Why are people buying new builds.

davidmcn

Zero_Sum wrote: »

In our estate, they allocated a set of houses on the edge of the estate for the rented ones. In the end the developer reneged on it, and just didnt build them. And i believe this isnt uncommon thing where developers agree to build them to get planning permission, then dont.

I doubt they'll have merely "reneged on it" (otherwise whoever bought the site wouldn't have valid planning permission for mainstream housing), more likely they sought a variation to the original consent. Often the alternative is the developer paying a contribution to the council so they can arrange affordable housing elsewhere.

letitbe90

Zero_Sum wrote: »

Theres pros & cons with new builds.

Ive lived in both and the benefits of new builds are:

More energy efficient - cheaper to keep warm

Less work in decorating. Its a blank canvass & can get it done to your tastes, not having to alter someone elses

Many older houses dont have garages or driveways.

Having visited family in new builds, I would say that better insulated can also be a con. In the summer the house actually becomes an oven, almost feels unsafe the level of heat it traps in.

Zero_Sum

letitbe90 wrote: »

Having visited family in new builds, I would say that better insulated can also be a con. In the summer the house actually becomes an oven, almost feels unsafe the level of heat it traps in.

Yeah that is quite true. With this summers heatwave, even around midnight the bedroom is still very warm making it difficult to sleep (and with windows open on the latch)

ethank

There are some really good developments in my view and some really bad ones. We are lucky to live in a lovely area and the council has been very strict regarding planning around parking etc - so the issues mentioned are minimised.

tiernsee

Bought both old and new. The new build we bought for two main reasons convenience (we part exchanged) and location. Twenty years later we are still here. Room sizes are fine, if I had to increase any room size it would be the lounge but it fits two settees and a massive tv so works for us. We also do not have a shared drive but a garage and two off road parking spaces.
I did go round to a friend's house yesterday, she has just bought a new build. The finish was lovely especially the interior doors, far better quality than mine! But I did notice it was smaller, especially as the lounge, kitchen and dining room was one room but this was balanced by lovely folding doors that opened onto the garden. She was very happy and it suited her fine, also no shared drive and a garage plus off road parking.
Probably depends on the estate and the builders but we are happy with our new build and overall less problems than the older houses had.

AdrianC

letitbe90 wrote: »

Having visited family in new builds, I would say that better insulated can also be a con. In the summer the house actually becomes an oven, almost feels unsafe the level of heat it traps in.

Insulation should work both ways - it should keep summer heat out as well as winter heat in.

greenhill

This is what frightens me - the build quality. This car (admittedly a range rover) was parked right next to a new build house. He chose the wrong gear. No speed at all, he was just leaving the parking space.......:eek:

https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/crime/car-crashes-into-house-gorleston-1-6226174

pinkteapot

Zero_Sum wrote: »

Is that service charge thing common?
I know theres a bit of an issue with leasehold, but its the first time ive heard of it with freehold. I have a new build (bought 6 years ago) and its freehold, and no service charges.

It's now the norm - at least up here. But that's happened very quickly in just a few years. Yep - we're talking freehold houses with a service charge. Apparently because councils no longer adopt green spaces so a management company is needed to arrange upkeep.

The developer sets up a separate company - the management company. Householders pay a monthly service charge. When the developer is done at the site, the management company is typically sold to an investment company. They're popular with pension funds etc because they generate a steady income. What's bad is the number of stories of people seeing their service charge double in year 2 from the minimal amount they started off paying.

We did speak to one smaller, local developer who does it differently. They also set up management companies but everyone who buys a house gets a share in the company. At the end of the development, the householders have a controlling stake in the management company and appoint directors (usually some of the residents).

In any event, having had a leasehold flat some years back I refuse to go back to paying a service charge, especially when there are older houses where green spaces are paid for through my council tax.

RelievedSheff

Our first home we bought was a 1930s two bed semi.

Our current home is a new build three bed detached.

We much prefer the new build. The build quality is better, the insulation is far better, our Bill's so far are tiny, our nearest neighbours are 6m away so no more neighbour noise, our garden while not the biggest is fully walled a great sun trap and not overlooked in the slightest.

The houses here are very traditionally styled which we like.

Our house is freehold and we have no maintenance charges despite the estate having lots of green spaces. We also have miles and miles of woods on the doorstep for walking the dog.

We love our new build and would not go back to an older property now. This house suits our needs perfectly.

zagubov

Spider_In_The_Bath wrote: »

Those houses in the link are awful. No green space, no privacy (even the balconies and courtyard space is overlooked) and the outside looks like an office block.

Okay, here's another. The upside-down houses in Salford.

There needs to be some architectural rethinking if we're going to house everybody who wants to live in cities if we don't want to be stuffed into tower blocks.