Major Snag with new build - can i claim compensation?

dgtazzman

I'm willing to bet those older houses everybody raves on about have had their fair share of problems over time, it happens, just with older houses most of the problems will have been encountered and solved, plus the property might well have been updated a few times, which will probably have been done by (sub)-contractors at the higher end of the market, supervised by the owners themselves.

The strength of buying a new build stands or falls with the after sales customer service. There will be problems, I would certainly expect there to be problems, but if they are dealt with in a timely and correct fashion, that is what would matter most to me.

I would indeed document the wages you have lost due to having to take off to let tradesmen in and kindly request the developer compensate you for this loss. That would certainly seem fair to me.

AdrianC

dgtazzman wrote: »

I would indeed document the wages you have lost due to having to take off to let tradesmen in and kindly request the developer compensate you for this loss.

Indeed. But if it was the OP's choice to babysit them, because he doesn't trust them, then the developer is under no obligation whatsoever. It would be a goodwill gesture, no more.

Nick_C

AdrianC wrote: »

Indeed. But if it was the OP's choice to babysit them, because he doesn't trust them, then the developer is under no obligation whatsoever. It would be a goodwill gesture, no more.

Do you really have a choice? If something was stolen from your home while you were out and you allowed workmen in, would you be insured?

Guest101

Nick_C wrote: »

Do you really have a choice? If something was stolen from your home while you were out and you allowed workmen in, would you be insured?

Why would insurance come in to it?


You know who it was.


1: police report
2: civil court to sue for the value

Nick_C

Guest101 wrote: »

Why would insurance come in to it?


You know who it was.


1: police report
2: civil court to sue for the value

Two or more workmen. You don't know who it was.

Workmen deny all knowledge of the theft, how do you prove it?

I wouldn't leave strangers in my home unattended.

AdrianC

Nick_C wrote: »

I wouldn't leave strangers in my home unattended.

Fair enough, but that is your choice. One not shared by a very wide swathe of the population. As a result of your choice, you may incur extra costs. It is not reasonable to expect those to be reimbursed.

But, even then, that isn't compensaaaayshun, but simple reimbursement of expenses incurred.

davidmcn

Nick_C wrote: »

Do you really have a choice?

Yes, of course you do. The risk of stuff being nicked seems pretty small. I'd rather bear that than lose a day's pay. And if you really do need "security", you could mitigate your loss by getting someone cheaper in to house sit on your behalf.

Guest101

Nick_C wrote: »

Two or more workmen. You don't know who it was.

Workmen deny all knowledge of the theft, how do you prove it?

I wouldn't leave strangers in my home unattended.

1: You do know who it was, it was two workmen, employed by X, provided by the developer, who stole items: A (B, C, D, E...)
2: You don't. the police do!
3: You take the crime reference number, write to the developer, stating that you are presenting them a 'letter before action', to settle the claim of £Z in respect of items A (B, C, D,E...), they have 14 days to reply.




Edit: I wouldn't have strangers in my home either, but I would either accept I need to be there, or arrange for a trusted 3rd party to be there.

ScorpiondeRooftrouser

Nick_C wrote: »

If this had been a tv, not a house, OP could have rejected it.

1 - the fault occurred within 30 days

2 - regardless of the 30 day rule, the vendor has one opportunity to repair. If the attempt at a repair or replacement is unsuccessful, you can then claim a refund or a price reduction if you wish to keep the product.

Unfortunately, the Consumer Rights Act doesn't apply to a new house.

How many people do you think would prefer to move all their belongings out, return the keys and live under a bridge until they could complete a new purchase rather than get a leaky sink repaired?