was worried about these things.
0:21:05 > 0:21:09This place was a terrible job, but it was dangerous,
0:21:09 > 0:21:12- that was the thing.- Very dangerous.
0:21:12 > 0:21:15'But, luckily for Anil,
0:21:15 > 0:21:18'our good guys have come to the rescue.'
0:21:18 > 0:21:20'Let's look at their handiwork.'
0:21:20 > 0:21:23'I want a close look at the front door
0:21:23 > 0:21:25'and I like what I see.'
0:21:26 > 0:21:28This is such a good job,
0:21:28 > 0:21:31bearing in mind that they were faced with a huge job.
0:21:31 > 0:21:35Building a new door frame and put the windows in
0:21:35 > 0:21:37or try and make good with refurbishment.
0:21:37 > 0:21:41They've done the latter and it's quite amazing
0:21:41 > 0:21:43how good a job that really is.
0:21:43 > 0:21:46'The improvement is dramatic.'
0:21:46 > 0:21:49'Look at that hole above the door before.'
0:21:49 > 0:21:51'Much better now, eh?'
0:21:51 > 0:21:55'Looks like they've weaved their magic on the floor too.'
0:21:55 > 0:21:58If you remember, all these floorboards,
0:21:58 > 0:22:01they were poorly fitted with no expansion gaps,
0:22:01 > 0:22:04so when it did expand like most wood does,
0:22:04 > 0:22:06there's only one way that could've gone - up.
0:22:06 > 0:22:11But, thankfully, they've managed to use pretty much all of it again,
0:22:11 > 0:22:13which is brilliant.
0:22:13 > 0:22:16Here, I think this was just open,
0:22:16 > 0:22:20but the chippers have been in - beautifully fitted and finished.
0:22:20 > 0:22:24What's most impressive here is the attention to detail
0:22:24 > 0:22:27that, in order to get this far,
0:22:27 > 0:22:30they must've done so much work, it's really good.
0:22:31 > 0:22:35'Remember that problem with the lack of support for the chimney stack?'
0:22:35 > 0:22:39'The good guys have put a steel girder in and hidden it away.'
0:22:39 > 0:22:42'The electrics before were in a right state -
0:22:42 > 0:22:46'now they've been beautifully sorted.'
0:22:46 > 0:22:50Anil was living in one room, now this is a fully functioning flat.
0:22:50 > 0:22:52It looks fantastic.
0:22:52 > 0:22:57'And the boiler wasn't working before. Now it is, which is nice.'
0:22:57 > 0:23:00'The change from what the bad guys left behind
0:23:00 > 0:23:04'to what it looks like now is striking.'
0:23:04 > 0:23:07'Right, onwards and upwards.'
0:23:07 > 0:23:12He's got a shower room! And there's no wires coming out of the walls.
0:23:12 > 0:23:14This has been tidied up brilliantly.
0:23:14 > 0:23:18He didn't have any water. The shower's been fitted...
0:23:18 > 0:23:22Ahh! Anil at long last can have a shower.
0:23:22 > 0:23:25He was having to go to the gym to wash himself, poor guy.
0:23:25 > 0:23:27It looks fantastic, doesn't it?
0:23:27 > 0:23:29The damp on the ceiling has gone.
0:23:29 > 0:23:32For me, this job is twofold.
0:23:32 > 0:23:36First of all, the whole place was so unsafe -
0:23:36 > 0:23:38wires hanging out everywhere,
0:23:38 > 0:23:40the floor trip hazards -
0:23:40 > 0:23:45it's the finish. The finish is... well, it's immaculate.
0:23:46 > 0:23:49'Yep, the good guys have played a blinder.'
0:23:49 > 0:23:54'Richard's come to talk me through the challenges he faced.'
0:23:54 > 0:23:58There was an issue with the boiler. Had that been condemned?
0:23:58 > 0:24:01They'd turned the boiler off and condemned it.
0:24:01 > 0:24:03It was unsafe to use.
0:24:03 > 0:24:05It was not pulling enough gas
0:24:05 > 0:24:08and there was a problem with the gas valve.
0:24:08 > 0:24:14We put a new pipe in and now that is as good as new and safe.
0:24:14 > 0:24:18'And it wasn't only the boiler that was unsafe.'
