Persimmon - Fire Cavity Barrier Problems

[Will J]

Good afternoon all,

I am looking to see if other members of this group have encountered similar difficulties as I have in respect of missing fire cavity barriers in their new build properties.

I purchased a property from Persimmon 3 years ago and was advised earlier this year that the fire cavity barriers installed in the wooden frames are either defective or missing. Remedial works have been carried out whereby bricks and part of the roof were removed. Scaffolding was up for weeks and it caused great stress and inconvenience, let alone the absolute horror that my family have been living in a dangerous fire hazard of a home for years.

I want the developer to be held to account. Has anyone else encountered similar problems or got any where with legal action against them?

Thanks in advance.

Will

[New Home Expert]

There is plenty online about Persimmon Homes and missing cavity fire barriers. It is even more critical in timber frame homes, especially those that are flats, terraced or semis.
At first Persimmon tried to deny a problem, then as buyers had their own surveys carried out Persimmon claimed it was just in their south west region. Eventually Persimmon were forced to acknowledge it was a national problem for the company.

Please read what Persimmon's own independent review had to say about this!
The full

Half a job?    Persimmon Homes independent review report states:

"inspections to date have been limited to the eaves, and have not checked for cavity barriers which should be present around doors and windows/in party walls. It recently came to light during this Review that on one site, Persimmon operatives and/or subcontractors retained by Persimmon to remedy any issues with cavity barriers had, on two separate visits to one property, claimed that all missing cavity barriers had been retro-fitted when in fact they had not been."

So a defect, with potentially fatal consequences, on a national scale is found to be not properly rectified even at a second or third attempt!

Where does this leave you?
Well you need to be sure that all the cavity fire barriers are now installed and installed properly and effectively. Just because Persimmon say they are fitted doesn't mean they are!

Regarding compensation, your home is devalued and blighted by the fact that it was built by Persimmon at a time of the peak of their dire quality. Any sensible buyer would avoid it anyway, others may wish to risk it at a cheaper price.

You also have to factor in how long the works took and how much disruption you suffered and what level of compensation you feel you deserve.  No one will help you as all of them will be forced to sign a non-disclosure agreement as you will too as a condition of payment of compensation.

You will have more leverage for a higher payment, if you can independently prove the remedial cavity fire barrier works have not been properly completed as required. Then you can threaten to go public.