What’s my rights / New build

Ac1987654

We are going through an incredibly stressful time buying a new build. We reserved a property in Jun last year where we were practically harrassed to exchange. Once exchanged we have had a number of ‘completion dates’. However the one that was a definite ‘anticipated completion date’ was in Dec. So the morning of this completion date we were due a home demo, we turn up with walls still being painted, fences not up, about 20 tradesmen still working on electrical and gas. To be told they weren’t ready to complete. Thankfully we still had our rental over Christmas. The second ‘definite anticipated completion date’ was mid jan. So we are assured, ‘yes definitely moving in’. We book removals, we hand back our accommodation. We visit the house 2 days before and assured that all is on track. The day before completion ‘oh, a cracks appeared in you floor’. The house isn’t structurally sound and the floor doesn’t support the stairs. We as a family (with a very young child) are left homeless. The developers have put us up in a holiday cottage, initially a 2 week period as the work ‘will definitely be complete’. It isn’t. We have to move to another holiday cottage and now it transpires a third one as the timeline of the 15th Feb they gave me is also plucked out their !!!!!! it would appear. I’ve spoken to my solicitor but the contract is in their favour and we can’t pull out without losing a large deposit. surely as a consumer I have some rights? The basic elements of the house is below the standard required and needs steel joists to support it and we have been left in a horrendous situation. But I am stuck jumping from holiday cottage to cottage every 2 weeks, no fixed address and with a small child that this is really starting to stress out. I am at my wits end!!

middleclassbutpoor

You get more rights buying a kettle tbh.

I seem to recall some contracts will specify a completion date and will allow a break if they completion date is missed by a certain period - i.e. 60 days post the date written on the contract.

At least you are not paying for accommodation and whilst probably not ideal, I would rather the house be right. If you were to pull out, 8-12 weeks of further conveyancing min once you have found another house.

Not easy to swallow but you are better persisting. Albeit, I would be paying for a professional snagging firm to go in asap when you know its definitely happening.

Ac1987654

On speaking the solicitor they have 6 months to make it habitable. I would have looked at let’s for 6 months but as they keep giving us week by week new timeframes we couldn’t commit to a tenancy agreement. It’s astonishing that it got to the day prior to completion and deemed structurally unsound, the only reason it got noticed is due to us not using the developers for flooring. I imagine there will be a number of other plots with below standard floors that have now completed but it just wasn’t seen.

middleclassbutpoor

The holiday let is surely going to be more expensive than an AST let given holiday lets also include your bills etc.

You have been lucky by sounds of it and the upheaval of moving every 2 weeks must be pretty frustrating. Just going to have to stick with it now though.

Just shows the risks of buying houses exists in both new and old builds.

Good luck with your purchase.

SquirrelRM

We had our solicitor put in a long stop date in our contract so we had a get out if things didn’t happen in a timely manner. Fortunately we were in exactly when they said.
It does sound like they are being quite good with providing you accommodation as I’m sure most developers wouldn’t.

Annie35

Still an awful situation! OP you say they're having to fit steels to counteract movement from the base??? Is this going to cause problems when you come to sell?

Ac1987654

They are being accommodating with the holiday cottages. However, they did give us 0 notification so really it is the least they can do in my opinion. Not too sure about the resale impact I have enquires with the solicitor if it will have an impact on lender however as it was not a complete build during survey she doesn’t think it will have an impact? I’ve lost faith in the build and foresee future issues, however have no legal rights to pull out despite clear major issues on the fundamental stages of the build.

kazwookie

If it is unsound and it is a new build

What is likely to happen in years to come?

Is the ground unstable?

Sounds like a nightmare to me, and you haven't even moved in yet.

Make sure your solicitor future proof's your house with the developer, so should any faults appear they are covered.

hazyjo

Is this an independent solicitor, or one connected to the developer? I would be taking that contract to an independent one if the latter.

Ac1987654

Independent. I was really surprised when she said we were tied in as we had exchanged, it isn’t a small issue! Why should we be tied to what looks like a bad investment?

pimento

Where is this development?