DIY disaster: London house collapses into pile of rubble

Renovating a property can be a mission at the best of times, but nobody expected this Lewisham couple’s project to end in such chaos.

Homeowners Sajdah Haq Williams and her husband Robert were almost finished renovating their brand new £665,000 home in south-east London.Lewisham House

The charming Victorian building on Lampmead Road in Lewisham was the site of a project the couple had toiled for 6 months over, making sure everything was exactly how they envisioned.

However, all their hard work would be for nothing, as one lunchtime, their new investment ended up completely destroyed, after the entire roof came crashing down.

Supposedly the house began to sag at around 9pm the night before it eventually collapsed. Neighbours reported hearing worrying creaking sounds coming from the property.

Thankfully nobody was actually inside the house when it fell, and the police had closed off the road 24 hours prior.

Jimmy, a builder working on a house nearby, said: “It was just after 1pm when it collapsed. One guy was a bit close, he had to run away. I’ve worked on building sites for 17 years but I have never seen a house collapse like that – it’s crazy.”

The blame was laid on ‘dodgy builders’ who had been removing rafters and beams before the roof, leaving no support.

The event has caused quite a stir along the street, which was covered in the wreckage, dust and rubble.

Merle Fraser’’s mother had lived in the house for over 60 years before it was sold. Speaking of her mother’s attachment to the property she said: “It is sad. I know she would be heart broken.”

The next door neighbour – an 80 year old lady- has been evacuated and is currently staying with a friend who lives across the street.

If ever there were a reason to consider who you hire to help with your renovation project as carefully as you possibly can – this would be it.

If you are considering a revamp of your property use the MyTradesperson tab above and enter your postcode to find trusted reliable tradespeople.

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