Disorganised, defensive, and costly – I regret trusting BHL
I hired BHL for a major house renovation that had everything ready to go: clear architectural and structural engineering plans, and planning permission already approved. The scope was significant—two-storey front and side extensions, a rear extension, loft conversion with roof windows, and garage conversion. I selected BHL after meeting the owner, who proudly showed me his own house under construction nearby and assured me of the quality he could deliver. He warned that the quote could vary by 20% for unforeseen issues—which seemed reasonable at the time.
But problems began almost immediately.
When demolition was about to begin, I asked when the scaffolding with a full roof cover—like the one he had on his own home—would be installed. He told me it wasn’t in the budget and said it was far too expensive. That missing roof cover turned out to be a very costly omission. It caused major delays and water damage, and even now, long after the build is supposedly watertight, I’m still dealing with the consequences. Moisture got trapped under the house, creating a literal underground lake. I had to remove the entire concrete floor and go down to the foundations just to address the issue.
The payment structure was another red flag. Instead of milestone-based payments, BHL asked for funds weekly based on what they needed next—materials, labour, etc.—with no clear project plan or visibility on what was coming. I asked for a proper plan and milestone payment structure, but was repeatedly told, “this is how it’s done in the UK,” as if professionalism were optional.
As the build progressed, the owner constantly pushed to make changes, supposedly to save money, claiming materials were becoming too expensive (which I knew wasn’t true because I was tracking prices myself). For example, instead of following the engineered plan using steel beams for the new floor and roof structure, he insisted on switching to timber trusses. This meant I had to pay extra for updated building control and structural plans.
The build quality was consistently poor:
• A major stairwell opening was built a full metre smaller than in the plans; when I flagged it, he charged £1,000 to “fix” it—and even then, he only added back 500mm, still failing building control
• Floors were uneven, sloping by up to 20mm in under a metre
• Openings weren’t square, walls weren’t straight
• Plasterwork had to be sanded repeatedly, and still a year later cracks have appeared where joints weren’t taped properly
• Insulation was faked and access to the loft was sealed before building control could inspect it
When I pointed out these issues, he was hostile and defensive. We had heated arguments, and he took no accountability. Neighbours complained about his arrogance, mess, and constant absence—he was often working on his own property instead of mine. It’s especially frustrating given that he now lives in the same neighbourhood.
By the time I threw him off the site, I had paid 90% of the agreed cost while only about 40% of the work had been done. I had to take over the project management myself just to move forward.
This review is written to help others avoid what I went through. If you’re considering BHL:
• Expect no project plan or structured payments
• Be prepared for constant requests for upfront money
• Don’t rely on his advice—it often leads to costly fixes
• And don’t expect accountability or respect if you raise legitimate concerns
What started with trust quickly turned into a nightmare. Choosing BHL was one of the biggest and most expensive mistakes I’ve ever made.