Where do I direct a complaint in regards new build?

mark7144

The issue was reported within a few days of handover and is not simply a case of snagging. It was a design flaw with the plumbing which to fix led to ripping out most of the contents of the bathroom and sections of wall from one of the bedrooms.

It has taken 4 months because most of the time they forgot about me.

I do feel compensation is warranted. Weather I have the right to full loss of rent is another question.

mark7144

I spoke to a solicitor and it turns out I don't have a right to claim for loss of rent as I did not inform them of my intentions to rent the place at the start.

I do, however, have a right to compensation due to distress and loss of amenity.

fleurette1

i think you haven't a cats in hells chance of getting anything, I am six years into a dispute with NHBC, it is now in the hands of the FSA and i have been offered £200 compensation for six years of hell, it probably isn't worth all the time it will take you to put in a claim - and trying to put a figure on distress and loss of amenity is something that i doubt the small claims court would address, so if you go fully legal, you are in the situation of if you lose, you have 2 x sets legal fees etc.

i would forget it - we lived in an unfinished house for more than 2 years, with live wires sticking out of walls, etc, wrangling with builder who just took us to court, so NHBC walked away and left us stranded.

OldFartPlumber

mark7144 wrote: »

The issue was reported within a few days of handover and is not simply a case of snagging. It was a design flaw with the plumbing which to fix led to ripping out most of the contents of the bathroom and sections of wall from one of the bedrooms.

.

That`s what you get with these young plumbers

Furts

fleurette1 wrote: »

i think you haven't a cats in hells chance of getting anything, I am six years into a dispute with NHBC, it is now in the hands of the FSA and i have been offered £200 compensation for six years of hell, it probably isn't worth all the time it will take you to put in a claim - and trying to put a figure on distress and loss of amenity is something that i doubt the small claims court would address, so if you go fully legal, you are in the situation of if you lose, you have 2 x sets legal fees etc.

i would forget it - we lived in an unfinished house for more than 2 years, with live wires sticking out of walls, etc, wrangling with builder who just took us to court, so NHBC walked away and left us stranded.

Sorry to here this fleurette1. And apologies for the late response.

I do sympathize and I know of others who have been in similar positions.

One that comes to mind involved the NHBC in ten years of unbelievable intensive wrangling with a new home purchaser. The home owner was right to pursue the case and the NHBC knew this. It was NHBC policy to contest all claims at all times (but they will not be quoted on this!). It reached Government Minister level, in Westminster, on numerous occasions.

Eventually the NHBC conceded they had exhausted all mechanisms for delaying the claim. With pressure from Government Minister, other political pressures, independent third parties and independent quotations for repairs the NHBC proposed a settlement. To save face, show victory and massage egos the NHBC refused to repair the house. This was agreed. The NHBC said to the home owner "You bought the house, it is your problem, you repair it".

To any onlookers it appeared a Pyrrhic victory.

In conjunction with the above, the NHBC paid out the full valuation of the insurance policy on the house. Circa £130000. This was on condition the owner signed a non disclosure settlement. The owner refused to sign. a one year stand off occurred.... before pressure mounted to make NHBC back down.

All this procedure added another four years to the claim.

Seventeen years after buying their new home the owners had exhausted the mechanisms of Ombudsmen etc. They could now settle down and repair their new home. A new home that they had bought in good faith, never in their wildest dreams expecting to take on a project management/repair scheme of this nature. The foundations have been repaired, half the ground floor renewed, the cavity walls have been re-built, the floor joists have been strengthened, the stairs renewed, new electrics, new kitchen, new plumbing, all the ceilings have been renewed...the list goes on.

Twenty five years after moving in and work is still progressing. Completion of the house is due this September. This leaves the detached double garage to be demolished and re-built. I would imagine by twenty six years after moving into their new home...it should be rectified.

I feel deeply for the family that went through this. I believe (with my knowledge of NHBC!) that for the latter years of the claim it was the intention of NHBC to break this family. As it turned out NHBC had mis-judged the willpower and stamina of those they took on!

I am posting this for mse forum users to serve as a warning on the potential perils of buying a new home. Fortunately, they are not often this bad. Equally fortunately, most developers and builders are more customer focused than the one in this saga. That said, the one in this case was one of the national, big name, builders.

Buying a new home really is a case of buyer beware.