Developer Change Spec After Reservation

Phandhu

Hi All

I recently completed on a new build. Upon moving I noticed that the developer has changed some of the lighting spec - one chrome LED light replacing spotlights.
The spotlights gave a nicer finish (IMO) so I'm quite disappointed.

I've raised this with the developer and they've offered £200 worth of vouchers which isn't anywhere near what it would cost me to replace the LED light with spotlights.
I've checked what came back during Lawyer checks and their legal term stated that the spec of the house would be as per the spec given during reservation (which had spotlights), at no point did they communicate the change to me.

I was just wondering if anyone has had a similar issue and how they went about resolving with the developer. I'm still pursing my complaint and ask to correct the lighting but I'm wondering if I'm wasting my time.

Thanks

user1977

Are you absolutely sure they didn't give themselves any leeway to make this sort of minor amendment to the spec? It would seem very odd if they didn't. Have you actually asked this question of your lawyer?

HobgoblinBT

Can’t you ask the developer to stick to their original contract, ie change the lighting and make good including redecoration at their expense?

Slithery

I'd be very suprised if there wasn't a legal disclaimer in your paperwork giving the developer the right to change the spec if they want to.

Section62

Phandhu said:

I've raised this with the developer and they've offered £200 worth of vouchers which isn't anywhere near what it would cost me to replace the LED light with spotlights.

If you are talking about one light fitting with multiple spotlights (rather than multiple spotlight fittings around the house) then I'd suggest a £200 gesture of goodwill isn't far off the maximum you are likely to achieve whether the developer is at fault or not.

They may pay a bit more in the form of a 'go away' payment if you make enough trouble for them, but unless the developer was fitting some kind of upmarket designer lights, the cost difference they would have had on the light fitting would be a fraction of £200.

I'd pocket the money now. Buy the light fitting I really like when I see it on offer.  Then wait until there's some other job that I had to get an electrician in to do and ask them to fit it at the same time.

There are much easier ways of earning a few hundred pounds than arguing with developer customer services after they've got your money.

eddddy

When you say 'spotlights' - do you mean recessed downlights - in a number of places in the ceiling?

And they've just installed a single light fitting instead?

If so, I can see that you wouldn't get recessed downlights wired and installed for £200.  As well as cutting holes in the ceiling plaster, the main challenge will be that you'd probably need to drill ceiling joists, to get the wiring through.

As others say, maybe check your contract to see what changes they're allowed to make.

 

Thrugelmir

user1977 said:

Are you absolutely sure they didn't give themselves any leeway to make this sort of minor amendment to the spec?

Normally they do. Small changes may simply be down to being unable to obtain the product in question. Not going to delay the build waiting for minor items in the midsts of a global pandemic. 

theartfullodger

The Salesman lied?  Surprise!

Slithery

theartfullodger said:

The Salesman lied?  Surprise!

They may not have deliberately lied. There's a very good chance that they had absolutely no idea what they were talking about in the first place...

deannagone

I wonder if LED ceiling lights were actually an upgrade rather than the basic standard automatically supplied.  Refer to your paperwork, was LED ceiling spotlights specifially listed for the room?  Or was it more vague?

Runningmad

Spot lights are usually an upgrade that you have to pay extra for unless of course it was definitely included in your plans.