Housing Association and Developer issues with new build

Nichollss

We've had no end of problems since day one, and we're struggling to get anything sorted. Our issue is that we rent it from a local housing association.

Neither the housing association nor the developer want to take responsibility for any repairs. The developer says that it's not their responsibility as it's an association property. The association won't accept responsibility as they say it should be covered by the developers warranty.

Any idea of how to overcome this? I can't find any information on the web that I can use to approach both of them with.

Slithery

What are the problems?

Nichollss

Slithery said:

What are the problems?

We have had problems from the moment we put the key in the front door for the first time. Our endless list of problems have partially been rectified by the developer. Our current issue happened this week. A valve in our airing cupboard was leaking which caused water to come through the ceiling downstairs. It was flowing though a light fitting in our pantry. The association has isolated the light fitting, and has fixed the leak. The gas engineer that was here has recommended that a different valve is fitted as the problem will eventually come back. He tried to raise a job request for it, but the association refused it as they stated it was the developers responsibility. We contacted the site manager who has said it’s the association’s responsibility 

user1977

If you're just a tenant (and not a shared ownership occupier) then you have no relationship with the developer. As far as you're concerned, it's the housing association's responsibility to sort all landlord repairs - whether they can get the developer to do them under their warranty is their problem. 

deannagone

Your MP might be able to help knock a few heads together (figuratively speaking), particularly if you get together with other social tenants who live on the development, or your counsellor.

Nichollss

user1977 said:

If you're just a tenant (and not a shared ownership occupier) then you have no relationship with the developer. As far as you're concerned, it's the housing association's responsibility to sort all landlord repairs - whether they can get the developer to do them under their warranty is their problem. 

I highly doubt that they are unaware that it is their responsibility, but it has crossed my mind  that they are trying to use the developers warranty as a way to wash their hands of any responsibility 

Nichollss

deannagone said:

Your MP might be able to help knock a few heads together (figuratively speaking), particularly if you get together with other social tenants who live on the development, or your counsellor.

I have contacted the association this evening via their complaints section on their website. Hopefully it gets the ball rolling. Dreading the potential time and effort that I may have to put into our situation.