Advice needed. New build that hasn't been properly signed off.

charlotteb1988

Hi, I'm a long time reader but now I need some advice! Not really ssure what topic this would come under but this was closest and couldnt find anything through the search function!

Long story short my partner and I bought our first home two years ago. It was a new build ( Well finished in 2008 but the first few buyers fell through). We have had problems with it since living here and have been at my wits end with the infuriating customer service! There are still a few things that aren't right, such as the loft doesn't seem like its finished but since whenever we get them back to fix things they take ages and don't do it properly and my partner always end up finishing it off, I decided I couldn't argue with them any more!

I have now recieved a letter from the housebuilders saying that 'apparent items during the build of your new home have not been witnessed and signed off in line with quality checking procedures'. I'm absolutely furious!

Firstly, why has it taken this long to realise that? Although the house would have been signed over to the NHBC in October, as our warranty with the housebuilders has now finished. I'm presuming that without proof to the NHBC that all the paperwork is together, they can't hand it over.

Secondly, what isn't signed off? They've made the letter so informal that they think I'm just going to ring up like it's not a problem, but I don't feel like I should. This feels like quite a big incompentancy on their part and I want make to sure the house has been properly finished. My confidence in their workers is so little how do I know it will be properly signed off this time?

I suppose I'm asking for advice on what to do next? Should I make a formal complaint to them and the NHBC for selling a house that hadn't been completely signed off? I just want to make I do this thoroughly.

Any help is much appreciated. Many thanks in advance

Tom_Jones

NHBC = Completly useless and toothless, always on the side of the builder.

Not sure if I read you correctly are you talking about building reg approval, or a builder quality approval ?

If it's the latter then there is not a lot of recourse against the builder, as I doubt if a builders 'quality' approval has any legal basis. I would write to the builder lisiting all faults, it doesn't matter if your out of warranty as you have been having repair done to the property on an ongoing basis. If you have major faults then write to the NHBC, but be prepared for a long drawn out fight to get your way.

If it's no building reg approval then the house should not have been sold to you, you would have a case against the builder and your solicitor.

glubalub

If the original builder registered the house for an NHBC guarantee then it is very likely that an NHBC inspector would have undertaken the Building Regs inspections as well as those for the guarantee. It is possible that the property has not had its final inspection. The final inspection is often just a walk round to check that all the work that relates to Building Regs has been completed. It's also possible that other inspections were missed out as the system relies on the builder contacting the inspector to request a visit at the appropriate stage of the build. It's worth contacting the solicitor who did the conveyancing to check if a Building Reg certificate was issued before completion as if it was still pending, the solicitor may have held back some funds. If a Building Reg certificate has been issued then it may be that the NHBC still have an inspection to carry out for their own guarantee. It's unlikely a builder would want to come back to carry out an inspection for their own quality control records. When you have the info from the solicitor, write and ask the house builder what inspections still have to be completed.

anotherbaldrick

What's your solicitor been doing ? This is one of the approvals he should have ensured was in place before purchase transactiom.

charlotteb1988

Many thanks for everyones reply.

I phoned my solicitors this morning and they asked me to email over a copy of the house builders letter and they said they would get back to me (I did ask them to advise of charges or fees in advance!).

I thought about it last night, and can't imagine that they check would merely be for their own personal quality control. We've been in the house 25 months now and the house has been finished since July 2008. Surely, even if their were any defects against their quality control, how, after this amount of time, could they put it down to their own workman and not just wear and tear of someone living in the house?

The way the letter is worded makes it sound like they are covering for something in particular. They mention a visual check and A photograph.

Well, we'll see what the solicitors say about it and go from there. I will still be writing a strongly worded letter to the house builder about everything included the latest saga!