Put deposit on new build and now considering pulling out, advice?

Dan-Dan

hankkosovo wrote: »

There is one extra fee we are expected to pay that was mentioned when we saw the house last week, it is a fee from the developers solicitors for a some sort of search

This is normal (apparently)

hankkosovo

jacques_chirac wrote: »

My boiler is in a cupboard at the top of the stairs

OP, I would cut your losses and run - buy an older house where you know what you are getting. In terms of what your losses may be, you'll have to check what the developer is willing to give you back, and what the solicitors fees to date will be.

Even if taking a loss now, remember that new builds tend to be overpriced, so you may lose even more by going ahead with the purchase.

What additional fees is the developer trying to charge you?

Well thats what I'm leaning towards, we managed to get 10% off the asking price as I was aware that new builds are usually overpriced, but yeah I understand what you're saying. The additional fees are for some sort of search from the developers solicitors which we did not agree to or where informed of when we made our reservation.

hankkosovo

scottishblondie wrote: »

My boiler is in the kitchen and my hot water tank is upstairs, where I would fully expect it to be. Most houses have them in the kitchen or utility room, especially new builds. Depending on the size of the house, it should not really have been a surprise - combi boilers are often not suited for family homes, especially if there is more than one bathroom. Plus it is much easier to fit a boiler on an outside wall due to regulations about flues etc.

The chances of them fitting a new kitchen for you are slim to none, and there is nothing to be done about the boiler placement and the hot water tank. You might get them to install a shower in the bathroom with a bit of persuasion. However, from the builders point of view it would be easier to sell the house as is to a new buyer than to spend more time and money on it for you.

Overall it sounds like you are not at all happy with the house as it is and do not want to live there. Since you haven't exchanged contracts I think you should just pull out and ask for your reservation fee back on the basis that the house is not what you had discussed with the sales agent. You might not get it, but it would be a small loss compared to buying the house and hating it! Chalk it up to experience and move on.

Thanks for the advice, you've verbalised pretty much everything that I've been thinking.

hankkosovo

thedalmeny wrote: »

You have a specific requirement where you did not want a boiler installed into the location it is most commonly placed, as people have stated on this thread even British Gas place them there.. Yet you didn't get this confirmed by way of a blueprint or writing, this seems absolutely bizarre..

We even had the external tape for our property and it's location confirmed in writing when requested...

Furthermore you handed over a £500 reservation yet have no idea what you're entitled to upon cancellation?

I'm sorry, it absolutely boggles me how some people are willing to hand over cash or go on blind faith when it comes to house requirements.

I don't have a specific requirement, I just prefer it not to be in the kitchen. I understand why they are in the kitchen as they need to be on an external wall. We where told a different heating system was being installed than the one that ended up being installed. The one we where told was being installed didn't require a tank, just a boiler and the boiler was placed, in an upstairs cupboard as denoted by the floor plan and confirmed by the sales agent. I mean why would I expect the boiler to be in a kitchen when I'm told and shown it wont be.

I have it in writing what I'm entitled to upon cancelation, I just don't know off the top of my head.

hankkosovo

Dan-Dan wrote: »

Now were getting somewhere

What heating system were you advised would be installed ?

I'm not sure of the name of the top of my head, but it's the same as the one we had in the previously rented property, where there is just a boiler with no tank.

DRP

hankkosovo wrote: »

Hey guys, we put a deposit of £500 down on a new build a few months ago after having seen the shell of the house, we where very happy with it.

A few days ago though we saw the house finished, and we're very disappointed. The quality of the kitchen is sub par,

Do you mean it is the wrong/inferior spec kitchen or that it is poorly installed? I believe tHere is a process on new builds where you report problems after you move in.

hankkosovo wrote: »

theres no shower in the bathroom,

You must have a list of specs that included the shower...?

hankkosovo wrote: »

theres a fuse box in the toilet

The cloakroom toilet? not unusual and probably the least conspicuous place for it to be

hankkosovo wrote: »

, theres turf been laid in the garden (which we specifically said we didn't want, and was an added extra anyway)

So they've upgraded the spec of the garden - excellent!

hankkosovo wrote: »

, it's just like they've given no consideration to how the house will be used. Additionally, there are extra fees that we did not agree on.

Again, check exactly what your paperwork specifies and give them a ring. Sometimes conveyancing can cost mroe if the solicitor has to carry out extra research...

hankkosovo wrote: »

And we're left wondering what our options are:

Option 1 is pulling out but I'm not sure what this would entail or how we would go about it, who do we contact first? Our solicitor? Would we get any of the money we've spent back?

Option 2 is voicing our concerns, try and get them to fit a shower, replace the kitchen but again how would we go about this?

Thanks in advance.

Lose the deposit ... only £500 so better than years of misery in your substandard newbuild box

OR

Check your paperwork thoroughly and give the representative you've been dealing with a call...

hankkosovo

GwylimT wrote: »

Just curious is this a Barratt home?

My brother has one, he thought he was getting a combi boiler when he bought it (as that was in the contract) he actually has a standard gas boiler with the worlds smallest hot water tank. He also didn't get a upvc backdoor that he paid extra for, I could go on and on with the amount of problems as there are many. I'm not anti new build either as I have one myself, I'm just anti crap newbuild.

It's not a Barratt home, and I'd rather not say the company just for anonymity purposes, but the name does begin with a b. Yeah I've read all the horror stories on this forum and others about new builds and this company seemed to be the best of the worse, and the price was right.

caeler

If you can't get past the location of the boiler then I suggest you pull out. I can't imagine you'd get your deposit back under the circumstances but you will need to read the agreement you signed.

If you think you'll be ok then it sounds like you need to sit down with the developer (sales rep) and explain how much your willing to pay for the property including all the extras they saw fit to add without your consent. I can't imagine a shower is hard to add, messy but then everything can be tiled over. If you can't reach an appropriate agreement then walk away, you'll never be happy.

I remember being quite disappointed when I moved into my house to be told the cupboard that I was told was 'removable' and behind was all connections necessary for a dishwasher wasn't the case and only available in the larger houses. Grrr!

Thrugelmir

hankkosovo wrote: »

When we initially viewed the house, it was built minus wiring, fixtures and fittings, l.e. the roof, walls, doors, windows and internal walls where up. That was 6 weeks ago, we viewed it again last week when it was finished. The build has been on time, the only reason we've gone passed the move in date is because the developers haven't sent contracts over to our solicitors.

I'm surprised that you haven't been pushing the sales rep then. As finish specification should have been agreed weeks ago. If you haven't exchanged contracts then you've no grounds for complaint. The developer won't customise the property. As you may not complete. Which appears to be the case now.

chanz4

are most not combi these days anyway, myns in the kitchen boxed in