Yahoo News DIY SOS guest says show's 'botched job' has robbed him of three years
The series transforms homes of families in need, but one former guest has complained about issues with the build.
A man who featured on DIY SOS has slammed the show for their "botched attempt at helping" his family, claiming a battle over the build has "robbed me of the last three years".
Peter Chapman, 64, is a carer for his wife Sarah and daughter Suzanne, and featured on an episode of the BBC home transformation show which was filmed in 2020, shortly after the family's other daughter Margaret had died.
The emotional programme, hosted by Nick Knowles, sees families in need of help surprised with an army of local volunteer builders and tradespeople who overhaul their living conditions in a matter of days.
But Chapman has told The Sun that modifications made to his Cheltenham home for Sarah who uses a wheelchair are unsafe, including wall bars that he says came away from the wall after just a day and a ramp that he claims is too steep to use.
Chapman has also said that other problems with the build include a leaking roof, a hallway floor that collapsed, cracks in the walls and decking, and a gap left under a side gate that led to his dog escaping.
He said: "DIY SOS has robbed me of the last three years and the stress is killing me."
The carer added that his wife and daughter, who have the muscle function disorder myotonic dystrophy, could not use the outside space, claiming it was too dangerous for them.
Chapman said that he had turned down an offer of compensation, claiming that to get the work repaired would cost much more than he had been offered.
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He admitted that he wished "I’d never heard of DIY SOS", saying that he had been in tears at the added stress to his life.
Labelling the episode a "botched attempt at helping me and my family", he claimed that the work, which was done in extremely rainy conditions, should have been postponed until the weather was better.
He said: "We’ve been used and well and truly exploited. It was all done for effect.
"There were too many people doing too much, too quickly in appallingly wet conditions."
A BBC spokesperson responded to say: "DIY SOS is a heart-warming programme that brings communities together and helps improve the lives of those in need thanks to the hundreds of volunteers who give up their time to participate.
"As with all of our previous projects, the Charlton Kings build was planned and completed in accordance with the necessary required regulatory approvals and signed off onsite by building control."
