Dozens of customers across the south of England claim to have been defrauded of approximately £500,000 by South Coast Construction (SCC), a company that allegedly misrepresented its accreditations and insurance status. Customers reported paying substantial deposits for building work that was never completed, leading to financial distress and the formation of an action group.
One couple, Simon and Sian Romsey, stated they paid a deposit of nearly £16,000 in March, which they were told would cover architectural drawings and secure a June start date. However, a week before work was scheduled to begin, their architect informed them that she had not been paid and would not release the drawings. The couple found that South Coast Construction had disconnected their phone lines.
"My whole world just crumbled and it's a feeling that I never, ever want to experience again," Simon said. Sian added, "Having no control over that was really scary... the fact it can happen in an instant is really frightening."
The Romseys have since joined an action group comprising 36 other customers who allege they paid thousands of pounds to SCC for work that was not performed. While Simon Romsey eventually recovered his funds through his bank after two months of persistent contact, 29 customers reported similar success. However, eight customers were informed by their banks that the matter was civil and are pursuing claims through the financial ombudsman service.
SCC's website and social media depicted the company as a leader in high-end construction, with customers stating they were reassured by the number of accreditations displayed. However, an investigation revealed that SCC falsely claimed to be insured by Home Improvement Protection (HIP) and certified by Certass. Its membership with TrustATrader lasted only six weeks in 2024.
A spokesperson for HIP confirmed that SCC was advertising its membership certificate as proof of insurance, a "serious breach" of their terms, leading to expulsion from the scheme in May. Other accreditations were also terminated: Checkatrade in March, Which? Trusted Trader scheme in April, Federation of Master Builders (FMB) and TrustMark in June, following customer complaints. The FMB noted that SCC joined in May 2025 and was expelled in June 2026 after failing to respond to complaints.
An examination of county court judgments (CCJs) revealed five outstanding judgments against SCC totaling over £37,000, indicating the company had not paid its debts and potentially faced financial difficulties.
Between February 2025 and May 2026, 35 customers in the action group paid deposits for uncompleted work, and two others reportedly had work started but not finished. Company House records show Brandon Harris-Lee, 23, was appointed as the sole director of SCC in July 2024.
Harris-Lee denied scamming customers, citing significant problems on several projects including subcontractor issues, delays, and cost overruns. He stated the company was attempting to fund and complete projects that had exceeded budgets while generating income from ongoing work. He attributed unpaid bills and fees to the company's deteriorating financial position.
Robert Lee, 28, who served as a director between November 2024 and October 2025, stated he did not deliberately take customers' money without intending to perform work, asserting that a considerable amount of building was completed and many customers were satisfied during his tenure.
Sussex Police confirmed they are investigating multiple reports of alleged fraud connected to South Coast Construction (Sussex) alongside their partners. They urge anyone impacted or with information to report it online, by calling 101, or via textphone 18001.