3 year old house - leak under the shower! NHBC?

ginvzt

We have recently moved into our first house (a month ago). We haven't noticed before, but about a week ago we noticed a patch on the living room ceiling. It looked like it was a leak at some point and we wondered if it was there all that time, just we haven't noticed. But this morning I decided to measure where exactly would it be on the first floor and it looked like there is a second line around, so I imagine it is still leaking. We have just laid wooden floor in the living room and I wouldn't like the water to damage it.

So, the leak is straight under the shower tray in the ensuite (in the middle of it, and it looks like a line). Ever since we moved in, the floor in the ensuite was very squeaky, and it might be it is broken or something. We were going to change the carpet to vynil some time, but haven't done yet as we have been busy with other things.

We obviously will have to call plumber to deal with this, as this will probably involve removing the shower tray and sorting out the floor.

What I was wondering - could it be something covered by NHBC quarantee? The floor is obviously not good and it feels like there is a dip at one point in the ensuite. The floor is even squeaky in the bedroom on the side near the ensutie.

BobProperty

ginvzt wrote: »

..... as this will probably involve removing the shower tray and sorting out the floor......

It's often easier to cut a hole in the ceiling below and repair it afterwards than remove a shower tray. However if the floor needs repairs then it will involve pulling it all out. Not cheap. Sorry.

ginvzt wrote: »

What I was wondering - could it be something covered by NHBC quarantee? The floor is obviously not good and it feels like there is a dip at one point in the ensuite. The floor is even squeaky in the bedroom on the side near the ensutie.

Almost certainly not. I say that as I think the guarantee on plumbing lasts only 2 years and because NHBC guarantees are bobbins (all IMHO of course).

missile

I would contact my solicitor and see if you have a claim against previous owner.

I had a leak in a bathroom and my insurer (Norwich Union) arranged and paid for all repairs which were quite extensive = new floor, walls, carpets, tiling and redecoration.

gardnt1

Most shower trays in new builds are raised on a plinth, and it should be fairly easy to remove the front decorative skirting to inspect the waste/trap?

Also, with new houses and the fact that they use flooring sheets rather than skirting boards, and studwork to construct walls with nails, it isnt long before the floors start squeeking due to movement.

Best way to try and get rid of this is to remove skirting and tap a wedge under the squeeking studwork ....this is what the builders chippie did for us and i have done subsequently over the years.

ginvzt

I think we will be reading through our insurance policy and see if it covers this sort of thing. We have took out insurance with Nationwide together with the mortgage. Although we moved in on March 6th, they haven't collected any payments yet. They did inform us that the mortgage payment will be taken out next week, so maybe the same will be with the insurance?...