Housing estates

gld73 · 15 July 2013 at 8:08PM

I bought my current house as a new build about 1.5yrs ago - it's got plenty of storage, good size rooms, and is a "B" on the EPC rating, so bills are good (relatively!). It's a 3 storey terraced house.

The only downside is parking - each house has either a garage or a parking space, and as most of the houses are 2 car households, the street gets pretty packed. But not all new build estates are as bad, it's just the parking allocation on my one was particularly bad. Parking aside, I have no other problems as it's pretty cheap and low-hassle in general :-)

I_have_spoken · 15 July 2013 at 9:08PM

New builds generally have one big, big issue - the mandatory provision of HA/affordable homes as condition of getting planning.

You need to look very carefully at where these are and the number - do you really want to pay £££s and look across the road to a family of 'seekers' getting housed for free on your taxes?

Parking is a 'mare - look out for the enforcement having been sold off to a private contractor who will ticket anyone who visits you.

House and garden sizes are tiny, garages are now being build which a family car just won't fit into.

Construction is generally shoddy as everyone is on a bonus to finish ASAP so houses as slung together.

Pipework and boiler etc. are made of the cheapest, thinnest metal known so don't expect them to last.

terrierlady · 15 July 2013 at 9:37PM

you get what you pay for, new builds carry an extra cost, like new cars, fittings and fixtures are what you pay extra for. plots need good selection again what suits one doesnt suit another, easy to get mortgages on, space inside can be an issue most carry 10 year nhbc guarentee ,parking is usally the problem narrow roads plus social housing, people have two minds about it, would you like to pay top dollar for a property and have rented or co ownership next door ? dont bother most people who understand that to get planning developers have too supply so many homes.only you can decide .