Family 'saved' by DIY SOS after £72k of unsafe work

Ahmed and Rifat Ali said it was "incredible" they are being helped by DIY SOS

A family who lost £72,000 after an unsafe house renovation said they have been "saved from an incredibly dark time" by a BBC television show.

Ahmed and Rifat Ali, who are both deaf, paid for a ground floor extension at their house in Southampton in April, but realised things were not right when materials were not turning up.

Mr Ali said he was left "gutted" when he discovered his builder had previously been taken to court. The work on their home was later condemned.

On Wednesday 150 tradespeople recruited by DIY SOS started work on their house.

They are aiming to ensure the family, who have a son with autism, can live comfortably in their home by Christmas.

Nick Knowles said people in the community had turned out to help the family

Mr Ali said it had been a "horrendous" time since the work was stopped.

He said: "We've had to live upstairs and cook in the bedroom, as we couldn't go downstairs to use the kitchen or get in the garden.

"My son has autism and wanted to downstairs but couldn't and so couldn't cope with the change.

"It has been a really dark chapter of life for us, we've cried every day about how we're going to get out of this mess, and we've lost £72,000 in the process without a home we can live in."

However, Mr Ali said they are feeling more positive now they are being helped by the DIY SOS team.

"It's incredible to see, and when they said they were going to help us, it was like a dream come true.

"They rescued us and are giving us our home back, as we were worried about winter coming but my family is now so excited for this new chapter ahead.

"It's going to feel like home again by Christmas."

Presenter Nick Knowles said his team had been joined by 150 tradespeople in the local community to help finish the work, including bricklayers, plasters, electricians and landscapers in the garden.

He said: "It's been a really busy day but it has to be as we've got to do six months work in about seven days.

"That's the good thing about DIY SOS, not only do the family that need it get what they need, and the builders who come along feel better as they have the skills to make the difference, but it is an important message to show that people are here to really help."