Am I Entitled to Compensation for New Build House

Jon_B_2

Yeah - what is the main disadvantage to the mirrored layout apart from there fact it's not what you expected?

Charlie1985

Basically my lounge has side Windows. In the original plan these would have looked out onto the road. With how it has been built these side windows now look out onto my side drive way and the side brick wall of the house next door. In addition I had plans to add a conservatory to the back of the lounge. Now as the external side entry to the house is on the side of gnf lounge that may be a problem.

Charlie1985

Also it's a corner plot so having side windows looking out on the road was a great appeal.

marksoton

Charlie1985 wrote: »

Hi I still want the house. My solicitor has said I need to tell her what I want from this so she can act on my behalf. I asked her what my options were and she said she has no idea as she has never dealt with something like this before. I hit the impression as it is the house builders recommended solicitors I feel they are siding with TW to an extent and not being too helpful.

:doh::wall:

Noooooooo...

There's so many contradictions in the above i don't even know where to start.

Chalk yet another one up to independent legal advice...

AdrianC

Charlie1985 wrote: »

My solicitor has said I need to tell her what I want from this so she can act on my behalf. I asked her what my options were and she said she has no idea as she has never dealt with something like this before.

I can see her point on that.

She cannot go to the builders and say "My client wants out because of this", because you don't.
She cannot go to the builders and say "My client wants X as recompense for this", because you don't know what you want.
She cannot go to the builders and say "My client wants something as recompense for this, but doesn't know what - what do you suggest?", because she'll be laughed at or fobbed off.

Your options are simple.
- You can ask to be let off the deal.
- You can ask for something tangible - maybe an optional upgrade, maybe a discount.
- You can shrug and live with it.

You can ask for as much as you want. You can ask for a 90% discount and stamp duty paid for and all the upgrades on the list if you want. You won't get it, of course, and then you'll need to either shrug and ask nicely to walk away or just nod meekly and sign the cheque.

So the question is what the builders are feasibly going to agree to - and that's largely dependent on how easily they can resell the plot if they let you walk. Remember, you've already exchanged contracts. You are legally bound to this deal.

Options I am thinking:

1. Get them to build the house as it should be - however my solicitor says they will probably not do this due to drainage etc

If absolutely no work on the ground whatsoever had started, then it MIGHT be possible, but it's unlikely. Given that the ground floor walls are probably finished by now, since they were up to window level when you found out, you really are having a laugh...

AdrianC

There is one possibility that comes to mind - can you swap your purchase for one of the other-way-round houses, the ones that're laid out as you wanted. Or are they already sold to somebody else?

Charlie1985

Unfortunately there are only 4 plots of this house style. All plots have been sold. The demand on the site I believe is quite high. Would it be too much to ask for flooring, stamp duty, and my options paid?

It's hard to know how much mark up they have on the incentives. Also because I bought off plan I found out the prices of houses in the area have now gone up by £10k as the sales advisor advised me a few weeks ago they sold a smaller house for £10k more than mine.

AdrianC

Charlie1985 wrote: »

The demand on the site I believe is quite high. Would it be too much to ask for flooring, stamp duty, and my options paid?

You answered your question in the preceding sentence, I suspect.

Also because I bought off plan I found out the prices of houses in the area have now gone up by £10k as the sales advisor advised me a few weeks ago they sold a smaller house for £10k more than mine.

And this pretty much confirms it.

Your realistic choices are accept it or ask to be released from the contract. I suspect that they will be only too happy to do that, since they know that they will easily resell the property for a higher price.

davidmcn

Charlie1985 wrote: »

Get them to take money off the sale price. Does anyone know what sort of % discount would be a sensible amount? I am purchasing the property for £253,000.

They are building a house of the same style and on the same plot - I think you'd be struggling to find a surveyor who'd value it differently - the handedness is your personal preference.

silvercar

Charlie1985 wrote: »

Basically my lounge has side Windows. In the original plan these would have looked out onto the road. With how it has been built these side windows now look out onto my side drive way and the side brick wall of the house next door. In addition I had plans to add a conservatory to the back of the lounge. Now as the external side entry to the house is on the side of gnf lounge that may be a problem.

Sounds like the drains may be in the way of what you had proposed in any case.