0:24:18 > 0:24:21We had problems with the electrics in the bathroom.
0:24:21 > 0:24:25- Live wires hanging down.- Were they live?- Yes, they were bare-ended
0:24:25 > 0:24:27and they were live wires,
0:24:27 > 0:24:31so that was probably the most dangerous thing here.
0:24:31 > 0:24:34Live wires on their own are dangerous, but in a bathroom -
0:24:34 > 0:24:36I'm surprised he'd been living here.
0:24:36 > 0:24:40'So apart from the boiler that was on the verge of exploding
0:24:40 > 0:24:43'and the potentially lethal electrics,
0:24:43 > 0:24:46'this flat was safe as houses, right?'
0:24:46 > 0:24:49'Well, we all know the answer to that - wrong.'
0:24:50 > 0:24:53You've got a chimney breast here,
0:24:53 > 0:24:56take that out - you've got an entire chimney stack above.
0:24:56 > 0:24:59- How dangerous is that? - Well, very dangerous.
0:24:59 > 0:25:03Although the chimney is built into the wall of the house
0:25:03 > 0:25:07and that holds it there to a degree, it's not built to stay like that,
0:25:07 > 0:25:09so you take the bottom out,
0:25:09 > 0:25:12at some point, it's going to start to fall down.
0:25:12 > 0:25:14There's no longevity in it
0:25:14 > 0:25:19and it could stay there for a week or a day - you just don't know.
0:25:19 > 0:25:21'Well, make no mistakes,
0:25:21 > 0:25:24'this place was a danger zone.'
0:25:24 > 0:25:27'Before I do the grand tour with Anil,
0:25:27 > 0:25:30'I'm going to chat to him about the cowboy builder.'
0:25:30 > 0:25:33'I wanted to find out his side of the story,
0:25:33 > 0:25:36'but that has proved easier said than done.'
0:25:37 > 0:25:40We always give the cowboy builders
0:25:40 > 0:25:43a right to reply, to give their side of the story,
0:25:43 > 0:25:46but on this occasion, despite considerable efforts,
0:25:46 > 0:25:50we haven't been able to track them down, which hardly ever happens.
0:25:51 > 0:25:55What would you say to him if you met him now?
0:25:55 > 0:25:59Well, I wouldn't say anything, I would just take him to court.
0:25:59 > 0:26:03What would you say to someone considering employing this builder?
0:26:03 > 0:26:06I would say "No. Don't even go there."
0:26:06 > 0:26:10First of all, make sure the builder is a qualified builder,
0:26:10 > 0:26:13you've got to have at least three quotes
0:26:13 > 0:26:19before you do anything to your place. It's just not worth it.
0:26:19 > 0:26:22'Good tip, Anil, especially when you're hiring a builder
0:26:22 > 0:26:24'to remove a chimney breast -
0:26:24 > 0:26:26'an exercise which needs expertise.'
0:26:26 > 0:26:29'So here's a tip from me -
0:26:29 > 0:26:32'chimneys are part of the structure of your house
0:26:32 > 0:26:35'and removing them is a serious business.'
0:26:35 > 0:26:37'You'll need a structural engineer
0:26:37 > 0:26:41'and the approval of local-authority building control.'
0:26:41 > 0:26:44'If you do anything to a party wall - one you share with neighbours -
0:26:44 > 0:26:47'you'll need their written consent.'
0:26:47 > 0:26:51'Hire a novice to do this and you're taking a real gamble.'
0:26:53 > 0:26:57'Right, it's time to find out how Anil's finding his new life
0:26:57 > 0:26:59'now he's got his dream home
0:26:59 > 0:27:03'with secure front door, beautifully finished floor
0:27:03 > 0:27:08'and, of course, carefully crafted kitchen.'
0:27:08 > 0:27:12- This is the main event.- This is good. We could have a little party!
0:27:12 > 0:27:15It'd be nice to have a party.
0:27:16 > 0:27:20'Even nicer to have a party without the threat of the upstairs floor
0:27:20 > 0:27:22'crashing down on your heads.'
0:27:22 > 0:27:25You were told there was no steel.
0:27:25 > 0:27:29No steel, no support at all. I just didn't know what to do.
