A returning resident has been waiting for the last three years to have her house completed so she can enjoy her retirement.

She said she came to Jamaica five years ago and made arrangement with a contractor to build her house in Manchester. She said the contractor gave her a price and she paid him the total amount he charged but he has refused to complete the job.

"I lived in England for many years and in 2012 when I visited Jamaica I bought a lot of land in Manchester to build a house," she said.

"After I bought the land, I asked my relatives to get a good builder for me and they introduced me to a building contractor. I told him that I wanted him to build a house for me. He suggested that I get a building plan and then he would work out the cost.

"I got the building plan for a four-bedroom house and the plan was approved by the parish council. I told him that the plan was approved and I gave him a copy of the plan for him to examine it and tell me how much it would cost to build the house.

"Three weeks after I gave him the building plan, he called me and gave me a price to build the house. I thought the price was reasonable. I was returning to England the next month so I gave him the entire sum he charged so he could expedite the process.

"It is now three years since I paid the contractor and he has not completed the house. I came to Jamaica last year with the hope to see the house completed but not even the roof has been completed. I called the contractor and asked him what was the problem and he began giving me all kinds of excuses. He told me he was sick for several months and that was the reason the house was held up.

"I have been in Jamaica for the last eight months and since I am here, he has done no work on the house and he is not sick. Three months ago I became very upset with him and demanded that he give me my money so I can pay someone else to finish the house. He told me I did not have to do that because he was going to make every effort to finish the house before the end of the year. He has still not done any further work on the house. I am very upset with the manner in which this contractor is treating me. I really worked hard so I can build a house to live in and enjoy my retirement but this contractor is really giving me a hard time," she said.

The only course open to you now is to sue the contractor for breach of contract. You should get another building contractor to value the work done on the house so you can have proof as to the balance of money owing to you. The court, after hearing evidence in the matter, will make a determination as to how much should be paid to you in damages for breach of contract.