Contractor let me down

[Andy Mayer]

I have found a contractor to do a big renovation job on one of my properties, paid him 50% up front. He said it would be done in about 4 weeks. But there has been almost no progress for 5 months. He regularly tells me that he has been busy and the proper work will start next week, and I am rather fed up with this answer. What is the advice from people who have come across this problem before?