0:27:29 > 0:27:32- I was scared. - But they've put the steel in there.
0:27:32 > 0:27:35- That's peace of mind. - Thanks to the Cowboy Trap.
0:27:36 > 0:27:39'And the good guys sorted electrical sockets out for Anil too.'
0:27:39 > 0:27:43'Let's see how Anil's found his new shower since we fixed it.'
0:27:43 > 0:27:48Now, then, at last we've got a shower room you can use.
0:27:48 > 0:27:51Yeah, I never had a shower before.
0:27:51 > 0:27:53Wondered what the smell was!
0:27:53 > 0:27:57No, just one of those things. It's really nice the way they've done it.
0:27:57 > 0:28:00This was very dangerous before. Live wires...
0:28:00 > 0:28:03Christ, yeah, there was no light.
0:28:03 > 0:28:05There was no light at all.
0:28:05 > 0:28:09I don't think the shower was fixed to the wall either, properly.
0:28:09 > 0:28:13- No.- But now - running water. Hello.
0:28:13 > 0:28:16- It's incredible. - Well, you've got a home now.
0:28:16 > 0:28:19Yeah, it's like a dream. A dream come true.
0:28:19 > 0:28:23- It's a new chapter in my life. - Is it?- It is.
0:28:23 > 0:28:26With a shower, with a proper flat,
0:28:26 > 0:28:29it's great. I'm very, very happy.
0:28:29 > 0:28:33'Anil has had a new lease of life since being rescued.'
0:28:33 > 0:28:37'Time to leave him to enjoy his lovely new home.'
0:28:37 > 0:28:39Well, it's hard to believe that,
0:28:39 > 0:28:42after spending so much of his life helping others,
0:28:42 > 0:28:46Anil had everything taken away from him because of a cowboy builder.
0:28:46 > 0:28:48But, thanks to the good guys,
0:28:48 > 0:28:52Anil now has a flat that's structurally sound
0:28:52 > 0:28:55and electrically safe, which must be a weight off his mind,
0:28:55 > 0:28:59but also a home that's beautifully finished and presented.
0:28:59 > 0:29:03So now he can move out of living in that one single room
0:29:03 > 0:29:05and into the rest of his home,
0:29:05 > 0:29:09something I know he's always dreamt of and something he deserves.
0:29:11 > 0:29:13'Next we're off to Preston
0:29:13 > 0:29:17'to revisit someone we first met three years ago.'
0:29:17 > 0:29:20'Like Anil's, this story revolves around a cowboy builder
0:29:20 > 0:29:22'who left his unwitting victim
0:29:22 > 0:29:25'powerless in the face of appalling events.'
0:29:25 > 0:29:30'Social worker Mary Thorpe had long dreamt about having a conservatory
0:29:30 > 0:29:33'and decided to take the plunge.'
0:29:33 > 0:29:38I wanted more space for the hobbies I wanted to take up in retirement
0:29:38 > 0:29:40and I wanted more space for visitors.
0:29:40 > 0:29:43'Mary's hobbies included writing
0:29:43 > 0:29:47'and she thought it'd be nice to have somewhere to write a novel.'
0:29:47 > 0:29:49'Son Ian scoured the internet
0:29:49 > 0:29:52'to find builders specialising in conservatories.'
0:29:52 > 0:29:56I went onto a price-comparison website for conservatories,
0:29:56 > 0:29:59got a leaflet out the next day,
0:29:59 > 0:30:02phoned them up, they seemed to know what they were talking about.
0:30:02 > 0:30:06They were available that week, so we thought we'd give them a go.
0:30:06 > 0:30:09'A contractor from the conservatory company came around.'
0:30:09 > 0:30:12'He quoted £9,600 for the work
0:30:12 > 0:30:15'and when Mary mentioned her central heating needed updating,
0:30:15 > 0:30:19'he said they'd install a gas boiler as part of the package.'
0:30:19 > 0:30:23'Mary and Ian were impressed by the builder's apparent knowledge.'
0:30:23 > 0:30:26Knew how to lay foundations, told us no plans would be needed
0:30:26 > 0:30:30because it would be Permitted Development,
0:30:30 > 0:30:33so I looked up what Permitted Development was -
0:30:33 > 0:30:35it tied in with what they said -
0:30:35 > 0:30:38checked out the company on Companies House,
0:30:38 > 0:30:41looked at their website and I thought "Yeah."
