My Crappy House **UPDATE**

[fifi folle]

Ann - is the builder a member of the Federation of Master Builders? If so then get onto them as they may be able to help you.

you beat me to it! That thought wandered through my brain last night as I was trying to sleep and thinking of your situation.

[Annpan]

No he is not a member - I would recommend anyone having building work done go to some one who is a member of the FMB.

We fired the builder a month ago BTW. It took as a long time to get him off site.

Also, we are 'looking into our options' regarding taking legal action.

As for just getting the work finished... We are waiting to hear back from an engineer, an architect, building control and trading standards... but also, as I said, I am trying to keep what little sanity I have left to look after my LO and I am not in a fit state to be phoning around them all... OH is swamped at work and desperately trying to get time off to get things organised.

Thanks for all the support and kind messages....

a friend from the crafting community has set up this facebook event
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=1 ... 463&ref=mf

Thought you might like to know.

[crowsashes]

the facebook event is heart warming isntit :-)

tbh id happily come up and help even if it was only letting my little one loose with yours for a few hours in a field!! im sure with all his energy it would free you up just to breath !

only problem is im in plymouth and your well a hell of a train journey away and i dont drive

[Thomzo]

Oh Ann, it's not surprising you're at the end of your tether. Trying to live in that with a 3 yr old, I don't know how you cope.

I've lived through some pretty major housebuilding work and some fairly incompetent builders but nothing as bad as this.

I can't offer any more advice than you've already received but I can offer a big

And, for anyone else out there thinking of a major renovation project, they should come with a health warning. They are not for the feint hearted.

Zoe

[Keaniebean]

Ann Pan, I really feel for you, I think I would have gone mad by now if I had to raise children in the mess that has been left for you. I really hope you can at least get some form of compensation towards helping your home back to where it should be.

I haven't got any more advice but send my love and lots of .

[Annpan]

Thanks for all the support guys, can I ask again that you blog, tweet, facebook, and forum discuss the blog http://mycrappyhouse.wordpress.com/

We just had a survey done by a building inspector from the local council... Not only was it the 'worst he'd ever seen' but on checking some pipe work he discovered we have a lead mains pipe coming in from the street.

My stress levels were already through the roof, I am suffering frequent and very painful panic attacks.... Now I think I have been slowly poisoning my LO for the last 3 years.

Can you please help me get my story heard and maybe someone somewhere will be able to help us.

[grahamhobbs]

In London, the Water Board will often replace lead mains, even within your property, free of charge. They test the water first and if it is being contaminated they will replace the pipe.

Ann, as I suggested before you need to 'sue' the builder, I suggest you go down the Adjudication route, because it is quick and relatively easy. This is a link to a firm of Scottish Surveyors that specialise in this area

http://www.nicolsonandco.com/dispute.asp

Appreciate the terrible situation health and financial you are probably in, but I think it is worth talking to them. Perhaps they would take delayed payment of their fees or no win/no fee basis.

Let me if there is anything else I can do to help

[Annpan]

We are waiting to hear back from a Lawyer... again...

[Odsox]

Oh Ann, I really do feel for you.
I have sailed through my life with hardly a cloud in the sky so I have no idea what it must be like for you.
It must be everyone's worst nightmare, and remembering how excited you were last year when you were planning it all, makes it all the worse.
I hadn't commented until now because I really didn't know what to say, and I still don't really.
All I can do is sympathise and that seems totally inadequate, but I can give you a hug ...

[Susiwaa]

I've been following your blog Ann, it's all wrong and so unfair!

We're relatively local so please do let me know if there is anything we can do to help.

*hugs*

Susi

[spider8]

So sorry for you, what a nightmare . Even DIY SOS programme would be stumped by this one!
Keep on fighting and something good will happen, life can and will get better.......positive thinking girl! (That's good coming from me, a life-long pessimist ha!). Good luck and .

[Annpan]

We need some helpers over the coming weeks.... anyone and everyone..... the house is on the brink of being declared 'unfit for habitation' (just gets better and better, huh?)

send me a PM if you think you can help (heavy lifting, skip filling, wheel barrowing, but less manually taxing jobs too) food and drink (and a happy feeling that you have helped a family in need) will be provided

[MuddyWitch]

If I lived nearer we'd gladly help. As it is all I can do is send healing love & good vibes.

MW

[JessieMac]

Hi Annpan we may be able to help depending on the dates let us know the days you need help and we will be in touch, where are you exactly? Jessica

[bonniethomas06]

Hi,

Watching the weather report the other day and they mentioned the snow in Lanarkshire, thought of Annpan and her crappy house in the snow - does anyone know the latest and whether there has been any joy sueing the b*stards?