Big bills, caused by house builder

SparkyUK_2

Hi guys,
Not sure where to post this, so apologies if this isn't the right place.

I bought a house through one of those schemes where you pay a mortgage and rent - assisted house buying efforts (I forget the correct term).

Anyway, most things went okay, until the Gas bill arrived - and it was a lot higher than I was expecting. Friends and family also agreed the bills were much higher than a 2-bed townhouse should be consuming. I was not over the top in setting the thermostat or hot water, either.

The appeal of the house was to assist those who can't afford the deposit for the home and also those needing to operate to a tight budget - so big bills are a concern!

This house is also one of those eco homes - so there are large solar panels on the room, small baths (shallow) and other measures to stop you using much energy.

It turns out, that the two things that had been done wrong, have been the cause of the high bills.

The solar panels had not been installed correctly, so they were not providing any hot water. And the boiler hadn't had the pressure set correctly, so it wasn't really pumping the hot water around the central heating, or into the tank that well. Also the settings on the valves were wrong.

These have all been corrected (by the builder) and all is well now.

But where do I stand getting some money back? I feel it's really unfair I've had to pay a lot more for bills when the system hasn't been working properly, and the solar panels haven't been working at all. These weren't faulty components, they were installed badly.

Any advice would be really welcome.

Wywth

SparkyUK wrote: »

Hi guys,
Not sure where to post this, so apologies if this isn't the right place.

I bought a house through one of those schemes where you pay a mortgage and rent - assisted house buying efforts (I forget the correct term).

Anyway, most things went okay, until the Gas bill arrived - and it was a lot higher than I was expecting. Friends and family also agreed the bills were much higher than a 2-bed townhouse should be consuming. I was not over the top in setting the thermostat or hot water, either.

The appeal of the house was to assist those who can't afford the deposit for the home and also those needing to operate to a tight budget - so big bills are a concern!

This house is also one of those eco homes - so there are large solar panels on the room, small baths (shallow) and other measures to stop you using much energy.

It turns out, that the two things that had been done wrong, have been the cause of the high bills.

The solar panels had not been installed correctly, so they were not providing any hot water. And the boiler hadn't had the pressure set correctly, so it wasn't really pumping the hot water around the central heating, or into the tank that well. Also the settings on the valves were wrong.

These have all been corrected (by the builder) and all is well now.

But where do I stand getting some money back? I feel it's really unfair I've had to pay a lot more for bills when the system hasn't been working properly, and the solar panels haven't been working at all. These weren't faulty components, they were installed badly.

Any advice would be really welcome.

I'm sure your solictor would advise you over this - it's what you pay them for.

Cardew

On your 'shared equity' scheme, presumably the rent is paid to a Housing Association/Council?

I would ask them to take the matter up with the builders.

SparkyUK_2

Wywth wrote: »

I'm sure your solictor would advise you over this - it's what you pay them for.

I don't have one, nor can I afford one.

SparkyUK_2

Cardew wrote: »

On your 'shared equity' scheme, presumably the rent is paid to a Housing Association/Council?

I would ask them to take the matter up with the builders.

Yes, that's the scheme I'm on. The rent is paid to GreatPlaces (ironic), but they are refusing to discuss it with me, saying I have no proof.

Both Mitre engineers that came out to inspect the issue, found faults, and corrected them, but they didn't leave me any paper work. The last engineer that realised the Solar Panel pipes still had their delivery plugs in the pipes (blocking the water), took a photo because they were gobsmacked they were still in place, as was the person who said the boiler had been wired in, but not set up.

Thanks

ChumpusRex

We had major issues due to incorrect building work at a flat I owned a while ago. When the block was built, the builders didn't install any water meters (even though this was a legal requirement).

People were randomly getting bills for £70,000 after moving in, and all sorts.

In the end, the only way we got this sorted was via the block's management company and the freeholder. The water company weren't willing to deal with individual owners, other than to continue to harass them with debt collectors or seeking court orders to forcibly install water meters, etc.

The management company tried to sue the builder but lost. In the end, the management company were forced to install water meters for all flats by the water company (a very difficult process given the design of the building and the way the builders had installed the plumbing + the need to install special smart meters with automatic readers that would text a reading in every day, because the meters had to go into a locked machine room which residents and meter readers could not normally access). The cost of the whole debacle came to £2k per flat, which had to be paid as an emergency "maintenance" charge.

Cardew

SparkyUK wrote: »

Yes, that's the scheme I'm on. The rent is paid to GreatPlaces (ironic), but they are refusing to discuss it with me, saying I have no proof.

Both Mitre engineers that came out to inspect the issue, found faults, and corrected them, but they didn't leave me any paper work. The last engineer that realised the Solar Panel pipes still had their delivery plugs in the pipes (blocking the water), took a photo because they were gobsmacked they were still in place, as was the person who said the boiler had been wired in, but not set up.

Thanks

If 'GreatPlaces' refuse to accept any liability, then your only recourse is to go to law.

You can take action in the Small Claims court for little expenditure. Often just the threat of court will be enough for an opponent to settle.

However you don't say how much you estimate this episode has cost you, and it may be prudent to put it down to experience and move on.

Wywth

SparkyUK wrote: »

I don't have one, nor can I afford one.

:huh:
You bought a property, probably the biggest purchase you'll ever make, and you didn't employ a solicitor/conveyancer? :eek: