Taylor Wimpey Legal Mess Up

[beaniepole]

I'm in the process of buying a new Taylor Wimpey home off plan.

It was completed about 2-3 weeks ago and I've had my familiarisation visit. Although there are some minor snags, I'm very happy with the quality of construction, design, garden etc.

However, I'd been given a legal completion date of this Friday (29th November) which the sales team had agreed with me verbally over the phone and then again during my familiarisation visit. I believe (although have not checked) that I signed a piece of paper at this time with the 29th as the completion date too.

Anyway, I called my bank 3 days before completion to check all was OK (I'm a nervous type) and they told me they didn't have a Certificate of Title, which a solicitor uses to draw down the funds. Digging in to this, it turns out my solicitor wasn't aware that the completion date was this Friday. She then calls Taylor Wimpey's legal office who also weren't aware it was happening this Friday!

Long story short, they messed up - telling me it was all OK, but not letting their legal department know. In turn this means the completion date has been postponed until the 6th December (1 week later) and has screwed me big time. I now have no where to live, I've wasted a weeks holiday (too late to cancel that now), all kinds of deliveries to rearrange. Even silly things like getting BT/Sky in the day after I move can no longer happen - instead I'll have to wait a week to get internet now .

So here's a warning: Don't trust what you're being told, check everything every step of the way.
Had I not called my bank, I doubt this would have been uncovered until the day of completion which would have been devastating and even more expensive!

[Philofacts]

Another example of the Taylor Wimpey left hand not knowing what the right is doing.
At this time of year, days before Taylor Wimpey end-of-year figures date (31 December) all buyers should be wary of being shoe-horned into their new homes, especially on a postponed or delayed completion date.

"Although there are some minor snags, I'm very happy with the quality of construction, design, garden etc."    
Do you know what you are looking at? or for?  
It is essential to get your new home professionally snagged and inspected by your own snagging inspector BEFORE you legally complete.

If there are any delays or postponement in either your "familiarisation visit" or legal completion date, the chances are that Taylor Wimpey (and other house builders) are struggling to finish the home in time to meet their year-end.
They don't want you to see how far off finishing it really is with so little time left.

As far as you are concerned, please read the other recent posts from Taylor Wimpey buyers on here.
You should be able to claim using the Consumer Code for Home builders for any additional expenses you incurr, but I expect Taylor Wimpey will fight you all the way, claiming it was your own fault!

[crh]

What is your development?

I'm currently experiencing Taylor Wimpey hell in that they did a similar thing in giving me a verbal completion date but not getting their legal department to serve notice!

As Philofacts states it is imperative you get your new home snagged.
Taylor Wimpey are run by bean counters who know the cost of everything and the value of nothing!

[beaniepole]

What is your development?

I'm currently experiencing Taylor Wimpey hell in that they did a similar thing in giving me a verbal completion date but not getting their legal department to serve notice!

As Philofacts states it is imperative you get your new home snagged.
Taylor Wimpey are run by bean counters who know the cost of everything and the value of nothing!

Jubille Park in Wootton Bassett.

I will get the house snagged, although looking at the true horror stories it seems I'm spared most of the obvious ones at least! So far everyone's been really nice and helpful, although this legal cock-up has put me almost £1000 out of pocket. I wrote to their regional sales director today outlining how they have inconvenienced me and asked him for his proposals by way of reimbursement... we'll see if anything comes back on that front!

The real irritating thing is that no one would have noticed until the day itself had I not chased them! Time will tell if Taylor Wimpey can redeem themselves in this mess..!