0:30:41 > 0:30:44'Satisfied by those checks,
0:30:44 > 0:30:48'Mary paid a £40 deposit to confirm the job with the contractor,
0:30:48 > 0:30:51'saying she wouldn't pay another penny until the work was completed
0:30:51 > 0:30:54'to her 100 per cent satisfaction.'
0:30:54 > 0:30:57'Mary asked for paperwork to be posted to her with a receipt.'
0:30:57 > 0:31:01They would get me a contract and then, from the contract,
0:31:01 > 0:31:06we would then agree to do the job or when they would start.
0:31:06 > 0:31:10What happened next was extraordinary - no start date had been agreed,
0:31:10 > 0:31:14but suddenly, without any warning and with no contract in place
0:31:14 > 0:31:17less than 48 hours after that initial meeting,
0:31:17 > 0:31:21the builders rocked up and got stuck into Mary's garden.
0:31:21 > 0:31:23She was horrified, quite rightly,
0:31:23 > 0:31:27because it would prove to be the beginning of a nightmare.
0:31:27 > 0:31:30They turned up one morning while I was at work,
0:31:30 > 0:31:34dug out the foundations without any prior knowledge to anyone.
0:31:34 > 0:31:37'Mary tried to get hold of the bosses
0:31:37 > 0:31:40'to find out what was going on.'
0:31:40 > 0:31:45It was literally phone call after phone call after phone call,
0:31:45 > 0:31:48trying to get them to come and see me.
0:31:49 > 0:31:51And it was just...
0:31:51 > 0:31:56This building was going up all of the time and there was no contact.
0:31:56 > 0:32:00Despite her misgivings, Mary let the work carry on.
0:32:00 > 0:32:03But though she'd been told she'd pay nothing until the job was done,
0:32:03 > 0:32:06the demands for money came thick and fast.
0:32:06 > 0:32:11'And the money always had to be in cash - funny that.'
0:32:11 > 0:32:14'Within weeks, Mary had handed over thousands of pounds.'
0:32:14 > 0:32:18By this time, I was sick to my stomach,
0:32:18 > 0:32:20I was stressed out
0:32:20 > 0:32:24and I said "What is it you want from me?"
0:32:24 > 0:32:27"You promised this job would be done without any money -
0:32:27 > 0:32:31"now here you are demanding money all the time."
0:32:31 > 0:32:35'And it wasn't only the money that was causing Mary heartache.'
0:32:35 > 0:32:38'The quality of work was atrocious.'
0:32:38 > 0:32:41'The floor was crumbling, the decking was dreadful,
0:32:41 > 0:32:46'the pipework was pathetic, the garden was left in a right mess
0:32:46 > 0:32:49'and the boiler wasn't put in by a qualified installer
0:32:49 > 0:32:52'so couldn't be used - and that was illegal.'
0:32:52 > 0:32:54'It's got to be gas safe.'
0:32:56 > 0:32:59The massive list of problems wasn't the end of Mary's ordeal
0:32:59 > 0:33:01as things were about to get worse.
0:33:01 > 0:33:06Remember how her builder said she wouldn't need planning permission
0:33:06 > 0:33:09because the conservatory fell under Permitted Development?
0:33:09 > 0:33:11Well, you won't be surprised to hear
0:33:11 > 0:33:15that, when council building inspectors paid a visit,
0:33:15 > 0:33:17that turned out to be nonsense.
0:33:17 > 0:33:20I said "I don't believe this,
0:33:20 > 0:33:22"I just don't believe this."
0:33:22 > 0:33:25My instant reaction was to start crying
0:33:25 > 0:33:29because I was just so fed up with them at that point.
0:33:29 > 0:33:32It was horrible. We couldn't do anything.
0:33:32 > 0:33:35We couldn't touch the house because we had no plans.
0:33:35 > 0:33:39There's no point finishing the work because it could all get taken down.
0:33:39 > 0:33:42'Take my advice - Permitted Development means
0:33:42 > 0:33:45'you can build a conservatory without planning permission,
0:33:45 > 0:33:48'but only if it's within certain dimensions.'
