Elne: The end of the nightmare for the Fernandez family, 6 years after they started building their home
It’s a life project that turned into hell! 6 years ago, Sebastian Fernandez entrusted the construction of his house to a local construction worker who would speed up the site. Experience is official: the new villa must be destroyed because poor workmanship is very important. The problem is, the 10-year-old builder is bankrupt and his file does not enter the state compensation fund. Then a legal battle broke out. However, following the article published in L’Indépendant on March 23, 2021, an astonishing outpouring of solidarity occurred. A few days ago, Paul, O’Reilly and Sebastian were finally settled!
To understand this issue, we have to go back to 2016. At the age of 39, a commune community agent, along with his wife and son, embarked on a life project. Sebastian Fernandez entrusted the construction of his house to a famous construction worker in the sector. “At first everything was fine, then the site was delayed, it was even taken off for several weeks. Then I noticed problems with reinforcement, corner stones, nothing flat, it’s irregular work”. Cracks, leaks and mold appear very quickly, experience is falling off, it is horrific: the building is not compatible, a demolition notice is issued. This is the beginning of a long ordeal.
In March 2021, Sebastian Fernandez shared his ordeal with The Independent, leading to a massive outpouring of solidarity.
In 2020, multiple studies and expert clips led to a summary hearing at Perpignan Court. The builder (which was still active) is being notified to pay compensation, pending new conclusions. Sebastian does not give up: “I take advice, lawyer, I plead everywhere, I convey heaven and earth, it is surreal, it has destroyed us. I refuse to be a silent victim, I am in the struggle for justice and that faults and responsibilities are assumed, by force, I return to live with my parents with my family, where I had left there at the age of 16! And with the bank credit dropping every month, they didn’t want to know anything.”
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A personal investigation allows him to discover that the ten-year insurance of the originator, a New Zealand company based in Gibraltar, is in forced liquidation, leaving nearly 60,000 insured in France on the ground. And that bad news comes with another, related to the state guarantee fund that has been set up to make up for this kind of failure. Unfortunately, this type of claim only covers from July 2018, but its dates are from 2016! Fate is still standing.
His Excellency Paul, 8 and a half years old, who finally got his room, and who let his parents stay!
After despair and solidarity
The article published by The Independent on March 23, 2021 will lead to a wave of generosity and an incredible wave of mutual aid. Construction professionals, people who do not yet know and who are sensitive to the plight of this Iberian family, reach out. Because Sebastian always refused money and all kinds of calls on the Internet, preferring instruments over cash donations. “I met amazing people, who struggled to find solutions. The hills were rebuilt and waterproofed, the security of the building was taken over… Everything was reviewed and in the end, after more than 6 years, we just moved to… I have no words to thank them, they gave Everyone has their time, their knowledge, their materials, and that is unimaginable! Allow me to honor them: Dédé, Yannick, Régis, Jean-Claude, Henri, Thomas, Kévin, Gaëtan, Sabine, Bruno, Yohann, Etienne, Nicolas, Julien, Lara And Audrey, Valérie, Michel, Sébastien, Vincent, Stéphane, Alain, Sandrine, Olivier, Greg, Rémi, Julien and companies but, Sud Color, Caréo, Béliard, Hitachi, Doutres, Waterproofing solution, Claira green spaces, Yesss, .. …and all friends, colleagues, our families and of course Indep, who was a catalyst. The work was carried out with several tens of thousands of euros. Without them, we would not have wished a single day. r home. My door would always be open for them!”
Our misfortune has allowed us to meet great people
Sebastian is happy, mobile and staying in the legal battle: “Because no one is safe from this kind of catastrophe, the bank has agreed to build validation for ten years, to allow my loan! It’s still crazy…”. It’s crazy that a film crew from TF1 went there recently to discuss this issue.
A few days ago, the Fernandez family gathered some friends and artisans who did not hesitate to help them.
Aureli Fernandez concludes: “Our misfortune allowed us to meet wonderful people, who kept their word. We were at the bottom of the abyss and discovered priceless human values”. Then there’s the grin of Paul, the 8-and-a-half-year-old junior rugby player from the Iberian youth sports team, the oval in his hand sticking out of his pretty room: “It’s really cool, and me too when I get older, I want to help others!”.
If the Fernandez family is finally at home, despite the legal costs in excess of 30 thousand euros, there is no doubt about giving up: “It’s unfair! It’s financially difficult, we will work all the way, for us and to prevent others from going through such a hell!”
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