Recent Posts

71

Landscaping and Gardening / Re: Garden utilities drawings

« Last Post by Admin on May 11, 2024, 07:03:05 am »

As you reported the issue within two years and it is still not fixed, just moved further away, Barratt are still on the hook to sort it out.

My advice is don't waste time on the regional office, write to David Thomas the CEO. He really does care about customer care and hopefully will get it sorted out. If he doesn't, post about it on social media.

I expect the "fix" isn't going to be easy as the drainage pipework is falling the wrong way.
And yes, your fence will rot quite quickly as a result of this.

72

Snagging and defects / New build brickwork query..

« Last Post by Alexg on May 10, 2024, 04:40:13 pm »

Thanks for viewing, any help is appreciated...
My wife and I are In the process of buying a new build from TW. Completion is around aug/sep and everything so far has gone smoothly and TW have been brilliant. We had the first site visit today and the first thing I noticed was the brickwork. I work in IT so I'm a total nube to this so please excuse any ignorance to this post, but I was under the impression all brickwork had to be the same brick in terms of quality, colour and at least new. Straight away I noticed some of patches of the brick almost looked like rubble, or that there was a mix of new bricks and old bricks. I've attached a picture and circled where I think it's noticeable /bad. If someone could take a look and let me know if I'm right to be concerned or if I'm talking rubbish and it's totally normal it would help us massively in knowing what to do next. 👍

73

Welcome - Member Introductions / Cora homes (formerly Barwood homes)

« Last Post by Chris Jones on May 07, 2024, 11:00:51 am »

Hello all

We have just put down a reservation fee on a new build house in Bedfordshire.
Has anyone heard of a company called Cora homes.
The houses are timber framed which we don’t have a problem with.
I’m just a little cautious of the company as they changed their name fairly recently and some reviews on trustpilot are worrying.
If anyone has any advice it would be much appreciated.
Thanks in advance.

74

Snagging and defects / below ground level air bricks

« Last Post by Newowner1965 on April 30, 2024, 09:27:25 am »

Hi i recently bought a new house and noticed issues with the airbricks on the outside walls.
reading up on regs and these seem to not meet these regs.
Developer states it is right as signed off by NHBC.
Can someone please advise.
Thanks

75

Sell your home for free (UK only) / Re: How to Advertise And Sell Your Home Online For Free

« Last Post by davidpaul41 on April 27, 2024, 08:13:46 am »

If you want to have your own option then one option is that you can create your own profile and put it online on all the portals or the other option is that you can tie up with any real estate agency and get your work done by paying a penny. Can get it done. Small percentage.

76

Snagging and defects / Mould from wet timbers during construction

« Last Post by storeysway on April 12, 2024, 04:14:56 pm »

Hello


First of all just wanted to say thanks for all the advice contained on these forums- has proven to be a very useful reference!

Just wanted to ask for some specific advice please; 2 weeks after moving into a new-build (constructed by Curo) we decided to open the loft hatch for a nosey. Unfortunately we discovered many of the roofing structure valley boards to be covered in black spots of mould. These boards seem to be made of plywood and none of the other roofing timbers (made of different wood) are affected. No sign of condensation and the mould is very crusty and dry in appearance.

Had a Pre Completion Inspection carried out and there was no mention of this in the report

Contacted customer care with photographs who responded fairly rapidly stating their senior site manager has had a look at the photos saying “the mould on the valley boards would have been caused by wetness due to poor weather conditions, before the roof would’ve been complete. He has stated that this should disappear quite quickly”.

What are your thoughts on this? I have responded by saying that I’m unhappy that this was not cleaned off prior to legal completion, and that as there are copious mould spores (whether dormant or not) present on multiple surfaces I am requesting that all mould residue is now removed from the contaminated surfaces.

Interestingly our “7-day snag” visit is not happening until next week owed to staff being on holiday, so will press this then as there has been no further communication.

Could I please check that you agree this is a reasonable request on my behalf to have the mould removed, especially as the developer has acknowledged in writing it was caused during construction as opposed to a condensation issue on my behalf? Furthermore I’m not quite sure that mould just “disappears”!