0:33:48 > 0:33:52'A builder might say it's Permitted Development to save hassle,
0:33:52 > 0:33:54'but don't take his word as gospel.'
0:33:54 > 0:33:58'Always check your plans with the local council planning office
0:33:58 > 0:34:02'because work done without their approval could be demolished.'
0:34:03 > 0:34:05'Poor Mary didn't do any of that
0:34:05 > 0:34:09'and her conservatory hopes were crashing around her ears.'
0:34:09 > 0:34:13'It looked like this author's fledgling career would never start.'
0:34:13 > 0:34:17'And, when she thought it couldn't get any worse, it did -
0:34:17 > 0:34:20'the "builders" upped and left, never to return.'
0:34:20 > 0:34:24After paying out this substantial amount of money,
0:34:24 > 0:34:28I was left with a roof that hadn't been sealed or flashed,
0:34:28 > 0:34:32I was left with a garden that was heaped with rubbish
0:34:32 > 0:34:34and all piled up,
0:34:34 > 0:34:37I was left with a floor that wasn't sealed,
0:34:37 > 0:34:42all of the decking outside was supposed to have been completed
0:34:42 > 0:34:45and the boiler wasn't working either.
0:34:45 > 0:34:49'Mary had spent £14,000, a total waste of money.'
0:34:49 > 0:34:54'But you know what happens next - our good guys entered the fray...
0:34:58 > 0:35:02'..and pulled out all the stops to put a smile back on Mary's face.'
0:35:03 > 0:35:06'First up, a monumental makeover in the garden.'
0:35:06 > 0:35:10'Then they fixed her heating and boxed up the boiler beautifully.'
0:35:10 > 0:35:14'Perfect pipework and fantastic fluming, fellas.'
0:35:14 > 0:35:17'Not sure if that word exists, but you get the idea.'
0:35:17 > 0:35:19'From before
0:35:19 > 0:35:21'to after.'
0:35:21 > 0:35:24'The cowboys' bodge was history, but there was still much to do
0:35:24 > 0:35:27'to create Mary's perfect home.'
0:35:27 > 0:35:29'The conservatory needed sorting.'
0:35:29 > 0:35:33'Where would Mary craft her debut novel without that?'
0:35:33 > 0:35:36'Thanks to our good guys, Mary was back on track,
0:35:36 > 0:35:39'but would she be able to go on and create her dream home?'
0:35:39 > 0:35:41'Only time would tell.'
0:35:44 > 0:35:50It's been about three years since we helped Mary out of the Cowboy Trap
0:35:50 > 0:35:52and, after sorting out that boiler,
0:35:52 > 0:35:54we gave her some peace of mind.
0:35:54 > 0:35:56And, of course, central heating.
0:35:57 > 0:35:59'But the million-dollar question is
0:35:59 > 0:36:02'has Mary got the conservatory of her dreams at last?'
0:36:04 > 0:36:06- Hello.- Hello, Jonnie. How are you?
0:36:06 > 0:36:09- We've been expecting you. - Oh, good, thank you.
0:36:09 > 0:36:13'Well, at last, a really impressive conservatory.'
0:36:13 > 0:36:18'Mary's done a fantastic job transforming it since we left.'
0:36:18 > 0:36:21This has moved on. Did you put this floor down?
0:36:21 > 0:36:24Jonnie, there's a lot been done that you really wouldn't think.
0:36:24 > 0:36:28The floor's been down, that cost me a fortune,
0:36:28 > 0:36:31and underneath is all padded and everything.
0:36:31 > 0:36:36Those windows were walls and they've been knocked down and are windows.
0:36:36 > 0:36:39And there's been a door put on here.
0:36:39 > 0:36:43'And the conservatory's been given retrospective planning permission
0:36:43 > 0:36:45'by the local council
0:36:45 > 0:36:49'and Mary's clearly getting tons of use out of it.'
0:36:49 > 0:36:53I've been able to fit my table in and fit the desk in.
0:36:53 > 0:36:57It's three-in-one - living room, dining room, desk.
0:36:57 > 0:36:59Do you do a lot of work out here?
0:36:59 > 0:37:01I use it quite a lot.
