Linden Homes - A very sorry tale so beware of what you could let yourself in for!

pinkteapot

Daily Mail has had a string of stories about cr*p new-builds. How did you approach them? Part of my job is PR so I pitch to journalists. You need to give the briefest of outlines in the most attention-grabbing way possible as they get loads of emails and won’t read anything beyond a few lines.

Other option is to go to local papers first and nationals will pick up anything juicy from them.

I'd be sending emails along the lines of:

Subject line: Linden Homes executive admits devastated homeowner bought "a Friday afternoon house"

Email:

I've owned my Linden Homes house for six years. In that time £350,000 has been spent correcting more than XX faults in the original build and the house has virtually been re-built. I/My partner have been hospitalised due to stress, we've used most of our holiday dealing with the house, and we've repeatedly been lied to by the company.

Following a Subject Access Request I have copies of internal Linden Homes emails about my property. Quotes include:

• "we obviously can't trust our sub contractors without constant supervision" - {insert job title of who wrote this}
• "Did [this house] have a QM inspection or was it before we did them?" - {job title}
• "I'm lost for words... and now have increasing concerns that these issues not only relate to this house but a number if [sic] others." - {job title}
• "If such a thing exists, Mr XXXX does really seem to have a Friday afternoon house." - {job title}

I've seen several stories about poor workmanship at Linden Homes in the press this year and believe my story is the worst yet.

Kind regards,
CaveatEmptor

pinkteapot

p.s.:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6870201/Residents-threaten-quit-new-500-000-homes-encountering-hundreds-faults.html

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5637827/Surrey-homeowners-furious-developers-Linden-Homes-700-000-house-smells-poo.html

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7213307/Swindon-homeowner-claims-400-faults-Linden-Homes-property.html

CaveatEmptor

Pinkteapot,
Thanks for that, but to be honest I’m drained after trying everything possible over the past 6 years. What will it actually achieve, a bit of bad PR for Linden, which will be closely followed by another similar story, about another building company in a few weeks/months time.

Nothing really happens to these companies, and stories are just forgotten.

I did the script to warn others and give them some advise what to do, and hopefully not have to jump through so many hurdles as we have had to do. Also what the consequences are of a new build, with inherent in built faults, or just thrown up regardless of Building Regulations, or NHBC Technical Specifications.

The events over the last 6 years leave a lasting impression, and change you. I have a tendency not to trust anything or anyone anymore, I fly off the handle for no particular reason and, have little patience for anything.
That’s not me, one bit but what I have become. You read stories about similar situations, and think it can never be that bad...............it is and, when you have to live with lies and deceit, unkept promises, days off ruined time and time again, organisations that fail to uphold any common decency whatsoever, its soul destroying. Day after day, week after week, month after month, that turn into year after year.

Fortunately I kept every email, every picture of every fault, and even have taped recordings of phone calls of promises and statements made. None of which is of any use whatsoever because these people do not seem to have broken any laws currently in force at the moment.

There was a stated case years ago, which building companies now hold dear to themselves whereby home owners can not suffer inconvenience caused as a result of bad builds. Where they do the costs were limited to £1500 for distress and loss of amenity.

This is of course absolute peanuts, Linden know this. So I have to spend £60,000 to get this anywhere near a court, only for their Counsel to raise this case to the trial Judge and award damages similar to those. Is it really worth it. Not really they win every time.

I am sure if I could get this to a Court with all the evidence and lies on record, we could get a new stated case, which could once and for all overthrow the case of Strange v Westbury Homes (Holdings) Limited and set a new precedent that might actually worry building companies.

I don’t have £60,000, but I do have the evidence to prove what a devious system is operated by building companies, all to their advantage, and theirs alone.

Going to the papers is not really going to change anything really is it?

DoaM

CaveatEmptor wrote: »

I don’t have £60,000

As asked previously (which you may have missed) ... what about legal cover with your home insurance?

(If you've already addressed this, apologies - your posts are too long to read every single word).

wesleyad

Also unless i've missed it where does the £60000 come from? isnt the fee capped at £10k?

DoaM

wesleyad wrote: »

Also unless i've missed it where does the £60000 come from? isnt the fee capped at £10k?

That's the limit for cases in the small claims track (where costs are limited). Court case claims can be for much higher values, but they take a different track and costs are not limited, so the losing party could face having to pay the other party's very high legal costs.

sillyhilly

Where's Martin Lewis when you need him? I know he frequents these forums on occasion.

That would be harder to ignore...

CaveatEmptor

Have answered the question over Legal Expense cover in a private message

Davesnave

sillyhilly wrote: »

Where's Martin Lewis when you need him? I know he frequents these forums on occasion.

That would be harder to ignore...

Back soon:


https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1155873252746715136


I think MSE would be the right platform for taking on the combined might of the building industry. Like parts of the food industry, it has politicians in it's pocket.

horse99

Have you considered a GOFUNDME page?

Perhaps identifying who you are on the website with your home address might help and media promotion also.

Donations could come from other new build victims who are seeking a legal precedent, members of the public in general and you might a get lucky and attract a 'high net worth individual'.

Yes, we all walk alone in life. Never trust any workman or company. Watch them like a hawk. Take nothing for granted. Question everything.

The UK is the SCAM capital of the world. It's dog eat dog. Nobody cares about anyone else. All standards of decency, morals, empathy for strangers died a generation ago.

Good luck