Thank you

77

Snagging and defects / Developer dissolved in first two years - nothing fixed

« Last Post by kcg_nz on April 09, 2024, 01:34:43 pm »

Long story short - I am having issues in a less than two year old groundfloor newbuild flat (terrace conversion) with a lot of loud creaking and Microcracking happening when upstairs flat is walking around. Spend my entire time at home in noise cancelling headphones.

After raising this with the developer, nothing was done, chased etc, and then the developer (very small company) subsquently disolved.

When this was raised with warranty provider (ICW) after checking with the underwriters they concluded that it isn't classed as a structural defect, and snagging defects are the developer's responsibility within the first two year period. In the case where the developer does not rectify these issues, responsibility does not fall back on the insurer. The policy states that in the first two year period "your builder/developer provides the initial warranty on your home" so claims go through them. And it does not sound like ICW assume the warranty in the case of the developer dissolving.

With the developer's company dissolved, the only company I could bring any claims against (ie though Financial Ombudsman) is ICW. But it does not sound like I have a claim here.

Interested to hear if anyone has had any luck getting something like this classed as a structural defect and reimbursed through the warranty provider - or in getting their warranty provider to assume responsibility for the initial warranty in the case of the developer dissolving. If anyone thinks I could have a case here with the FOS that ICW has unfairly refused to assist given the developer has dissolved?

Or should I accept my warranty is not worth the paper it's written on, I've made a costly mistake buying a new build from a small developer, and try to find thousands of ££ to rectify this myself whilst crying into my beer?

78

Landscaping and Gardening / Garden utilities drawings

« Last Post by jekojordi88 on April 04, 2024, 10:34:42 am »

I bought a new house in December 2021 from Barratt and since day one, I have flooding issues in my garden around an inspection chamber within 3 metres from my external wall.

I started emailing Barratt in the Spring of 2022 and they didn't do anything because they were saying that the water was draining within 72 hours and the soil needed some time. After several emails, I had given up since it seemed to improve over time.

In 2023, I called a landscaper to install some slabs and they found out the manhole was full of water. When the landscaper removed the soil around the outlet pipe, we could clearly see the pipe was going upward and thus the inclination was wrong. At this point, Barratt accepted to rectify the issue and as a solution, their groundworkers raised the manhole few inches. The flooding close to the house stopped but it started flooding at the end of the garden (lowest point) close to the fence. This means my fence is constantly under water and thus the wood is rotting.

This year, out of curiosity, I opened up the manhole and noticed that the inlet pipe is lower than the manhole and thus it doesn't drain any water. I contacted Barratt and they came back with the same story of the 72 hours; they also pointed out that since I have installed slabs all along my fence now the flooding is my fault.

Now, I thought about fixing the issue on my own, however I have requested the utilities drawings of the garden since I don't know where the french drain runs. Barratt has refused to share the drawings, is it normal?

I am out of the 2 years warranty but the issue was initially raised within the 2 years warranty. I am sure their "fix" is what caused the new flooding, so hopefully Barratt agrees to come and fix their mess.

79

Snagging and defects / Re: Developer refusing to fix snags after I waited for two years (£800k house)

« Last Post by New Home Expert on March 29, 2024, 08:12:58 am »

If it was reported to the builder (please name and shame!)  then you are still covered by an NHBC warranty and the builder is still on the hook.
Trouble is it is now a long time without being fixed.

My guess is, if you are successful with the NHBC and they cannot get the builder to fix these things, they will only be prepared to offer you a cash sum to cover the cost of the work, not actually organise and employ a contractor to do it.

80

Snagging and defects / Re: Developer refusing to fix snags after I waited for two years (£800k house)

« Last Post by Kate123 on March 27, 2024, 07:01:04 pm »

I've been banging my head against the wall for the last 3 years with the same issue.

One of my biggest struggles is I can't find a Surveyor who is actually familiar with 'microcracking' in new builds to write a sensible report - any recommendations are very welcome!!!

My suggestions are check your contract - was it a design and build is there a quality clause in there? If you have house insurance you may have legal protection insurance on it or pay for a solicitor to check it over for you. Just be careful if they are finishing the development they are not going to wind up the company.

Who is your Structural Warranty with? Have a check of the wording and see if it is covered if it is NHBC it may have a design and quality clause. If it like ours and a small company it is not worth the paper it is written on.....