A retired couple from Hythe, Southampton, has been left feeling “traumatised” after what was supposed to be a three-week home renovation turned into a two-year nightmare, costing them a total of £61,415. Malcolm Carter, 72, a former firefighter, and his wife, Terri, 71, hired Nationwide Construction Specialists Ltd after finding them “highly recommended” on the tradespeople review website Checkatrade. They paid the building company £23,891 in September 2022 to renovate their four-bedroom detached country home.
Expecting their property to be uninhabitable during the construction, the couple booked a holiday in Guernsey. However, upon their return, they found their house in a state of disarray with little progress made. They ended up living in nearby hotels while the work was meant to be ongoing. Feeling that the project would never be completed, Malcolm eventually asked the builders to leave.
Nationwide Construction Specialists Ltd claimed that the job was “completed and signed off,” attributing the delays to an unpaid electrician bill. An external survey later found the works carried out to be unacceptable, estimating an additional cost of over £40,000 to complete the build. Despite a court order for the company to repay around £8,000 to Malcolm, he has yet to receive any compensation.
The couple ended up selling possessions, releasing equity from their home, and depleting Malcolm’s pension in an effort to complete the renovation. They have since hired another building company to finish the work. Malcolm described the experience as a “logistical nightmare” that has taken a toll on their mental health.
Malcolm shared that they are still paying off the restoration costs through an equity release on their home, making monthly repayments of around £470. To cover additional expenses, he even had to sell his car. The work that still needs to be completed includes connecting the kitchen extractor fan, installing a water pump, and replacing flooring and tiling in the bathroom.
Overall, the renovation has ended up costing the couple almost £40,000 more than they initially planned, leaving them struggling to recoup their losses and complete the much-needed restoration of their home. Despite the challenges they faced, Malcolm remains determined to see the project through and finally bring their renovation nightmare to an end.