‘Botched makeover destroyed my backyard and left me £20k out of pocket’ | UK | News | EUROtoday

A livid house owner says he’s nearly £20,000 out of pocket after a ”botched makeover” ”destroyed” his backyard. Andrew Donnelly employed a agency for the work however says he was left with tilted fencing, cracked paving and lights that induced electrical energy surges in his residence.

He says a scarcity of drainage positioned by the corporate through the landscaping has even induced Andrew’s backyard to closely flood throughout rainfall – ”as much as his again door”. Andrew took out a civil motion towards Cambus Fencing & Landscaping and was awarded £5,349 by a sheriff.

The listening to discovered the agency had failed to hold out remedial repairs to treatment its sub-standard work at his residence. But the 51-year-old says he has but to obtain a penny of the court docket award from the Coatbridge-based firm.

He stated: ”This has been an absolute nightmare. I’ve been put via two years of hell. I’m now left with a backyard that floods proper as much as my again door in heavy rain as a result of the drainage wasn’t put in the best place.

“The ground is also bellowed and none of the work has been finished to the standard I was expecting. It’s a big area and the plan was to landscape over three different levels.

“When I initially contacted the corporate and mentioned all the pieces intimately, I used to be quoted £12,000.”

“I felt assured they’d do job and agreed to pay a deposit after which I paid one other two sums as they went alongside.”

“In hindsight, I ought to have held some money again, however I trusted what I used to be being informed.”

“The plan was to have 50 sq. metres of patio and 60 sq. metres of rendered wall with lights put in.”

“Initially, it regarded alright however inside two weeks I seen cracks showing within the brickwork.”

“There was additionally no structural coloration, inflicting the fencing behind backyard to tilt.”

“I additionally seen the drain was positioned to the right-hand aspect close to the gate, however the backyard was slopping off to the left, inflicting it to flood and raise up the stones.”

“The steps as much as the second stage additionally had no assist, inflicting them to raise off the bottom.”

“The backyard was simply falling aside. There was simply downside after downside, and regardless of complaining on a number of events.”

”I was assured any issues would be dealt with before it was declared complete.””

Andrew also claims that he was left with faulty garden lights that caused his electricity breakers to trip in his home whenever they were switched on.

He added: “The backyard lights price £600 and had been put in by a sub-contractor utilized by the corporate.”

“Whenever I put them on, they’d trigger a surge indoors, which clearly wasn’t protected.”

“After complaining a number of instances, an electrician was finally despatched out and we found the lights had been filled with water and hadn’t been sealed correctly earlier than being put in within the wall.”

“I’ve needed to disconnect them till the backyard is lastly sorted out.””

Andrew says after repeated failed attempts to get the firm to repair the list of faults, he was left with no choice but to pursue a civil action to recover some of his cash.

This was held at Airdrie Sheriff Court on May 12 last year, with the court deciding the firm did not run a defence before finding in Andrew’s favour.

Court documents shown to the Glasgow Times state: “The sheriff in respect of there being no look on behalf of the respondent on the case administration dialogue, awards the claimant Mr Donnelly, £5000 along with bills of £322.85.”

The judgement also took into consideration that the firm was advised by the sheriff to carry out remedial work but failed to do so.

Andrew, from Cambuslang, Scotland, says he’s now being forced to find another £6000 to repair the defects that were left behind.

“I’m hundreds of kilos out of pocket,” he said.

“I additionally needed to pay for experiences from three different landscaping companies to find all the faults and the way a lot they’d price to restore.”

“I’ve nearly reached £20,000 now for a undertaking that ought to have price round half of that and the backyard nonetheless is not completed.”

”I can now only afford to have the work done bit by bit.

“All I ever wished was a pleasant backyard, completed to a suitable customary.”

“Even through the civil motion course of, I used to be prepared to succeed in an settlement to only repair the faults, however the firm simply weren’t .”

Andrew claims he’s now unable to pursue any further legal action against the company because of a change of name with Companies House.

He added: “It’s simply been a slap within the face to find the agency has modified its title and registered as a brand new entity, so which means I can now not legally pursue them for the prices awarded to me.”

“Legally, regardless of it being the identical people who’re behind it as a result of it is now underneath one other title, I’ve been suggested that I can not take it any additional.”

“It’s a state of affairs I by no means thought I’d be in and the entire thing is simply actually unhappy.”

“You put your belief and religion in a agency to hold out work after which you might be left to select up the items when issues go improper.”

Andrew says the two-year-long battle has taken its toll on him physically and financially.

“The complete state of affairs has been extremely anxious,” Andrew said.

“My primary focus is now on making the backyard protected and useable.”

“Currently, once I look out the kitchen window and see the mess, my coronary heart simply sinks.”

“I used to be excited to get the backyard reworked, now it is only a reminder of a horrible few years that has ended up costing me some huge cash.”

A spokesperson from the firm said: “We have completely no remark to make concerning this matter.”