New Build, wont have full access to garden after moving in

gregsayer

hi, just curious if this is normal, and if there is anything I can get out of the developer for putting up with it..


basically, I'm due to complete on my new build in mid December (house just needs decorating and final fix), the property has completed houses on one side, a private drive for 5 other properties soon to be constructed to the other (so no boundary yet, just storage for bricks and skips!.
then at the rear boundary, covering about half the width of the garden, is another 2 story house, as yet its not got above 5ft high, and they have just started placing scaffolding in what will be my garden, to support the construction.
I've been told this will still be in place when I move in, and that my garden will have a temporary fence, cutting its depth in half, whilst the construction continues, and my boundary will only be properly established once they have finished.
even aside from this I couldn't get the developer to turf the rear garden, as they wouldn't negotiate on much, as I jumped infront of 4-5 other buyers due to having sold my house to a FTB.
this will pretty much leave me with a mud pile until feb-march time, as there will be no point trying to turf the back until I get access to the whole thing!!
also would they move the rubble used to support the scaffolding, or just dump top soil on top?
Cheers

Jon_B_2

Our garage wasn't complete before our completion date. I agreed to sign a NHBC letter in return for hard cash and turf that they wouldn't budge on at reservation.

Worth a try - all depends I guess whether the NHBC at sign off would not declare your house as habitable. Remember, this certificate is needed by the solicitor to secure mortgage funding.

bclark

If you have exchanged contracts based around your proper boundary and if nothing is noted in the contract about the developer retaining this access then they have a problem. Too many developers just take for granted that they can come and go as they please even when people start moving into their properties.

It's your land on completion and so they need permission to be there. They will need to make it worth your while to allow them.

Obviously if they have allowed for this in the contracts or made you aware at reservation then that's a different matter (possibly).

gregsayer

still haven't exchange contracts, but id did try and get the developer to turf the garden once they completed the works, but no joy.


I have now made my solicitor aware.

moneyistooshorttomention

gregsayer wrote: »

still haven't exchange contracts, but id did try and get the developer to turf the garden once they completed the works, but no joy.


I have now made my solicitor aware.

Just as well - ie that you have told your solicitor.

I've never heard of a new-build property not having its garden turfed (or equivalent) at the end of work on it. One frequently hears of builders just leaving their rubble there and turfing over that - with the poor householder having to dig all their lawn back up again later and do things properly if they want to change their garden subsequently.

But to not even plan on turfing it at any level - properly or otherwise....

One wonders whether they want to leave OP open to further disruption subsequently if it suits them to do so...

marksoton

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

I've never heard of a new-build property not having its garden turfed (or equivalent) at the end of work on it.

Judging by posts on here this is becoming more and more common. Unless the buyer stumps up extra cash.

We're currently over pumping on a large development where the sewerage doesn't have anywhere to go,just an end manhole.

Despite this a large number of residents are already moved in. Putting up with all the construction traffic / noise etc..

I hope they've negotiated accordingly, wouldn't be for me! :eek:

I'd say the OP is in a strong position to negotiate,especially once completed.

libf

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

I've never heard of a new-build property not having its garden turfed (or equivalent) at the end of work on it. One frequently hears of builders just leaving their rubble there and turfing over that - with the poor householder having to dig all their lawn back up again later and do things properly if they want to change their garden subsequently.

I've been 'given' turfing on my plot in the same way that I'm being 'given' basic carpeting/vinyl. It's considered an upgrade.

I've been told that it probably won't be done when I move in though (as that will be in January and therefore the ground is likely to be frozen). No access through my garden to other bits of the site though!

moneyistooshorttomention

marksoton wrote: »

We're currently over pumping on a large development where the sewerage doesn't have anywhere to go,just an end manhole.

.

:eek::eek:_pale_ - Crikey....is that even legal?:eek::eek:

Mygawd - some of these developers are taking the Michael a bit aren't they? Sounds like my "You learn something new every day" moment for the day...:cool:

I would agree that carpeting/vinyl is an "upgrade" personally - ie the house itself doesn't need it. But the house itself does need sewage dealt with and a garden that will suffice for the time being (ie rather than being bare earth - or what OP is having to put up with).

libf

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

:eek::eek:_pale_ - Crikey....is that even legal?:eek::eek:

Mygawd - some of these developers are taking the Michael a bit aren't they? Sounds like my "You learn something new every day" moment for the day...:cool:

I would agree that carpeting/vinyl is an "upgrade" personally - ie the house itself doesn't need it. But the house itself does need sewage dealt with and a garden that will suffice for the time being (ie rather than being bare earth - or what OP is having to put up with).

I'd consider carpet needed and the garden something that could be done later.

moneyistooshorttomention

libf wrote: »

I'd consider carpet needed and the garden something that could be done later.

:rotfl::rotfl:Hmmm....mud up to knees at regular intervals (ie any time I tried to walk across my garden) v. a house is perfectly usable and its a "matter of taste" thing as to what goes down on the floor if the floors are just bare wood planks (or, in part of country I'm now in = make that bare concrete probably:().

I'll take the usable garden personally and just put my slippers (and thermal socks) on before trudging across those bare floors. At least I can use the blimmin' house whilst its waiting for its floor coverings of my choice.

.....wanders off trying not to think about the cost involved to transform the garden from "As it came" level to "My level...finished at last"...as I know darn well its well up into thousands of £s:( Am guessing that it will cost around £8k to £10k to get my garden sorted - on top of what I've spent throwing out all existing "rubbish" from it and making it remotely viable (courtesy of it being a secondhand house).

Former_MSE_Andrea

It's interesting to hear who considers a back lawn to be standard.

I've bought new-builds twice and neither came with turf in the back garden. Both had to be negotiated/haggled with the house builders (Tay, which became Redrow, and David Wilson).

I've also haggled a dishwasher (in my first new-build) and got a free ton of compost for my veggie patch in the second