Build-Zone 10-year Structural Warranty

[FoolontheHill]

Does anyone have experience of making a claim under the Build-Zone 10 year warranty?
I made a claim in February supported by a surveyor’s report but have made zero progress since then.
They ignored my claim until July when pressure from my surveyor made them send a loss adjuster to inspect the property.
He agreed that there were problems but I have heard no more since then.

My timber frame bungalow was built in late 2016/early 2017 and I completed at the end of July 2017.
The builders K H Developments (aka Highnam Construction) are currently marketing a second site they have developed in Clee Hill, Shropshire, also with a Build-Zone 10-year structural warranty.

I first noticed staircase cracks in the render on both gable ends during the 2-year snagging period and reported it to the builders who were still on site. They sent a contractor to look at it who said they would come back in 2 weeks to fix it but never did. Getting snagging done was always difficult to impossible and the quality of remedial work was poor so I asked a reliable local builder to look at the problem, intending to have him fix it, but he told me there was no quick fix and I needed a surveyor.

The surveyor noticed other problems, mainly heavy white staining from the weep vents and recommended opening up the wall to investigate, which was then done in 4 places. This revealed numerous problems. The cavity was clogged with mortar, the damp proof course only covered half of the brick course and the cavity trays had been fitted wrong so they were allowing water to contact the timber frame. In the surveyor’s opinion the render cracking was caused by insufficient wall ties and the render anyway was unsuitable for an exposed site. He also suspected that the mortar in the brick skin was too weak and could be porous.

I submitted my claim with the surveyor’s report detailing all of this and more to Build-Zone in February but, as stated, no progress has been made in the 9 months since. Has anyone had any success with getting Build-Zone to honour their warranty?

[New Home Expert]

Good luck with getting resolution with Build-zone warranty!
Your story is why I always suggest buyers insist on an NHBC warranty.
Whilst not necessarily always of benefit to the new home owner, it is in my opinion, streets ahead of the likes of Build-zone.

You have had outstanding issues with your home for many years and your best course of action is to take legal action against the housebuilder now.  Set them a deadline of say 6 weeks to complete all remedial works warning that failing to do so will result in your appointing contractors to carry out the works at their expense and monies not paid will be claimed via the courts.

Perhaps also inform Build-Zone that you will be filing a complaint about their own inaction to the Financial Ombudsman Service and then do just that. (It costs you nothing to do it)

Finally, if the housebuilder continues to ignore you, park your car by the house under construction (legally not obstructing the entrance) and put posters on all the car windows warning others not to buy this house without talking to you first.

It is time to get nasty. I think you have ben too patient to trusting and an easy pushover so far and everyone is taking the preverbial ***s!

[FoolontheHill]

Thanks for the reply. K Head Developments is the latest in a long line of limited companies started and wound up by these builders. I could probably win a court case but it would cost a fortune in fees for lawyers and expert witnesses and I would likely get nothing out of it. I will keep the Financial Ombudsman in mind. Some progress has been made in the last month.

Shortly after my original post, I found out that the loss adjuster who came in July had quit his job, possibly without submitting a report—that was not made clear—but neither Build-Zone nor his employer had bothered to chase up why no report had appeared or taken any action on the report if it existed.

After more chasing by my surveyor, another inspection was arranged for January with another loss adjuster appointed by Build-Zone. The developer sent his architect and the site foreman from the original build, although it is well past the 2-year snagging period. They all took a lot of notes and photos. My surveyor is pushing for a complete re skin of the bungalow as the only way to put the cavity trays right, but thinks we will have a fight on our hands to get that. There are 31 other bungalows on this site which may have similar problems.

[New Home Expert]

So much wrong with that tray not sure where to start.
1) Tray is not wide enough, it should come to the front of the bricks.
2) Tray not bedded and holes in bricks not filled with mortar.
3) Loads of mortar build up on the tray itself - unacceptable.
4) Tray is cut or joint is not overlapped at all letting water past.

Sometimes to only way to get resolution is through the courts but likely builder will just go bust again so won't exist to be sued.
Lesson 101, only buy from a small housebuilder with an NHBC warranty.
I personally hope you get this resolved, hope you are successful and that those reading this thread taken note!