Advice on buying a brand new home > General discussion

Developer not acting on snagging list

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baal:
Hi

We recently purchased a New Build home (LABC Warranty) from Oval Homes based in the South West of England.

On moving in, we compiled our own snagging list (I use the term snagging loosely) and emailed it to the builder with attached photographic evidence and requested they address it (They acknowledged its receipt). Pre-arranged dates were agreed for their tradesman painters/decorators, plumbers etc. to arrive onsite and address various snags, poor finishing, bare plaster, radiators not working, damaged cabinets, internal doors with no handles etc. Their tradesman did not show up over seven consecutive days with no notification which cost us financially and my emails complaining about this have all gone unanswered

After six weeks of inaction by the builder, our emails going unanswered and out of sheer frustration, we employed the services of a professional snagging company in the hope that independent eyes and an official report would pressure the builder into addressing the snags. The inspection (may have identified possible breaches in building Regulations) sent to the report to the builder in the middle of last week - as of yet no reply

We have now been in the house for over eight weeks. We still have internal doors with no handles, bare plaster not painted, door architraves cut too short and there is neither a level threshold nor a ramped access to the property which may not comply with Disabled Access Part M building regulations.

Do we have any recourse, as we are not expecting any response re the inspectors snagging report.

New Home Expert:
The only recourse is legal action.
The government has announced the creation of a statutory new homes ombudsman, something I have been campaigning for over the last five years. It is this very situation why a 100% independent form of redress is required.

Regarding your warranty, my opinion is LABC/Premier Guarantee are not as good as the NHBC warranty. I very much doubt they will put too much pressure on this small regional house builder.
I think you are unfortunately, on your own.

Please contact:
Timothy Waitt
Solicitor & Partner
Anthony Gold Solicitors
The Beehive Coffee Tavern
496 Streatham High Road
London SW16 3QB

Direct Dial  020 7940 4090
T 020 7940 4000
F 020 8664 6484
DX 58604 Streatham
W anthonygold.co.uk
Twitter @Anthonygoldlaw

You will need him to draft a letter giving Oval notice, that unless they act to sort the defects within say 28 days, you will instruct your own builder, at their cost, recovering the money due from the small claims court if necessary.

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