Have Barratts ripped me off?

NB-First_time_buyer

I bought a Barratts new build in July 2009. I have always noticed that the bedroom was very very cold. First week of Jan, having finally had enough of having my heating on constantly and sleeping with Duvets i asked Barratts to arrange for 2 contractors to attend to see what the issue was. A glazier & an insulation engineer attended. Its been three weeks from the visit - The insulation contractor told me that there was no evidence of celotex in my bedroom around the dormer window. Just got the below email from the help desk (who are extremely unhelpful, i am having to call / chase them everyday!):
I have now received the technical information with regards to the insulation in your property.

The specification was not for Celeotex. The Specification is ‘Sloping veiling to be insulated with 100mm thick ‘Kingspan Thermapitch TP10’ polyurethane or similar ridged board located in the rafter depth underdrawn with 30mm thick ‘Kingspan Thermapitch TP10’ with 500 gauge polythene vapor barrier behind double plasterboard ceiling lining.

The dormer window is a pre-formed GRP dormer window fitted strictly in accordance with manufactures printed instruction. This is a complete GRP Dormer package which has the insulation built in prior to being fitted.

I need to speak with our Surveyor as to see if this insulation was included in either the Roofers Tender or the Dryliners Tender.

He is out of the office today so will have to liaise with him first thing on Monday.

As soon as I received this information I will request the relevant contactor to inspect. They may have to make some small view holes.

Does anybody know what my rights are? It is incredibly cold, i often wake up in the middle of the night because of the cold (is spite of using 2 duvets) When the radiator is on the heat is not kept in - because of the poor insulation. Can i ask for compensation? They want to put in holes in my wall etc - what am i supposed to do, sleep in the lounge until all is rectified? Also, i was under the impression that new builds are inspected by a NHBC inspector to make sure that the new build is made in compliance to all standards - How come this wasn't picked up? If anyone has any words of advice please help!

Fire_Fox

First piece of advice is to purchase an electric underblanket with an overnight setting, you will be toasty for pennies. Why are you e-mailing? I would be complaining in writing by recorded delivery in order to form a paper trail. Are you recording the overnight temperature instead of just saying it's very cold? The property should have had been regularly inspected by building regs, not sure if this covers checking insulation so might be worth asking the council.

silvercar

Between the HIP and your survey you should have known what you were buying. Housees always come with niggles, even new ones.
If you are not happy with the amount of insulation in one room, take any compensation or fixing offered and then sort out the problem yourself.

greenface

specification is correct and up to date . What the technician is saying is
A. If the speci has been conformed to
B. Who is responsible for it (but im sure the insulation engineer could have told him that)
It looks like they are pointing at the dormer window .Most possibly but what about wall cavities what about your ceiling sounds like a upstairs roof space build (typical barratt) Is the bedroom above a garage or similar unheated space (built in shed porch way etc)
Important question -Do your neighbours have similar problems

No compensation could replace a bad nights sleep IMO

Running_Horse

Have Barrats ripped you off?

The answer is yes if you have ever bought anything from them.

greenface

Ive worked on barratt contracts and there known as roundhouses because everyone cuts corners.
painter painting the walls didnt paint on the wall behind the door because the foreman never goes into the bedrooms to check the work . FACT

DeadCat

silvercar wrote: »

Between the HIP and your survey you should have known what you were buying. Housees always come with niggles, even new ones.
If you are not happy with the amount of insulation in one room, take any compensation or fixing offered and then sort out the problem yourself.

I think what the OP is saying is that the room is cold because Baratts have not installed insulation in the sloping ceiling/walls, the dormer window is ok because it is prefabricated. You have a good claim for compensation IMO for the discomfort you have experienced to date as well the disruption that will be involved by removing all of the plasterboard and installing the insulation.

Do your neighbours have this problem? Is there a residents association? Barratts should pay you just to keep you quiet as something like this would further damage their reputation if it was well known.

Make sure you keep a record of all correspondence.

Good luck

getmore4less

Just look at all the roofs in the street when it snows.

Any missing insulation on any house should be obvious.

clutton_2

""Just look at all the roofs in the street when it snows.

Any missing insulation on any house should be obvious"

spot on GM4L - spot on --


roofs showing all their tiles (whilst neighbours' roofs are still snow-covered) show that there is no insulation as the heat from the house has melted the snow as it went up into the roof.......