New build house - kitchen not what we ordered?!!

jessmaddie

Thanks for all the advice, and prompting me to think about the longer term - if it's going to be a bugbear for me I am sure it will make it more difficult to sell eventually!
I have contacted the solicitor today and she is getting things moving in terms of contacting their legal dept and telling them it needs to be replaced so will keep you posted. Newest problem is that after being advised by the solicitor we didn't have to worry about stamp duty as we exchanged in september, they have now decided that we have to pay... Unfortunately I was stupid enough to not get it in writing. Expensive mistake!

chappers

I would make sure you keep on at your solicitor, I would be a bit worried about them, most people(who are not solicitors) on here were aware that contracts had to be either totally or at the least substanstially completed before December 31st.

Something you can do for yourself in the meantime is check your contract , what does it say about the kitchen in that.

Jonbvn

decsdad wrote: »

We actually have them coming round next week to sort someting out after 4 years.

Eh? Usually, the warrantee period is only for 2 years???

Fire_Fox

NHBC guarantee is ten years, depends what the fault is.

delmar39

Jonbvn wrote: »

Eh? Usually, the warrantee period is only for 2 years???

From the NHBC website:

For homes registered with NHBC from 1 October 2007 Buildmark cover is divided into five main parts and is summarised below:

• Cover before the property is completed
• The first 2 years after the property is completed
• Cover in years 3 to 10
• Additional cover in years 3 to 10 where NHBC's subsidiary carried out the building control
• Contaminated land

Bufger

jessmaddie wrote: »

Thanks for all the advice, and prompting me to think about the longer term - if it's going to be a bugbear for me I am sure it will make it more difficult to sell eventually!
I have contacted the solicitor today and she is getting things moving in terms of contacting their legal dept and telling them it needs to be replaced so will keep you posted. Newest problem is that after being advised by the solicitor we didn't have to worry about stamp duty as we exchanged in september, they have now decided that we have to pay... Unfortunately I was stupid enough to not get it in writing. Expensive mistake!

You should have looked into that more when you first exchanged. Stamp duty is put on at completion, i havent heard of any concessions to remove stamp duty unless it was an agreement with the building firm for them to take the cost as a condition of sale.

I also wouldnt sacrifice workspace. I have a lovely massive kitchen with loads of workspace and its the best thing ever (i love cooking). I used to live in a house where you had to juggle and move stuff everywhere, especially on sunday dinners!

Its their problem not yours so try to think of it that way. good luck with getting it sorted

chappers

Bufger wrote: »

You should have looked into that more when you first exchanged. Stamp duty is put on at completion, i havent heard of any concessions to remove stamp duty

There was a stamp duty holiday on lower band houses, last year , which expired on the 31st of December.

jessmaddie

Yes and thats what the solicitor left us under the impression of - that because we had done everything but complete while the stamp duty holiday was on, we wouldn't have to pay it.

I stood my ground and told them we wanted the kitchen changing - they told us it will put us back a month, and offered us tiled floors in the kitchen, bathroom and downstairs toilet if we just accepted it and moved in next week. I stuck to getting the kitchen changed and told them I think we ought to be getting some sort of compensation for being messed about when it wasn't our mistake, so we'll see what they come back with!

ginvzt

Well done! I don't think tiled floors in the kitchen/bathroom would help with the lack of workspace. As a compensation, they can tile all the floors mentioned AND change the kitchen!

Colincbayley

jessmaddie wrote: »

Yes and thats what the solicitor left us under the impression of - that because we had done everything but complete while the stamp duty holiday was on, we wouldn't have to pay it.

I stood my ground and told them we wanted the kitchen changing - they told us it will put us back a month, and offered us tiled floors in the kitchen, bathroom and downstairs toilet if we just accepted it and moved in next week. I stuck to getting the kitchen changed and told them I think we ought to be getting some sort of compensation for being messed about when it wasn't our mistake, so we'll see what they come back with!

Great work. Tell them you will take the tiling for all there messing about and they can do the kitchen as you ordered is whilst they are at it. Get them to chuck in a few more extras as well if you can. You are the customer and in the position to demand what you are paying for.