Waterlogged Garden in Newbuild

sgun

BikingBud said:

Check the flood risk for areas in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland 
or
map
2 mins on google!

That is useful for river floods but not useful for situations where there is runoff from fields or the ground has been heavily compacted. Unfortunately for the cases of floods not caused by rivers overflowing you can only really rely on local knowledge. I know quite a few new developments in the Gateshead area that will most definitely flood this week but are far away from any watercourse.

moneysavinghero

sgun said:

BikingBud said:

Check the flood risk for areas in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland 
or
map
2 mins on google!

That is useful for river floods but not useful for situations where there is runoff from fields or the ground has been heavily compacted. Unfortunately for the cases of floods not caused by rivers overflowing you can only really rely on local knowledge. I know quite a few new developments in the Gateshead area that will most definitely flood this week but are far away from any watercourse.

The Wales one shows surface water flooding as well as from Rivers and Sea. Not sure whether the Eng, Scot and NI do as well.

Grabs39

sgun said:

That is useful for river floods but not useful for situations where there is runoff from fields or the ground has been heavily compacted. Unfortunately for the cases of floods not caused by rivers overflowing you can only really rely on local knowledge. I know quite a few new developments in the Gateshead area that will most definitely flood this week but are far away from any watercourse.

The fields around Rainton Meadows Nature Reserve flood several times a year.  It's well known amongst Durham Wildlife Trust Members who often have to park up and walk when the access road floods, but one of the big national housebuilders is determined to build houses on it.  Aside from the fact it would be detrimental to the birds on the reserve (who nest and feed in the fields) it makes no sense to build 100 houses in a field that spends 8 weeks a year underwater, but they seem sure it'll be fine.    Just one small example, but makes you wonder where else they like to build.

BikingBud

sgun said:

BikingBud said:

Check the flood risk for areas in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland 
or
map
2 mins on google!

That is useful for river floods but not useful for situations where there is runoff from fields or the ground has been heavily compacted. Unfortunately for the cases of floods not caused by rivers overflowing you can only really rely on local knowledge. I know quite a few new developments in the Gateshead area that will most definitely flood this week but are far away from any watercourse.

So maybe take a few more minutes and visit the location and engage with the local people, it's not Royston Vasey is it?
Get an OS map and review the topography, the type of ground and the location of other water features, drains, dykes or other indicators that artificial drainage has been introduced.
But did you not check this a part of the searches?
Other resources:
LIT_8986_eff63d.pdf
or check-flood-risk

RelievedSheff

You can check surface water flood maps here:

https://flood-warning-information.service.gov.uk/long-term-flood-risk

Always best to buy a new build where the garden slopes away from the property as well so if you do get any waterlogging or ponding it will be away from the property.

Also worth bearing in mind are the sites ground water levels. Where we are the ground water is really quite high. During the summer months it is around 1m below ground level. At this time of year dig a spade in the ground and you will hit the ground water table.

sgun

BikingBud said:

sgun said:

BikingBud said:

Check the flood risk for areas in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland 
or
map
2 mins on google!

That is useful for river floods but not useful for situations where there is runoff from fields or the ground has been heavily compacted. Unfortunately for the cases of floods not caused by rivers overflowing you can only really rely on local knowledge. I know quite a few new developments in the Gateshead area that will most definitely flood this week but are far away from any watercourse.

So maybe take a few more minutes and visit the location and engage with the local people, it's not Royston Vasey is it?
Get an OS map and review the topography, the type of ground and the location of other water features, drains, dykes or other indicators that artificial drainage has been introduced.
But did you not check this a part of the searches?
Other resources:
LIT_8986_eff63d.pdf
or check-flood-risk

I think you are talking to the wrong person. I'm not the OP. However, this is too late anyway for the OP. They need to ascertain where the water is draining down from and why it is collecting in their new garden. Then they can decide if extra drainage channels, french drains, soakaways etc could help and approach the developer to see what can be done.

Joyful

sgun said:

BikingBud said:

Check the flood risk for areas in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland 
or
map
2 mins on google!

That is useful for river floods but not useful for situations where there is runoff from fields or the ground has been heavily compacted. Unfortunately for the cases of floods not caused by rivers overflowing you can only really rely on local knowledge. I know quite a few new developments in the Gateshead area that will most definitely flood this week but are far away from any watercourse.

It looks like the same for me. Nothing shows up. It just comes from the fields around me.

yannisvaroufakis

Thanks for all the comments guys! Some follow ups:

- What can the builder do to improve the waterlogging ? Is it likely that they will actually add topsoil or drainage themsleves?

- Should we try and resolve this ahead of exchange and compeltion (keeping in mind stamp duty deadline on 31st March), or is it ok to take the developer at their word ?

- Draughts - every door in the place has cold air leakage all around it, so I feel like they need to do something here, but unsure if they will....

tinytiddles

We’re in a new build and our garden can get a bit wetter than the average. Before we moved in the developer turned over the garden and out some top soil down which I believe is pretty standard. 

I suppose it depends what you mean by waterlogged but when we moved in, if it rained heavily then it used to run off the garden and onto our patio but we have pretty much resolved this by putting grass down to soak up the water and give the soil a bit of structure. It still gets quite wet out there but again am putting this down to the fact that we haven’t done the garden properly yet and when we put in shrubs and trees etc we should see a reduction in wetness as the plants soak up the rainfall. We’re also planning to put a soakaway along the edge of the patio to keep the rain away from the house, which we believe to be our responsibility because it isn’t as though we step in puddles when we go out of the back door, it’s just a bit wetter than it was at our old place and a bit irritating.

If you haven’t exchanged / completed yet you can ask the developer to commit to rectifying it but I suppose you need to prepare that they might say no. 

As for the draughty doors, how far along is the build? If it is almost complete then this isn’t right and needs checking. Our house has very little in terms of air movement and is like toast. 

Good luck with your purchase!

getmore4less

if you have not exchanged get it fixed before then, you can't trust builders. 
internal doors don't tend to be sealed, just the ones to the outside.