New Build- needed to cancel - Refund of upgrade choices??

Alwayspayin

House builder has major delays  ( a further 9 months)...( been 6 months already).... cannot extend mortgage as long as required....So have withdrawn our reservation ( contracts had not been exchanged).
We feel the the builder should refund the upgrades purchased as the ' build stages' have not been completed as detailed in their document e. g. bedroom fittings upgrade £500 - Bathroom radiator £50  ( build not even on first floor..no roof ..no first and second fixes) - turf £500 ( this wont be needed for at least 9 months). No where was it detailed or agreed/signed that these upgrades were not refundable especially as the final stages where choices were deadlined  have not been reached.
 We cannot wait this long and will now need to buy another property. Has anyone go any thoughts or come across an issue like this...It does not seem right to retain this money as the new build is nowhere near ready for completion - the delay is of their cause.

davidmcn

Alwayspayin said:

No where was it detailed or agreed/signed that these upgrades were not refundable

What was agreed about them?

OldMusicGuy

We are buying a new build (which has been delayed) and I looked at our extras order form - there is nothing specific about refunds on cancellation on ours. The problem is they have your money, you have decided to pull out and although they are delaying, I suspect there's not much you can do except ask nicely and make your case. Like you say, these things are usually linked to build stages and if they haven't got past the point where these things need to be ordered then you do have an argument for asking for a refund. Have a read of this: https://www.theguardian.com/money/2020/apr/13/developer-house-purchase-redrow-coronavirus.

Maybe turn up and demand £500 worth of turf?

Alwayspayin

Thank you for your comments. We just agreed the upgrade choice and the price (paid up front)...we were put under pressure to make the decision as it would speed the build process up...laughable really!
After reading your link (OldMusicGuy) it would seem that this pressure is becoming standard practice!

RelievedSheff

You are unlikely to get refunded for the upgrades. The orders will have gone in to the suppliers already. They have to order items well in advance of actually needing them on site.

This will be detailed in your paperwork somewhere. 

Therealalig

RelievedSheff said:

You are unlikely to get refunded for the upgrades. The orders will have gone in to the suppliers already. They have to order items well in advance of actually needing them on site.

This will be detailed in your paperwork somewhere. 

The orders may have we'll have gone in but they certainly won't have been paid for yet.
Keep at them, they've messed you about and cost you financially in other ways. Just say you want a fair outcome. 

OldMusicGuy

RelievedSheff said:

This will be detailed in your paperwork somewhere. 

I went through all our paperwork in detail and found a statement that payment for extras is non-refundable in the event of cancellation. It's one of the terms on our reservation checklist. So I suspect you may not be in a very strong position, as I would imagine this is standard practice. 

Torrel

I have gone through something similal recently and we they wanted to 'speed up' the process at the start of lock down. We have since pulled out of the purchase as the builder was unwilling to negotiate and was pushing to exchange contracts despite there delays. 
We picked out upgrades but refused to pay for them until after lock down due to uncertainty. Thankfully we haven't been burnt in that regard.

bucksbloke

Who is the builder, normally it would say non-refundable on the reservation form or the upgrade form. 

Alwayspayin

Thank you everyone. It definitely doesn't mention it on the upgrade form......but the reservation form and initial documents??? I'll have to check that .... Frustrating!! Hate to feel that we've been ripped off.
Thankfully, I suppose, it is not an excessive amount...but I am sure they will pocket our monies and resell the choices to the next person.