0:37:01 > 0:37:05I started writing a book and I've written that book there.
0:37:05 > 0:37:10'Excellent - Mary has realised her ambition to become an author.'
0:37:10 > 0:37:12'Her book's a historical novel,
0:37:12 > 0:37:15'written as a tribute to her much-loved gran.'
0:37:15 > 0:37:20'But I reckon her cowboy builders' tale is quite absorbing itself.'
0:37:20 > 0:37:23'Remember the beginning of the story - a harrowing descent
0:37:23 > 0:37:25'into building-bodge hell.'
0:37:26 > 0:37:30'Then the plot took an unexpected twist -
0:37:30 > 0:37:33'our good guys rode to the rescue.'
0:37:35 > 0:37:39'And now, happily ever after outside...
0:37:40 > 0:37:42'..and in.'
0:37:42 > 0:37:44'Bizarrely, it was meeting the bad guys
0:37:44 > 0:37:48'that gave Mary inspiration for her book.'
0:37:48 > 0:37:52"I'm not going to let them get to me, I'm going to move on now."
0:37:52 > 0:37:54And I've done it.
0:37:54 > 0:37:58I tell you what - it astounds me you've done that here.
0:37:58 > 0:38:00You can't let them get you down.
0:38:00 > 0:38:02If you do, they've won,
0:38:02 > 0:38:06and I couldn't let them win, I just couldn't.
0:38:06 > 0:38:09'And they most certainly haven't.'
0:38:09 > 0:38:11'This conservatory is spectacular.'
0:38:11 > 0:38:14- So what's your favourite thing about this room?- All of it.
0:38:14 > 0:38:18I come down in the morning, get me paper
0:38:18 > 0:38:20and look out at the garden.
0:38:20 > 0:38:23I love there, cuddling up on the sofa,
0:38:23 > 0:38:25if the grandchildren come around.
0:38:25 > 0:38:27'This conservatory has everything.'
0:38:27 > 0:38:31'And, since we left, Mary's worked wonders in the garden too.'
0:38:31 > 0:38:34- So this was a right old state, wasn't it?- It was a mess.
0:38:34 > 0:38:39Absolute mess. There was rocks, everything, lying all over.
0:38:39 > 0:38:43And, quite honestly, I got depressed every morning when I got up.
0:38:43 > 0:38:46Knowing that in there wasn't finished
0:38:46 > 0:38:51and then looking out here, it was just absolutely terrible.
0:38:51 > 0:38:54And when this was done, the day it was done,
0:38:54 > 0:38:59I just felt so overjoyed that I could walk out through that door...
0:38:59 > 0:39:02See it all the time. One thing about a conservatory
0:39:02 > 0:39:04- is everything is on display. - Absolutely.
0:39:04 > 0:39:08And it's wonderful to look out and think "That's my garden",
0:39:08 > 0:39:10rather than a building site.
0:39:10 > 0:39:13'Yep, when the cowboys left,
0:39:13 > 0:39:15'the garden was a total mess.'
0:39:16 > 0:39:20'Then our good guys did a makeover and left it like this.'
0:39:20 > 0:39:23'And since then, Mary's taken it further
0:39:23 > 0:39:26'and it's looking fabulous.'
0:39:26 > 0:39:28I love that conservatory,
0:39:28 > 0:39:32I love the way I had a vision that would be and now it is
0:39:32 > 0:39:36and not the building site or walls knocked down and nothing put up.
0:39:36 > 0:39:39So it's lovely now. I do enjoy it.
0:39:39 > 0:39:42'Time for a heart-to-heart with Mary about what she learned
0:39:42 > 0:39:45'from her cowboy-builder experience.'
0:39:45 > 0:39:49Say you were to build another conservatory,...
0:39:49 > 0:39:52- Mm-hm. - ..what would you do differently?
0:39:52 > 0:39:55I wouldn't get anyone out of town.
0:39:55 > 0:39:59I would not get anyone out of town, I would go to the local people,
0:39:59 > 0:40:01which I should've done at the start.
0:40:01 > 0:40:05You have to look at their work and speak to people they've worked for.
0:40:05 > 0:40:08- I would do that, no question. - That's hindsight, isn't it?
