Blog>Case Studies>Checkatrade member, ND Installations, rescues renovation project after rogue traders leave homeowner high and dry
Last updated: 25 February 2025
Checkatrade member, ND Installations, rescues renovation project after rogue traders leave homeowner high and dry
Neil and his team from ND Installations stepped in to deliver what homeowners, Mandy and Simon, were promised after they fell victim to rogue traders in Plymouth.
About Mandy’s project
Checkatrade member, ND Installations, was called upon to complete the renovation of a lean-to, which was left incomplete and unsatisfactory by rogue traders.
Mandy explains: “The lean-to area at the back of our home had become almost unusable and was an unsightly part of our kitchen diner space. It was cold, damp, and unusable - it became a bit of a dumping ground.
We wanted to renovate this part of the house to make it more functional, which involved replacing the plastic roof with a solid alternative, renewing the walls, damp proofing, insulation, and new windows and doors.”
How it started...
Mandy said: “Sadly, our renovation didn’t go as we had planned.
Despite doing internet searches, looking at website claims, and customer feedback, we became the victims of rogue traders.
From our shortlist of builders, we received several quotes for the job. We chose our builder, signed a contract, and paid a sizeable deposit to secure a start date and cover uPVC materials.
After this, we had to chase the company on getting started; they started work six weeks later.
However, work stopped partway through the project after we had made further stage payments. We were left with an unfinished, leaking mess, and the builders disappeared with our money.”
How it ended...
“Simon and I were at our wits’ end. We’d been left living in a building site for months and were repeatedly lied to by the rogue traders.
Then I made contact with Checkatrade member, Neil, which was a turning point for us. I explained what had happened, and Neil came round to take a look.”
Who are ND Installations?
Checkatrade member, ND Installations SW Ltd, is a family-run company in Plymouth with over 25 years of experience in the building trade.
Neil said: “When we arrived at Mandy and Simon’s house, we could see that the previous company had constructed the roof poorly before abandoning the job.
Unfortunately, this is a far too familiar story at the moment. There are lots of good tradespeople in this city - quite a lot of them are our good friends - but sadly, there are also a lot of bad ones, so be wary when asking for quotations.”
Working with ND Installations
Neil and his team set to work, rectifying the rogue trader’s work and completing the renovation to the high standards they’re known for.
Mandy said: “Naturally, we were nervous about getting someone in to correct and complete the job after what happened to us, but Neil has restored our faith. So much so that ND Installations has since returned to help us with other projects at our property.”
ND Installations' transformation
The pictures speak for themselves. ND Installations ensured Mandy and Simon received the end result they had initially hoped for - a fully functional, well-insulated, solidly constructed, damp-proofed extension.
Your guide to finding quality trades
Sadly, Mandy and Simon are not alone in their experience of rogue traders.
To help you avoid rogue traders and hire quality tradespeople for your next and future home projects, check out our guide: Hire right, hire once.
You'll learn how to use Checkatrade to do your research and end up with a shortlist of quality trades to contact and quote on your job.
Checkatrade’s commitment to quality
When it comes to our homes, trust and quality matter. An estimated 6.7 million UK adults are impacted by rogue trades every year. That’s why, since 1998, we’ve been committed to championing trade excellence.
Checked and approved
Every Checkatrade tradesperson must pass our checks before they gain our approval.
They must prove they are who they say they are and that, where necessary, they are qualified to do the work
We check the tradesperson has never been bankrupt, insolvent, struck off a directorship, or subject to a county court judgement
We also want to see proof that they give their customers consistently exceptional experiences
And we’re picky. Last year, we rejected over 1,200 trades that failed our checks.
We’re proud to be selective because it means you can rely on us to connect you with quality, trusted tradespeople.
On Checkatrade, you'll only find trades who meet our high standards and pass up to 12 checks.
Reviewed
Over 6.2 million reviews have been published on Checkatrade. Crucially, these reviews are verified to ensure they’re from real people about real experiences.
We check the reviews on Checkatrade are from real people, and that trades meet our high standards.
Guaranteed
In the rare event that something goes wrong with a job, Checkatrade will help make things right.
When you find and book your tradesperson with us, we’ll guarantee their work up to £1,000. for 12 months - Eligibility and T&Cs apply.
See the tradespeople we've checked and recommend for your job
See the tradespeople we've checked and recommend for your job