Home Damage, NHBC won't cover

carhandle

We have been in our new home, bought new from Wimpey, for 3 years.

Recently and due to heavy rain, we have had water coming into the roof of a bay window. Its dripping in through the roof, has run down the inside of the walls, and the tapes on the plasterboard corners have lifted.

Because it’s outside the 2-year Wimpey warranty, we lodged a claim with NHBC. The NHBC inspector came to assess the damage and the cause, and for some reason he was accompanied by a Wimpey rep. Not sure why or if this is normal practice.

Anyway, they attributed the cause to the poor fitment of our external security light. NB…..This was fitted by Wimpey prior to our moving in. Apparently, they hadn’t sealed round the hole where the cable goes through the wall and this is where they say the water’s coming in.

Other info is that this isn’t the first time this happened. Firstly it happened within our 2-year Wimpey warranty and they’d supposedly fixed it. I now realise that all they’d really done was to paint over the damp spots on the internal bay roof.

So, NHBC have said they will not cover the cost of the repairs because they wouldn’t expect them to exceed the £1300-odd excess on their policy.

Is there anything I can do to challenge this decision? Or can I take it up with Wimpey as its been proven to come from their poor installation of the security light?

Any help appreciated, don’t really want to go spending a load of cash, particularly so close to Christmas.

neilmcl

What did the Wimpey rep say?

patman99

Involve your local press. Builders hate being the subject of negative media attention.

carhandle

The Wimpey rep asked, on several occasions, "did you fit that light yourself?. It was clear that he was trying to find a "get out clause". But they did centre their inspection around the lack of sealant there so, to me, that kinda admits liability on behalf of Wimpey.

They’ve fitted it directly above the bay roof so its pretty difficult to get in change the bulb even, but that’s by the by.

neilmcl

Then get back on to the builder. NHBC seem to be correct though. Just looking over at their website it seems that after 3 years they will only pay for defects if the the full cost is over £1000.

WASHER

carhandle wrote: »

We have been in our new home, bought new from Wimpey, for 3 years.

Recently and due to heavy rain, we have had water coming into the roof of a bay window. Its dripping in through the roof, has run down the inside of the walls, and the tapes on the plasterboard corners have lifted.

Because it’s outside the 2-year Wimpey warranty, we lodged a claim with NHBC. The NHBC inspector came to assess the damage and the cause, and for some reason he was accompanied by a Wimpey rep. Not sure why or if this is normal practice.

Anyway, they attributed the cause to the poor fitment of our external security light. NB…..This was fitted by Wimpey prior to our moving in. Apparently, they hadn’t sealed round the hole where the cable goes through the wall and this is where they say the water’s coming in.

Other info is that this isn’t the first time this happened. Firstly it happened within our 2-year Wimpey warranty and they’d supposedly fixed it. I now realise that all they’d really done was to paint over the damp spots on the internal bay roof.

So, NHBC have said they will not cover the cost of the repairs because they wouldn’t expect them to exceed the £1300-odd excess on their policy.

Is there anything I can do to challenge this decision? Or can I take it up with Wimpey as its been proven to come from their poor installation of the security light?

Any help appreciated, don’t really want to go spending a load of cash, particularly so close to Christmas.

This isn't covered by the NHBC policy. However, if you are sure you involved the builder within the first 2 years, they are responsible until year 10 to get this problem resolved, go back to Wimpey and ask them to do the job probably again. The NHBC policy covers major structure damaged only after 2 years and it isn't a warranty company, it is an insurance company, many people make the mistake of reading the word "warranty" and thinking that everything is covered until year 10, but that couldn't be further from the truth, it is an insurance company and covers only structural repairs until year 10, unless the builder has gone bankrupt or the builder has walked off the job and then the resolution process kicks in. Did the NHBC/Wimpey chap say it's down to poor maintenance? The policy does not cover for lack of maintenance.

carhandle

Yes, you're probably right about NHBC. I did know they'd not cover unless it was +£1300 or so.

Do you think I'll get anywhere with Wimpey? Will they not just say that we're outwith our 2 year warrantly and its no longer got anything to do with them?

carhandle

WASHER wrote: »

However, if you are sure you involved the builder within the first 2 years, they are responsible until year 10 to get this problem resolved, go back to Wimpey and ask them to do the job probably again.

We definitely did get them in to "fix" it within 2 years, but I'm not sure I've any proof of that.

WASHER wrote: »

Did the NHBC/Wimpey chap say it is down to poor maintenance? The policy does not cover for lack of maintenance.

No, they didn't say 'poor maintenance'. They said its cos it wasn't fitted properly to begin with.

WASHER

How did you get Wimpey out to fix this problem, did you write? Or phone? Either way Wimpey should have a record of the snagging problems you had within the first 2 years. If, what you say, they both said it wasn't fitted probably in the first place, then you should get the NHBC inspector to write you a letter confirming that and then give a copy of the letter to Wimpey, if they fitted the light and fixed it within 2 years, they are responsible.

carhandle

Good point, yes I think it was on the snagging list we gave them. I'll need to try and dig it out. Thanks for your help.

WASHER

If you find the snagging list, go back to wimpey with it, keep a copy of it yourself and take this to the top of the company if needs be, don't threaten the media though, that will not work, be nice to them and they will want to help once you point out they have a duty to fix the problem as they attended to this issue within the first 2 years.