A builder has been prosecuted after he forced a young Lincolnshire family out of their home due to a dodgy loft conversion. In March 2021, the couple, Mr and Mrs S, began looking online for someone to complete a loft conversion in Gainsborough, where they lived with their children.
James Quinn, also from Gainsborough, told the couple he had 20 years of experience in loft conversions and quoted £3,000 to complete the work. A few weeks after work started, the couple began to worry about major problems, and a structural engineer confirmed that the house was unsafe.
Mr Quinn had cut out all of the supporting beams in the loft, creating the possibility that the roof would collapse inwards. The couple and their young children were forced to move out of their home while the roof and ceilings had to be temporarily supported with props for 13 weeks.
A different builder came to restore the loft and roof to their original state, which cost the family a further £8,000. James ‘Jimmy’ Anthony Quinn, 43, of Ropery Road, Gainsborough, appeared at Lincoln Crown Court on July 29, 2024, where he was sentenced to 19 weeks of custody, suspended for 18 months, with a 10-day Rehabilitation Activity Requirement.
He was also given a three-month curfew between 9 pm and 6 am. Mr Quinn was ordered to pay £400 compensation to the family at £40 per month.
Sally Gray, senior Lincolnshire Trading Standards officer, said: “We often think about rogue traders targeting older or vulnerable people, but this heartbreaking case shows that some unscrupulous individuals will take advantage of anyone, no matter their circumstances, and convince them that they can do work that they can’t.
“Mr and Mrs S had received several quotes. They tried to do everything right, but Quinn’s lies completely drew them in. Luckily, because they’d noticed things didn’t look right early on, they had only paid him £900 of the £3,000 quoted.
“Although the family now has their dream loft conversion, it has cost them more than it should have and brought years of stress and worry, not to mention three months out of their home relying on the kindness of friends and family.
“If you are looking for someone to carry out work on your home, get several quotes. Ask family and friends for recommendations or search for trader-approved schemes, and ask for paperwork before work starts to give yourself a 14-day cooling-off period.”
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