I can’t eat or sleep after builder left our house in a ‘horrific’ state

A couple, who live near Swansea in Wales, claim they have been left "devastated" after a builder left their house in a "horrific" state. They said the issues have led them to be left with a £20,000 to restore the damage caused. 

Tracy and Stephen Williams claimed builder, Morgan Gay, has destroyed their property and ruined their Christmas. 

Mr Williams told Wales Online he received an electric shock from a live wire left hanging in the kitchen after the builder left. 

The 54-year-old homeowner also said he hurt his hip after slipping and falling on a "pool of cement" left on the lounge floor.

The couple also said plaster was "falling everywhere" off the walls, and radiators were stripped off the walls. 

The pair said a new bath and sink were left chipped and a toilet seat was scratched. 

But despite the couple's claims, Mr Gay defended his work, claiming the couple had been advised not to come back to the house until the floor screed had dried for 72 hours. 

The 21-year-old builder also claimed the couple had changed their mind about plans for the house. 

Mrs Williams, who borrowed £2,000 from her mum to pay the bills, said: "It's like something you see on television but you never believe it will happen to you. 

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"What kind of Christmas are we going to have? All I can do is cry. I can't eat or sleep."

The couple transferred £19,766 to Mr Gay for the work and materials and hired him for an eight-week job, with the expectation that it would cost around £30,000 in total. 

Mrs Williams said: "We bought units and fittings for the bathroom and kitchen.

"He was meant to get the house re-plastered and painted, do the new bathroom and kitchen, electricity work and plumbing.

"Materials seemed to be getting paid for but never appearing. I had a few words with him about four weeks in.

"I asked him what was going on. Nothing was finished. It felt like he was fobbing me off."

But Mr Gay said the pair changed their mind many times through the renovation and therefore an eight-week time goal was not possible.

He said: "For example changing the design of the built-in bed and also removing the brickwork airing cupboard in her bedroom added time to the job. Also with the really hot weather we had it was unhealthy to be working inside."

He claims he has made an offer following the complaint. Mrs Williams said: "The only way [ahead] is civil action at a cost of almost £1,000."

"All money that had been sent over to me by Tracy for materials had been spent on materials as well as giving her my trade discount in places I get discount", he added.