Poor building work by Bovis Homes

tweet123

Hi was wondering if anyone could help me.I bought a new build property from Bovis Homes in December 2009.I have had various problems over the last few years with my property but nothing of a big deal.However my one major problem is the flooring.Basically the screed is turning to rubble and is not the required thickness of at least 68mm!.Throughout the flat it varies from 23mm in the living room to 50mm in the second bedroom!.I have roughly worked the cost out as the entire flat needs re doing and gutting in excess of £5000!!.Does anyone know if I'm in a position to get Bovis to buy the property back off me as they have not sold a product that is fit for purpose.Any help or advise would be much appreciated.

nidO

http://www.nhbc.co.uk/Warrantiesandcover/

You should have a 10-year warranty against major defects from them, find your NHBC paperwork given to you by Bovis, contact them and they should be able to get your property sorted, their Buildmark warranty does cover faulty screed.

tweet123

Hi tried that NHBC not interested! Bovis have pretty much taken responsibility for the problem.However they are dragging there heals regarding getting it sorted.How would I approach going to Bovis and saying that the flat was not fit for purpose when I bought it so would they buy it back.Thinking of getting a solicitor,involved any suggestions?

[Deleted User]

Why are you so keen for them to buy it back? They are well within their rights to simply have the defects put right. A warranty claim does not give you the right to make them take the house back I'm afraid.

Don't you want to live there any more?

~Beanie~

Just because the floor is not thick enough does not make the whole flat not fit for purpose so you've got no chance of them buying it back from you. They simply need to rectify this.

Iamdave

What if the floor cannot be relaid to the original standard specified though for example? And presumably if the floor isn't thick enough through the op's whole flat all fixtures and fittings I.e. Cabinets, floors the bath etc will need to be taken apart and may not fit back as new.

Davesnave

~Beanie~ wrote: »

. They simply need to rectify this.

Simply?

You cannot lay a new floor through a flat while the occupants are in residence, and as has been pointed out, there will be problems matching the original floor height if it was wrong in the first place.

So, major works and the need to accommodate OP while they are done, though maybe a builder might just be able to do that.

It could be easier/more cost effective for the builder to buy back the flat and auction it off. We don't know.

OP has not explained how long Bovis have been 'dragging their heels,' just as they didn't mention the NHBC in their first post, so it's difficult to advise further and whether the extra expense of a solicitor is justified yet. NHBC might not be particularly brilliant and tend to favour builders, but they have passed this to Bovis for resolution and it isn't being resolved, so I'd be back at their door and being a damn nuisance if it was me.

Someone is responsible and the OP needs names, and a date for a face to face meeting.

ValHaller

tweet, I think your problem may be that you have been too upfront about the resolution you want. Having them buy the flat back looks like buyer's remorse.

You should be pressing them to propose their own remedy and accept or reject and make a counter proposal of a buy back only if the remedy proposed makes a buy back reasonable.

makeyourdaddyproud

It could also be a vibration issue if the rubble resembles slate-like pieces.

Have you contacted other flat owners to see if they have the same problem?

If they do, a class action might be the way forward rather than an easily forgettable solo complaint.

tweet123

Had a phone call from Bovis this morning as I rang them yesterday (no answer) so left a message saying when is problem going to be fixed?.Bovis have said that they can not give me a date when they are going to fix the problem but would probably be in the new year!!.The reason I ask about possibility of Bovis buying back is this has been ongoing for 18 months now being fobbed off until I mentioned legal action.Other problems in this 4 year old property are extreme mold in bathroom and master bedroom.Broken window hinges loose window handles vents that are to small and should be bigger for the property( as the surveyor that I employed to assess the floor pointed out to me).I am also a father to a baby boy who was born 14 wks premature and suffers from chronic lung disease.This is why I am so frustrated with my situation as as a result of these problems my sons health is at risk!!!.This is why I have been asking advise on possibility of Bovis buying back the property.I am very grateful for the advise so far thank you.

Iamdave

I would have thought that the property isn't what was advertised and Bovis havn't supplied a liveable home. Otherwise can't they just go round building shoddy homes and then say "well tough luck you've gought it now" when it starts falling apart.