New build home - completed but can't move in because unfinished

tinka81

Hi, i need some advice.

I completed on my new build home on Friday. I'm a single mum with a 2 and 3 year old. I was very excited and nd collected the keys in the afternoon. Unfortunately there are lots of problems and I'm not able to move in.

- The patio wouldn't close or lock. Managed to get someone very strong to force it shut and lock it but I now can't use it.
- The downstairs electrics are not wired correctly and either don't work or switch on and off the wrong lights (eg:cloakroom switch works the kitchen light)
- Paint work is awful throughout the house. Holes in walls, mud, dents, not bothered to prepare walls and sand them down. Every room has poor paint^ plastering.
- One of the cisterns had a big chunk missing from it
- Kitchen doors damaged
-Poor bathroom tiling
- Garden fence not finished
- Parking no tarmac and road not completed

The lisy goes on.

I've bought a house I can't move in to and use. I don't feel safe moving in until the electrics are sorted at the very least. However the paint work us so bad that I can't move my things in because it almost all needs redoing.

They have not completed any of the actions recorded when we did an inspection a week before completion.

I have listed everything and told the sales office. They came with me and we have taken pictures. I am starting the formal complaint process today.

I am in rented so fortunately have not been made homeless but actually that should not matter - the house should be in a fit state for me to move in to.

Does anyone know my rights? Has anyone else experienced this?

Thanks
A very stressed and worried single mum.

Pixie5740

There's a difference between the house not being finished and snagging. A lot of what you described sounds like snagging even the electrics. Whilst the electrics seems to switch the wrong lights on and off it doesn't mean that the wiring isn't safe. It does sound like some of the workmanship is shoddy though and I bet all this has somewhat taken the shine of moving into a nice new home with your children right before Christmas.

It's important to document the snagging. I found this handy list on a website for landlords but it equally applies to owner occupiers.

http://www.landlordexpert.co.uk/documents/Free_Snagging_Kit.pdf

Edit: I also found this http://www.talktalk.co.uk/money/features/home-new-build-snagging-tips.html

maninthestreet

When I bought a new build property way back in 1989, I was invited by the builder to inspect the property with the site manager to identify any faults that needed rectifying - this was done even before contracts had been exchanged. I assume this did not happen for the OP and their property??

I_have_spoken

At a guess the house has been quickly bodged-together so the labourers can get back to Eastern Europe for Xmas.

It may pay you to engage a professional 'snagger' to find all the things that are wrong before it's too late and the builder has scarpered from the estate.

eddddy

Hi tinka81

If you're happy to deal with the developer yourself to get everything resolved, that's great.

If you want a professional's assessment, you could arrange a 'New Build Snagging Survey'. i.e. a surveyor will inspect the house and write up a formal report of all the problems.

I'd be tempted to use an RICS accredited surveyor (Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors). But it's likely to cost you a few hundred pounds.

If you say "That wall's uneven and needs re-plastering", the developer might just say "No, it's fine. It's within industry standard tolerances."

But if a Chartered Surveyor says it, it's much harder for the developer to argue.