My builder gutted our house!!!!

Hi All,
Just thought I’d share this recent experience with the forum. A bit about me, I’m a mechanical engineer working in the construction industry dealing with builders and contractors every day, so I thought I had a good understanding of the industry and had all my bases covered. But it might appear that he’s a wolf in sheep clothing.

I am currently in negotiations with a builder to construct a duplex for me. We have not signed contracts, and it is all pending on finance approval. The site HAD a liveable house, until the builder moved onto site. I said he has the job, pending finance approval. He pushed to be allowed to setup on site, which I granted (i.e. fencing, toilet, getting ready). I gave him permission to remove a few sheds from the rear yard. He consistently pushed for being allowed to strip the internal of the house to which I advised him not to touch any of the house. As of this week, I have seen with my own eyes that he has stripped the inside of the house with no written or verbal approval from myself. He has removed the boundary fence which had asbestos, he’s stripped down pipes, hot water tank, small extension to the house.

He’s had arguments with my neighbours, he’s removed more asbestos than he’s legally allowed to without a licence. One of my neighbours is a semi-retired builder and he told my the guy is going to be trouble once I sign a contract. Four neighbours have said he’s a cowboy.

He never told me he had an argument with neighbours, he never told me he was taking down my asbestos fence, he never told me that my builder neighbour wanted to talk to me about erecting a replacement fence.

I am now left with an uninsured shell of a house, with no rental income, and no finance approved. If finance falls through I can’t even rent it out again. Everyone in my construction network that I’ve told about this nightmare has told me the builder is insane to have done this without a contract. March 6th, he asked me via text if he could start stripping inside, I said not until lender sign-off.He asked again on March 12th because his guys needed work. I didn’t respond to that text.

Has anyone experienced this before?

This is insane. It’s kind of difficult to sue because the process could take ages to be compensated or he’ll just fold his company. I can’t imagine his insurance would cover any negligence on his part.

So I might end up renovating a house rather than constructing a duplex.

These are all red flags to me, would anyone else agree?

I’m really interested to get some feedback on this please….

S

• This topic was modified 5 years, 6 months ago by  cubster_2.