Channel 5 "New Build Nightmares"

[New Home Expert]

I have been contacted today by Channel 5 about a new programme:

CHANNEL 5 SERIES - "New Build Nightmares"
Initially I am told, these will be two, one hour long programmes.

So have you bought a newly built house/apartment and found it’s not the dream home you were expecting?

They say:

Channel 5 are looking for homebuyers who discovered there were problems with the property after the builders had left. These 'snagging' defects could range from leaks, subsidence, damp to  badly fitted fixtures. 

This new series for Channel  5 will film your story and follow the progress you’re making in getting things resolved. Filming will be in June/July.

Please get in touch with Vicky Maitland if you would like to know more and we will get straight back to you.

Contact Vicky.Maitland@channel5.com or call 0203 580 3867

I am sure there are many who will have some horrendous experiences to share.

[Admin]

Here is a link to the first programme.
Channel 5 Nightmare New Builds
My advice is to skip the first 10 minutes - a complete waste of time, nothing but sensationalist car crash TV and badly done at that!

The other 35 minutes is well worth watching as Bovis, Taylor Wimpey and Barratt all get lambasted by their unfortunate new home buyers!  Really shows this dreadful industry for what it is!

[Inspector]

With reference to the Barratt property, although this was a real defect and an inconvenience, it was dealt with.  The comments by 'the expert' who claimed that due to the damp plasterboard the apartment was worthless should also be reviewed.
With over 300 apartments in the development and only one tenant continually complaining,  maybe a 'Nightmare New Tenant' programme should be made!
There are two sides to every story, unfortunately the programme only showed one.

[New Home Expert]

With reference to the Barratt property, the threatening solicitors letter showed a "side to the story" that is a new low for this industry.

In the condition at the time it was filmed, with saturated plasterboard, the property is virtually unsellable.  Given the history which must be disclosed to buyers, not many would buy this property unless it is priced well below the market value.

The "expert" was Steve Nanacarrow who is an ex-gas fitter,  who previously worked as a customer care manager for a couple of house builders before setting up a snagging business "Inspector Home" which is no longer trading. It was re born as NewBuildAdvisor.

I am sure most people could see him for what he is.

The real expert was cut to just 7 seconds, with this programme thinking 10 minutes of the same re staged clip of sewerage coming out of the WC and bath waste was better TV than actually discussing why new homes are so bad and what should and can be done about it.

Expect more of the same next week.

I take it you work for Barratt?

[Inspector]

With reference to the Barratt property, I do not or have never worked for Barratt. I work independently as an assessor, I review reported 'snags' and assign them to the correct party i.e. contractor, manufacturer/supplier or tenant. I have visited this development on a number of occasions and found that it is built to an acceptable standard.
 
The apartment shown on the programme DID have an issue with the saturated wall, damp and mould but as the 'real expert' stated, he could not find any leaks within the apartment and was in fact caused by a problem in an adjacent property. This does not make the problem any less of an issue for the tenant and if was in her position I would be just as unhappy but other factors such as frequency of problems, mechanical failure etc. should have been highlighted. In a development of this size it is inevitable that there will be a problem or two no matter how stringent the quality control process is. How the problem is resolved it the important factor here. Labelling it a 'Nightmare New Build' is unfair, one sided and extreme.

During construction of apartments throughout the country, it is common for plasterboard to get damaged during the build, whether it be from water or whatever, as long as it is replaced in line with the manufactures guidelines and recommendations there will be no further problems and any decent manufacturer will give warranties to cover this. There should be no effect on the quality or value of the property.

I'm sure the solicitors letter would not have been issued without good cause. This would not be good for any developer and would only be done as a last resort. The programme did not show enough about why it was issued.

I think we are all used to this type of  programme nowadays. Giving a balanced view doesn't make good viewing!

I will watch the next episode but expect much of the same.

[New Home Expert]

In a development of this size it is inevitable that there will be a problem or two no matter how stringent the quality control process is. How the problem is resolved it the important factor here. Labelling it a 'Nightmare New Build' is unfair, one sided and extreme.

It is exactly this attitude, perpetuated by the new homes industry itself, that leads to  new homebuyers not only to expect faults and defects, but to accept them.  Clearly if more care and time were taken and each stage was properly inspected and checked, the number of defects in new homes would all but disappear.

I'm sure the solicitors letter would not have been issued without good cause. This would not be good for any developer and would only be done as a last resort. The programme did not show enough about why it was issued.

The solicitor's letter was sent because the buyers put up "Regret Buy" in letters in the window of their flat which was not permitted under the terms of their lease. It was not a last resort and I can assure you quite a few of the large plc housebuilders employ overly aggressive solicitors to bully new homebuyers who are being troublesome.

I think we are all used to this type of  programme nowadays. Giving a balanced view doesn't make good viewing!

I will watch the next episode but expect much of the same.

On this we can agree!  I have contacted Channel 5 and they have told me:

"I would just like to apologise on behalf of Adam and the team that you feel disappointed with the level of contribution that we have been able to feature within the series.
 
We value every story very highly and are incredibly appreciative of the time that you offered up to us.  The programme has gone through a number of changes during the edit and, although we would love to include every story and contribution, it is sometimes just not possible. We had anticipated our experts to play a major role in the narrative of each episode but it was decided in the final stages of production that the editorial focus was to be placed more on the homeowners themselves.
 
Unfortunately your contribution isn’t featured in Episode 2 as the content related best to one of our Case Studies in Episode 1.
 
I will speak with our edit team and We will amend your title for future broadcasts as requested."

So yes, it will be more of the same; sensationalised, re staged defects and angry and distraught new homebuyers, pandering to an appetite of viewers who like nothing more than seeing programmes with people suffering.   As far as an educated documentary on the very serious issue of defective new homes, we will have to wait until BBC Panorama finally gets around to doing an hour long programme, focusing not just on the problems, but also the solutions.   

[Bri]

Interesting.

[New Home Expert]

It will be if the second programme is ever aired!
A lot of people freely gave their time to this and it looks like a wasted effort.