Help Persimmon Home - Extractor Fan not Connected, Complicated

juliaz

Dear All

I am not sure how to proceed with this problem. We have been in our Persimmon new build property since 2005.

The extractor fan in each bathroom is connected via hosing into the loft space above us. However both units have merely been hung from the joist. They are neither ventilated outside or connected to the mains. Consequently moisture generated in the bathroom is not removed and moreover the dust/air/fiberglass particles can move from the roof into the rooms below.

I have managed to contact the extractor unit manufacturer who confirms that the unit should be vented through the roof and also powered. Also that damp won't be removed and the unit might allow the materials from the roof into the rooms beneath.

We have never experienced damp in either the en suite or main bathroom, so until now there was no problem. However, I had, noticed an unusually rapid accumulation of dust in the rooms adjacent to the bathroom .

I have been experiencing escalating breathing difficulties over the last year or so which have worsened considerably. I have now been diagnosed with asthma which has not yet been stabilized with drug therapy.

We would like the unit to be exhausted correctly and powered
Looking at the constraints of the NHBC guarantee I don't this problem will be covered?

Does anyone have any thoughts or experience? Are Persimmon covered by an ombudsman/Builders Federation. I would like to make it apparent that if Persimmon decline our request to correctly install the extractor units then I have recourse.

I hope that makes sense

Happy to supply additional information

Thanks J

Jaynne

Have you contacted Persimmon? Its a clear case of work not having being completed but on the plus side its a very quick and cheap job to get fixed.

I'm not sure how you think huge amounts of dust is getting from your attic through a tube and tiny vent and then into the next rooms but if you are worried about it tape a plastic bag over the hoses until you have it fixed.

warmhands.coldheart

Sorry if this sounds harsh or rude but, if I'm reading this right, are you saying you have been in your house for over 7 years and didn't think it odd that the Extractor fan didn't turn on??? Think it's a bit late in the day now to be complaining about that if that's the case..

phill99

The house builder only has a liability for 24 months from the date you buy the property. ('Liabity Defects Period') After that it's down to the NHBC to sort out defects, but as you point out, this only covers certain aspects.

Given the time laspe (8 years nearly), you will struggle to get anything done by Persimmon. There defence will be that it was all connected and working when you moved in and it will be up to you to prove otherwise.

In terms of your asthma, again you will be unlikely to pin this on Persiommon. It could have be bought on by numerous factors.

You would be wise to spend a few puinds on getting the extractor fans fitted correctly (Probabaly only half a day or so for a plumber) and moving on.

pka_2

phill99 wrote: »

The house builder only has a liability for 24 months from the date you buy the property. ('Liabity Defects Period') After that it's down to the NHBC to sort out defects, but as you point out, this only covers certain aspects.

Given the time laspe (8 years nearly), you will struggle to get anything done by Persimmon. There defence will be that it was all connected and working when you moved in and it will be up to you to prove otherwise.

In terms of your asthma, again you will be unlikely to pin this on Persiommon. It could have be bought on by numerous factors.

You would be wise to spend a few puinds on getting the extractor fans fitted correctly (Probabaly only half a day or so for a plumber) and moving on.

Not true, A 24 month defects liability may well be written in to the contractors contract and this period usually starts from the date of practical completion. However the builder still has responsiblity for latent defects arising after this period.

However as the OP states that the extracor fans have not been connected to the mains, they therefore do not switch on and this would be considered to be a patent defect and you will have very little recourse having lived in the property for seven, going on eight years.

OP bite the bullet and get them connected up by an electritian

Furts

pka wrote: »

Not true, A 24 month defects liability may well be written in to the contractors contract and this period usually starts from the date of practical completion. However the builder still has responsiblity for latent defects arising after this period.

However as the OP states that the extracor fans have not been connected to the mains, they therefore do not switch on and this would be considered to be a patent defect and you will have very little recourse having lived in the property for seven, going on eight years.

OP bite the bullet and get them connected up by an electritian

A little bit harsh but...

My advice would be get it repaired yourself. Going after the builder on latent defects for such a small job....I suspect a judge would throw up his hands with disbelief. He would also ask why the builder was not given the opportunity to rectify it during the two year "liability"period.

pka_2

Furts wrote: »

A little bit harsh but...

My advice would be get it repaired yourself. Going after the builder on latent defects for such a small job....I suspect a judge would throw up his hands with disbelief. He would also ask why the builder was not given the opportunity to rectify it during the two year "liability"period.

It wasn't meant to be harsh, I was mearly correcting what had been incorrectly stated in a previous post and stating that the OP would struggle to get it accepted as a latent defect.

I do however appologise if it came across as harsh.

southcoastrgi

as phill said although you need a sparkie not a plumber

phill99

southcoastrgi wrote: »

as phill said although you need a sparkie not a plumber

I say plumber because the plumber I use is Part P registered.

warmhands.coldheart

phill99 wrote: »

I say plumber because the plumber I use is Part P registered.

A Sparkey Plumber...... well i never......... are they not extinct ??

I had a load of work done recently and it's the first thing I said to the builder when it came to the fiddly bits like kitchen fitting, etc..... you never seem to get a plumer to do electrical work and vice-versa...... is it a cost thing... ie too expensive to register with both bodies or is it just they can't be bothered? The number of times I've had small bits of work done on Central Heating in different houses over the years and had to get two trades in rather than just one because the plumber didn't do electrics or the Electrician didn't do plumbing