Rogue builders sentenced after homeowner left with unsafe £128,000 renovation

Sai Manideep Chadaram, 28, of Talbot Avenue, Slough, and Razvan Andrei Hlihor, 31, of Burton Road, Uxbridge, appeared at St Albans Crown Court on Friday 16 October after admitting offences including fraud and unfair commercial practices arising from building works carried out at a property in Potters Bar. 

Chadaram was sentenced to 4 years immediate imprisonment. Hlihor was sentenced to 20 months imprisonment, suspended for 3 years, as well as 280 hours of unpaid work. He was also ordered to pay £5,000 in compensation to the victim and £4,000 towards the prosecution costs. 

In 2023 the homeowner agreed a contract with Chadaram for a single storey extension, loft conversion and refurbishment works totalling approximately £128,000. The project was expected to last up to six months but concerns quickly emerged regarding the quality and safety of the work being undertaken.

Trading Standards launched an investigation after receiving a complaint from the resident, with their enquiries revealing multiple non-compliances with building regulations, a fraudulent Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC) being issued by electrician Hlihor and a false business name being used by Chadaram who represented himself as a limited company when he was not.

Independent expert reports commissioned during the investigation identified extensive defects throughout the property including unsafe electrics, widespread insulation defects, missing fixings to steelwork and inadequate fire protection measures, with significant remedial works required.

In a Victim Impact Statement, the homeowner said:

“The harm the defendants’ work has caused my family has been serious and long-lasting, and three years on, we still cannot escape it. I trusted these traders with my life savings, my hard-earned career stability, and my children’s future. In return, their negligence has trapped us in a structurally compromised, physically hazardous environment that actively threatens our safety every single day.”  

In his sentencing remarks, HHJ Siddique told Chadaram that he had sought to persuade the homeowner by presenting himself as being involved with an impressive, professional building company, but that was “a pack of lies”. Hlihor was labelled as dishonest and that he “must also have been fully aware of the risk that is created – the risk to life – that is created when an electrician forges documents like this.” 

Judge Siddique also remarked that he was “pleased to see that an excellent and thorough investigation commenced from the Council. I commend the Council for their work in this case”.

Councillor Ajanta Hilton, Executive Member for Public Health and Community Safety at Hertfordshire County Council, said:

“Residents should be able to engage builders and tradespeople with confidence. This prosecution demonstrates that Hertfordshire Trading Standards will pursue individuals who seek to profit through deception and who fail to meet the standards consumers are entitled to expect. We hope this outcome provides a warning to rogue traders and reassurance to residents that action will be taken when offences are identified."

Protecting yourself

Before committing to major building works, Hertfordshire Trading Standards recommends that consumers:

• Obtain multiple written quotations.
• Check company details and business addresses carefully.
• Seek references and recommendations from trusted sources.
• Verify qualifications and professional memberships.
• Ensure appropriate certificates and compliance documentation are provided.
• Be cautious of upfront payment demands and verbal assurances that are not supported in writing.

Homeowners can find reputable trades people via the Which? Trusted Trader Scheme. Anyone concerned about rogue trading or misleading business practices can seek consumer advice and report their concerns to Trading Standards via the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 0808 223 1133.