I wish I had a pound for every time I read a post on the subject of completion dates.
How is it I could build a £7million 60 bedroom care home in 13 months and hand it over to the client on the day agreed at the outset, but housebuilders cant forecast 6 o'clock and half past five?
The Consumer Code for Home Builders is quite clear on this, yet it still is one of the biggest causes for a claim using their Adjudication Scheme.
3.2 Timing of construction, completion and handover
Requirement: The Home Buyer must be given reliable and realistic information about when construction of the Home may be finished, the date of Legal Completion, and the date for handover of the Home.
Guidance a) Information given to the Home Buyer before Exchange of Contracts You should warn Home Buyers that weather and other matters beyond your reasonable control make the time needed to construct a Home difficult to predict.
It is unreasonable to give or expect to be given a definite date months in advance; however, certainty should increase as the Home nears completion.
What you tell the Home Buyer about when the Home is likely to be ready will depend on what stage it is at when you provide the
3.2 Timing of construction, completion and handover
Consumer Code for Home Builders – builder guidance
information. You may follow your own process and methods. However, you may wish to use the following approach:
- Before completing the foundations and ground floor – give the calendar quarter when the Home is likely to be ready.
- When the roof is completed and the building weatherproof – give the month when the Home is likely to be ready.
- When the Home is decorated and main services are connected – say what week the Home is likely to be ready.
I agree, saying July/August then September and now back to July does seem like year end figures, but only Bellway is end July. If this is Bellway do not complete in July!
I am pleased you are having your home professionally inspected and snagged
before legal completion by Tim Fee of Snagging inspections.co.uk. 07768 900200. Tell him I recommended him to you and you might get a discount!
It should be noted that 10 working days notice (14 calendar days) is standard and the minimum required by both solicitors and the mortgage providers. That said the home should be 100% complete when notice is issued.
Be careful and protect yourself.