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

CaveatEmptor

Well just to update this thread, 6 years to the day of buying this property the NHBC finally issued a Certificate of Repair, on all the works carried out. The total costs are well over £300,000.00 not to mention our financial burden to get it put right.

We have had no contact from Linden Homes since 2015. They just ignore emails, and never reply.

Galliford Try who own Linden have a new CEO so I thought I would write to him about our plight, include all the lying emails and deceptive practices as evidenced in the Subject Access Request, as well as the paragraph in their handbook they give to all new home owners...........It clearly states

'Moving In and Enjoying My New Linden Home (sic)
Page 10 - 'FOR EXTRA REASSURANCE’

“ Essentially this means you could be entitled to compensation, if we encounter problems finishing your home, and any issues once you have moved in, that are our fault will be put right. We know this is the worst case scenario, but it gives everyone peace of mind just in case something does go wrong ”

We asked for compensation as documented in the booklet, where they clearly you got things very, very wrong. Things that were clearly their fault. Even to the point of signing off faults identified by the Building Inspector, as corrected, that never where.

The response in short was tough luck, the NHBC repaired your property, so there is no come back on us. It is not our fault we bought a new property in good faith, allegedly constructed to a set standard, and inspected throughout its construction by the NHBC. Is not out fault that Linden Homes signed off faults that were never corrected, and its not our fault it was built to such a poor standard it was a building site on and off for 6 years and took over £300,000.00 to repair. But apparently according to Galliford Try it is, and the fact they had spend so much putting it right is our fault too?

Dear Mr

Thank you for your email dated 11th October.

I sympathise with your situation and apologise for the difficulties you have experienced. I understand, however, the matter has been dealt with by the NHBC in its independent capacity.
Regards
Graham Prothero
Chief Executive


There is very little justice in this world, and Galliford Try are now to buy out Bovis and merge them with Linden Homes!

So we tried Linden Homes, after Galliford Try’s CEO obviously sent them our email of complaint to respond to.........

Dear Mr
I am in receipt of your complaint letter sent to Mr. Graham Prothero regarding issues with your home purchase in Cornwall.
It is my responsibility as Business Unit Managing Director to investigate your complaint and in accordance with our complaints policy, provide a full response within 10 working days.
Many thanks.
Yours sincerely
Nicola Quick

Nicola Quick Personal Assistant to MD
Nicola.Quick@LindenHomes.co.uk
Tel: +4401392268944
Mob: +447436834134

Needless to say no reply was forthcoming within 14 days so a chase up email was sent.

The reply to that last night was as blunt as the CEO’s

Dear Mr.

Thank you for your email dated 30 October 2019.

I understand, however, the matter has been dealt with by the NHBC in its independent capacity and Mr. Prothero has corresponded with you directly.

With kind regards
Nicola

She would not even respond to the allegations of malpractice by Directors within internal emails as evidenced previously on this post, just another fob off.



As said before such stories are just 5 minute wonders, no one sits up and takes notice, there are no consumer rights for new house buyers, building companies know this and just laugh all the way to the bank with your money, what a wonderful occupation to be in.

Fat cats just get fatter

Crashy_Time

People will tire of over-priced new-builds, the Brexit drama should stir the pot a bit as well, what would JC do about this issue if he won?

RelievedSheff

If people didn't buy new builds there would be even more competition for older properties which would push prices higher.

I thought you wanted a price crash?

For what it is worth we love our new build and could never imagine moving back into an older property now. This house is head and shoulders above our old 1930's house in terms of build quality.

CaveatEmptor

The post was about buying a brand new house, under the now very misguided belief it was built to set standards, building regulations, and the NHBC’s own technical standards. It was inspected 5 times during its construction, serious building infringements identified, all signed off as corrected by the builder when they never were.

The lies and deceit that continued, when the builder identified the problems 12 weeks later, yet failed to do anything anything about it, stringing us along with botched repairs. Then actually lying to the NHBC about works they had not done, even supplying false plans and method statements to substantiate this.

It matters not if you buy a new build or old house..............the idea of a new house is that it is allegedly built by law to building regulations, technical specifications, and is meant to be economical to run and maintain.

Not that it is thrown up, using incorrect materials and methods.

Then you find there is not one piece of law or governance that actually covers builders getting away with this. That is why new builds are built the way they are, because then can get away with doing so without any comeback whatsoever..............well apart from offering ‘sympathy’ for 6 years of hell.........so thats all OK then?