New Build - Am i entitled to compensation?

NewBuildProblems

Over a month ago we bought a new build property. They delayed us by five days and told this on the original completion date. Our new move-in day was a disaster, and we didn't get into our home until the late afternoon. We had a snag list as all new homes do but there wasn't anything major on there, nothing that we couldn't put up with while living in our home.

On Sunday 28th July I came downstairs to find our ground floor flooded. The water was up to my ankles. We tried to stop the water from under the sink coming out but it was coming straight from the mains. We rang the emergency number given to us and it took half an hour until I was on the phone to a plumber. The water was that high that when we opened the front door it poured out on to our drive. A plumber arrived an hour after making the phone call. We spent two weeks in a hotel while the developers fixed and repaired our home. They gave us a cheque which covered our food allowance for each day, furniture which had been ruined and money for the bills for while we were not in the property.

My question is, is it likely we will receive inconvenience compensation? I wake my partner up every morning now because I can't face going downstairs first. I have had time off work sick. I jump at every noise in the house. I just wish I hadn't bought it. The problems we have had have now taken away the shine of buying my first home.

-taff

Unlikely. If you suffered a financial loss you would be and have been compensated.

sal_III

It's an unfortunate event, but seems like the response of the developer was more or less on point.

- The plumber arrived 1.5h after you called that's faster than ambulances in some part of the country.
- They fixed the damage in reasonable time (2 weeks)
- They paid for your accommodation and meals
- They even paid your bills for the 2 weeks

Under the warranty i highly doubt you are entitled for a compensation for "emotional distress", the best you can hope for is a token good will gesture.

Out of curiosity, why didn't you stop the water from the main stopcock? We were explicitly shown where it's located as part of the introduction to our new home.

davidmcn

sal_III wrote: »

Out of curiosity, why didn't you stop the water from the main stopcock?

I'm guessing that by "We tried to stop the water from under the sink coming out but it was coming straight from the mains" they mean the leak was on the wrong side of the stopcock.

NewBuildProblems

Our home demo was done in a show home that wasn't our house type. No one had shown us where to turn the main water off from, when we had moved in we requested for someone to do a home demo in our home and was told someone would come and see us, the flood happened before they came out to us.

I didn't think we would be entitled but just wanted to ask out of curiosity.

Thank you

sal_III

davidmcn wrote: »

I'm guessing that by "We tried to stop the water from under the sink coming out but it was coming straight from the mains" they mean the leak was on the wrong side of the stopcock.

I read it as "The water was coming off from/around the sink, that's where we looked for to stop it, but it there either wasn't a stopcock there or the water was coming off from the wrong end of it". It didn't read as "We turned off the main stopcock, but the water was till gushing"

@OP Do you now know, where the main stopcock is and what the problem was? I would be more worried about knowing that, than seeking further compo.

RelievedSheff

It sounds like the developers have done what they need to do in this situation.

You really do need to make yourself familiar with your home though and where items such as the stop !!!! and gas shut off valves are located and how they work.

You don't need the developer to show you this just have a good look around yourself.

Try not to worry too much. All new homes have teething problems. We moved into our new home in April and have had, as expected, snags that need fixing along the way, although thankfully nothing as bad as yours yet.

Try to enjoy your new home. You have the peace of mind that the developers will sort out any problems for the first couple of years and then you have your NHBC (or similar) warranty for the next 8 to cover major problems. That is more than you get with an older home!

NewBuildProblems

Yes, the original plumber hadn't connected the mains correctly, so they said it was basically only a matter of time until it would have happened. They brought in an external plumbing company to make the repairs and do a full review of the plumbing which they found many other problems, such as pipes missing in the boiler etc. If there is a silver lining in this, it is that the plumbing in the house has been reviewed and fixed and that we now know how to turn the water off from the mains!

I am not seeking further compo. I was just simply asking if people thought I would be entitled. If I was seeking compo, I would be speaking to a solicitor. I am now back in my home; I wasn't thinking about this when I was living in a hotel for two weeks.

lincroft1710

The builders have fixed the problem, reimbursed you for the actual damage caused and consequential costs, so have done their duty. There is no right to "inconvenience" compensation.

RelievedSheff

I wouldn't have said you were entitled to anything further than the developer has already provided.

I'm not sure why you think you would be to be honest.

NewBuildProblems

RelievedSheff wrote: »

I wouldn't have said you were entitled to anything further than the developer has already provided.

I'm not sure why you think you would be to be honest.

The developers have bought up the conversation of compensation and the workmen on the site have told us to speak to solicitors. I wasn't sure so thought I would post this.