A father has described how a 'cowboy builder' left his family living in a 'death trap on stilts' and cost them £125,000 after a botched extension project. Ryan Ward, 37, and his wife bought a three-bedroom semi-detached house in Leeds in 2021 and saved £70,000 over three years to fund renovations for their growing family.
The couple planned to excavate their cellar and build a side extension. They hired a builder in July 2024 who quoted £95,000, significantly undercutting other quotes of £120,000 to £150,000. Work began but soon went wrong, leaving the property 'structurally unsafe' and 'mice infested' while Ryan's pregnant wife and three-year-old son lived there.
Ryan said: 'It is a terrifying thought living in a house not knowing it could have collapsed at any moment. He put my family at risk, basically making us live in a death trap on stilts.' The builder knocked down walls, left holes in the side of the house, and eventually declared bankruptcy without finishing the job.
The family is now £125,000 out of pocket, having borrowed an extra £30,000 from relatives for urgent repairs. Ryan did not see the low quote as a warning sign because the builder appeared genuine and knowledgeable. The builder claimed he left the site 'safe, properly propped, and inspected' and said he worked in 'good faith' before being forced to stop trading due to bankruptcy.
