Nicholas Craig column

Jan 20 2006 By Nicholas Craig, The Journal

I'm living the English nightmare. Moving house is driving me to distraction.

Many of you who have repaired or extended homes will know all too well about the problems with builders keeping to timetables and budgets.

The extensive work my potential pile is going through should have been completed on December 4, 2005.

The new owner of the house I am leaving is tapping his foot, but despite my best endeavours, the property I am packed and ready to take over remains unfinished and surrounded by mud.

All the stories I thought were hugely exaggerated about the horrors of house moves are now haunting my sleepless nights.

The builders, carpenters, painters, electricians, plumbers and others I see daily have become almost part of the family - on the distant distaff side.

What surprises me is that, unlike most industries, the agreed contract does not seem to be given serious credence by those involved. Time delays and mistakes pointed out all get the same response - shrugged shoulders.

Private house repairs could do with regulation to protect the sanity of householders and the reputation of trustworthy builders.

In all areas of business life agreements are entered into with an element of trust between both parties, often formalised by means of a contract.

Retailers, restaurants and leisure sector operators all strive to put the customer first. My own industry is client-centred, as are other professions.

Some builders and tradespeople involved in private repairs do not appear to share this philosophy, and are not yet regulated to enforce standards of care and repair.

I know there are talented, professional, hard-working examples of all trades in this region.

Indeed I have no quarrel with the craftsmanship of the work completed on my abode, only the time and escalating cost of it all.

Which? magazine took up the cudgels on behalf of those who had suffered at the hands of rogue estate agents.

The government should now focus on bringing national standards to all operators involved in home-moving.

Those who shrug shoulders rather than stick to agreements would then have to change their ways or lose their work.

Nicholas Craig is a partner at Watson Burton law firm