new build flaws - compensation?

gregsayer

Jon_B wrote: »

You do realise you don't have to be there?

Our developer had one of our keys for a month. Let's be honest, if anything untoward was to happen - it's fairly easy to point the blame.

Sounds like it is you being unreasonable and not giving the developer a proper chance to make right what is wrong.

A big fat cheque isn't going to sort any of this really, is it?

proper chance? its been 5 months now......


sorry if its odd, but I don't like the idea of leaving strangers in my house....

AdrianC

gregsayer wrote: »

sorry if its odd, but I don't like the idea of leaving strangers in my house....

Which is entirely your choice - but you need to understand that it IS your choice, and so you are not entitled to any kind of compensation for it. The first general rule of any compensation is that you need to mitigate your losses - and, by choosing to take time off work because of your preferences, you are not doing that.

gregsayer

AdrianC wrote: »

Which is entirely your choice - but you need to understand that it IS your choice, and so you are not entitled to any kind of compensation for it. The first general rule of any compensation is that you need to mitigate your losses - and, by choosing to take time off work because of your preferences, you are not doing that.

but on the flip side, the catalogue of issues shouldn't have occurred, mostly down to the contractors lack of care / professionalism / effort.


it really isn't nice seeing the whole front hall of your brand new house, slowly "melting" due to water ingress, having your nicely laid turf dug up twice, and left in a mud heap, having to go 21 hours without water due to a pipe leak as the pipe had been cut 1cm to short and causing the mdf / chipboard that makes up your kitchen cupboard double in size as it takes in water, causing the door to not fit, and damaging the next cupboard, not being able to use the shiny new bath for almost a week as the plumbers miss fitted a valve.


I have kiers own tradesman in as I write this, and all I can hear from downstairs, is him swearing about the terrible job, every few minutes there a groan or tut when he finds another bodge in the paintwork.


I'm not asking for money, but it would be nice for kier to comeback with something unprompted

AdrianC

gregsayer wrote: »

but on the flip side, the catalogue of issues shouldn't have occurred, mostly down to the contractors lack of care / professionalism / effort.

Correct, and they need to rectify the issues. Presumably, there's an NHBC guarantee on the place?

I'm not asking for money, but it would be nice for kier to comeback with something unprompted

And that is entirely their commercial decision. Whether they do or not, it's very unlikely you'll ever buy a new-built home from them again, right? So there's little commercial benefit in them doing so.

note3

I had a new build and can honestly say it's pot luck as to whether you got the bodge job in the street but there always seems to be one! Ours wasn't the bodge one but still had a few issues and tbh we got fed up and just lived with them in the end. Glad to be rid of the house now though and wouldn't rush to buy another new one.

I feel for you with all the issues as it's mentally exhausting keep contacting them to arrange fixing. I also totally understand your concern leaving strangers unattended in your home. You could suggest to them that they provide compensation of xxx amount which is xxx number of days annual leave so you can take unpaid leave from your employer and actually have a break not be at home with the builders as you've now lost some of your entitlement to their incompetency.

Yes I appreciate from the other comments on here that this may be deemed as being you choice but actually it's not uncommon to stay at home when tradesmen are there. The company you bought from may agree.

Jon_B_2

gregsayer wrote: »

proper chance? its been 5 months now......


sorry if its odd, but I don't like the idea of leaving strangers in my house....

Yes. It's taken 5 months because you are not being flexible!!!

Take a step back from the situation and look at the facts. Contractors/builders work Monday to Friday 8am til 5pm. They don't have diaries and are working on lots of jobs all at once. Do them a favour and have some trust.

There is nothing odd about builders in your house. They are not strangers !!!!!!. Not just in new builds, it's commonplace to let tradesman do what they need to do to get the job done.

I personally feel on this issue you are being more than a little pathetic. Whilst it's not right that you have some issues with your house, YOU are exacerbating the problem by being really awkward.

AdrianC

note3 wrote: »

Yes I appreciate from the other comments on here that this may be deemed as being you choice but actually it's not uncommon to stay at home when tradesmen are there.

Nobody's said it's "uncommon". Of course it's a common choice. Equally, it's very common to NOT be there.

joshardy07

I've got to say I'm surprised at how unhelpful a lot of these posts are. The house has clearly not been built to the standard required. Almost everyone on this forum has been through the stress of moving house and to have finally moved in, the last thing you need is a ton of what look to me, like serious jobs needing to be corrected. Poor workmanship and a lack of quality assurance from the developer are not the OPs fault and yet they are being made to feel like they're being difficult in wanting them to be put right in line with their wishes. They've invested a huge amount of money and are now expected to 'put up with it' as if poor workmanship is acceptable.

If this was a new car you'd take it back and demand a new one.

AdrianC

joshardy07 wrote: »

I've got to say I'm surprised at how unhelpful a lot of these posts are. The house has clearly not been built to the standard required.

And the developer are sorting the issues.

Poor workmanship and a lack of quality assurance from the developer are not the OPs fault and yet they are being made to feel like they're being difficult in wanting them to be put right in line with their wishes.

Not at all.

They've invested a huge amount of money and are now expected to 'put up with it' as if poor workmanship is acceptable.

Are you reading the same thread as me?

The thread I'm reading has the OP with issues, being fixed, but the OP is choosing to take time off work to "baby-sit" the builders who are rectifying the issues - and asking how much compensation the developer should give them for that choice.

joshardy07

Yes I'm reading the same thread as you.

Maybe they don't like having builders working in their house unsupervised, maybe they're really private people - they shouldn't be made to feel like they're getting in the way because of that - they have been put in this position!

Now I understand that the jobs are being put right but as I read it, its 5 months on and still work is ongoing - if the OP can only be there at a certain time then its up to the developer to suck it up and blitz the house at that time. Clearly some jobs will need to be scheduled differently but I think the responsibility to be flexible rests clearly on the developers shoulders and not the poor sod who has just handed over £100's of thousands of pounds, only have to the ceiling cave in, no hot water and soggy walls.

As for compensation - they should be eligible. It is their choice to take time off work but for reasons that any reasonable person would agree, are valid.