Are Our Expectations Unreasonable?

pimento

A month ago we moved into a brand new rented house on an estate that is still being built. We will only be here until the house we are buying goes through ( same city, different area).
The road we are on is so new that nobody knows it exists. Even the council tax couldn't be set because the valuation hadn't been set. Delivery drivers can't find us and taxis give up.
The main problem is that due to the layout of the site, our new road lies beyond the show home and from the road it looks just like a building site.

We have been asking for a street name sign to be erected almost since we moved in and nobody seems to want to take responsibility for the problem.
I am currently in plaster with a broken arm so can't drive and I almost missed a hospital appointment last week because the taxi couldn't find us.

They are now moving some families with children in and I'm worried that in an emergency, the services wouldn't be able to find us. Our post code on Google maps shows an open field with groundworks.

Is it unreasonable to expect the developer to put up a street name sign? They have plenty of "buy our lovely houses" signs, one or two of which could easily be converted. Or do we have to suck it up and pray for an early completion on our purchase and that there isn't a fire?

Edited to add, their own contractor who came to fix a fault couldn't find us yesterday.

G_M

What have the developers said in response to your query?
What has your landlord said?

AdrianC

pimento wrote: »

A month ago we moved into a brand new rented house on an estate that is still being built.
...
The road we are on is so new that nobody knows it exists. Even the council tax couldn't be set because the valuation hadn't been set. Delivery drivers can't find us and taxis give up.
The main problem is that due to the layout of the site, our new road lies beyond the show home and from the road it looks just like a building site.

We have been asking for a street name sign to be erected almost since we moved in and nobody seems to want to take responsibility for the problem.
...
Our post code on Google maps shows an open field with groundworks.

Is it unreasonable to expect the developer to put up a street name sign?

In the long term, there will be. But that won't be your problem, because you won't be there.

Right now... Yes, but pragmatism and minor adjustment always wins over expectant outrage. They could put a sign up. It'd probably be flattened by a truck delivering within a week.

Take a bit of personal responsibility. When you call a taxi, tell them that it's a new-build, the postcode hasn't filtered through, and there's no signs - and give them directions. YOU know where it is. They don't. So next time you call them, remind them. Soon enough, they'll know.

If ever you need 999, send somebody to stand out on the road, and direct them in.

pimento

The developer keeps promising to put up a temporary sign but nothing materialises.

The letting agent is also trying to help. The entire phase of the development (about 30 homes) are owned by one corporate landlord.

nologo

How about you make a temporary sign from wood,paint & a stick ? ,Might only take an hour,.....self sufficiency is the fastest solution

pimento

AdrianC wrote: »

In the long term, there will be. But that won't be your problem, because you won't be there.

Right now... Yes, but pragmatism and minor adjustment always wins over expectant outrage. They could put a sign up. It'd probably be flattened by a truck delivering within a week.

Take a bit of personal responsibility. When you call a taxi, tell them that it's a new-build, the postcode hasn't filtered through, and there's no signs - and give them directions. YOU know where it is. They don't. So next time you call them, remind them. Soon enough, they'll know.

If ever you need 999, send somebody to stand out on the road, and direct them in.

We know and have explained to the taxi firm but not all the drivers know. Parcel Force took my parcel back after three attempts and we did explain where we were. The view from the main road that our road runs off is unmade and is often full of diggers etc. so it really looks like a building site

The lorries are not flattening the developers signage.

It would be such a easy fix to get us off their backs. We have considered making our own sign.

AdrianC

pimento wrote: »

We have considered making our own sign.

That would certainly be a pragmatic use of five minutes, yes.

Simby

Or make several signs leading in with arrows

Double benefit people can find you

And second many handmade signs may be thought of as unsightly by the developer and put a higher priority on getting signage

RelievedSheff

We had the same when we moved into our new build. I expect most people buying on a still active site do.

We just explained to delivery drivers where we were on the estate. I.e past the show homes second right and we are at the end of the road by the construction barriers.

Yes we had a few missed deliveries but it isn't the end of the world and it isn't forever.

You will be on a losing battle with the developers as they wont put the street names up until the final surfacing goes on the footpaths which could be many months down the line.

bobobski

Try downloading What3Words.

es5595

Second vote for what3words. Find out your front door location, and in the 'notes' section on deliveries etc, add it in.
I've been doing this for a few years, and its slowly catching on!
BBC News, what3words
I've noticed more and more businesses starting to use it too.