0:40:08 > 0:40:11Yeah, in hindsight, we're all perfect, no doubt about it.
0:40:11 > 0:40:14'No doubt indeed.'
0:40:14 > 0:40:17'Finding a builder on the internet is always fraught with risk,
0:40:17 > 0:40:21'but it's great that Mary is now out of the danger zone.'
0:40:21 > 0:40:24Would it be fair to say that having the good guys in
0:40:24 > 0:40:28gave you the confidence to kick on with the project?
0:40:28 > 0:40:30It did because I was at a period
0:40:30 > 0:40:32where I was so depressed.
0:40:32 > 0:40:35I was in tears going to work and coming home,
0:40:35 > 0:40:38didn't want to go to work or come home from work,
0:40:38 > 0:40:40it was terrible situation.
0:40:40 > 0:40:43And Ian was at uni at the time...
0:40:43 > 0:40:45- Your son.- Yeah.
0:40:45 > 0:40:48He wasn't able to think either because he was upset for me
0:40:48 > 0:40:51because I was crying all the time.
0:40:51 > 0:40:53He was trying to support me
0:40:53 > 0:40:57and he wasn't focusing on what he should've been focusing on.
0:40:57 > 0:41:00Between the two of us, it was a terrible time.
0:41:01 > 0:41:05'But, thanks to our good guys, Mary is now in a much happier place.'
0:41:05 > 0:41:09'The other good news is that local-authority building control
0:41:09 > 0:41:12'have now given our good guys and all Mary's work
0:41:12 > 0:41:14'a clean bill of health.'
0:41:14 > 0:41:18The day the guys told me that it had passed,
0:41:18 > 0:41:20I was just so ecstatic.
0:41:20 > 0:41:24If I'd won a million that day, I don't think I'd have felt as happy.
0:41:24 > 0:41:28- It's hard to put a price on peace of mind.- There isn't anything else.
0:41:28 > 0:41:32Money wouldn't give you peace of mind and so it was brilliant.
0:41:32 > 0:41:37So from thereon in, we could carry on by putting the floor down...
0:41:37 > 0:41:41- Before that, we couldn't move. - No, you were hamstrung.
0:41:42 > 0:41:46'So, for Mary, as another famous author would say,
0:41:46 > 0:41:48'"all's well that ends well."'
0:41:48 > 0:41:52'All right, Shakespeare was a playwright, but you get my drift.'
0:41:53 > 0:41:56I'm really happy that I have this place now.
0:41:56 > 0:41:59I love it, I love sitting out here
0:41:59 > 0:42:02- and I do my typing - I'm starting on another book now.- Are you?
0:42:02 > 0:42:05I've started the research.
0:42:05 > 0:42:07- A follow-up to that.- Really?- Yeah.
0:42:07 > 0:42:10Can I get a copy of the first one?
0:42:10 > 0:42:14- Yeah, sure.- I want something to read on the train home.- You do that!
0:42:14 > 0:42:16Well, I wish you the best of luck
0:42:16 > 0:42:20- and I'll look out for the next book, shall I?- You will indeed.
0:42:20 > 0:42:24- I don't know the title yet.- Could be influenced by cowboy builders.
0:42:24 > 0:42:29- Maybe.- Then you can write your own savage ending for them.
0:42:29 > 0:42:31I would. I'd put them in the ground.
0:42:33 > 0:42:37'Wow. Expect a grisly cowboy-builder-bites-the-dust novel
0:42:37 > 0:42:41'to be hitting your local book store soon. I'd read it.'
0:42:41 > 0:42:45Well, Mary has definitely turned the corner.
0:42:45 > 0:42:49In spending time with her, in these few years, she's obviously happier,
0:42:49 > 0:42:51but she's got her confidence back.
0:42:51 > 0:42:54So much so that the conservatory's not only finished,
0:42:54 > 0:42:57but it's signed off by building control
0:42:57 > 0:42:59and she's got planning consent.
0:42:59 > 0:43:01She spends so much time in there,
0:43:01 > 0:43:05she's even had time to write a book in the conservatory.
0:43:05 > 0:43:07That's a first on Cowboy Trap.
0:43:07 > 0:43:10And now I've got something to read on the way home.
0:43:33 > 0:43:37Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd