Refused technical drawings

Slinky

GixerKate said:

When is the sales home available?  Usually there is a sales home available in plenty of time to take measurements etc (once you've confirmed that the sales home is the same size and layout as the place you are buying).

That assumes the OP is buying an exact copy of the sales home, most developments contain a mixture of differing house styles.

Ellcee

Slinky said:

GixerKate said:

When is the sales home available?  Usually there is a sales home available in plenty of time to take measurements etc (once you've confirmed that the sales home is the same size and layout as the place you are buying).

That assumes the OP is buying an exact copy of the sales home, most developments contain a mixture of differing house styles.

Exactly, the showroom has a completely different layout.

Ellcee

Section62 said:

GixerKate said:

From my understanding its normal - I believe there's copywrite implications or something.  What I do know is that you can see the drawings under supervision but can't take pics or take a copy away.  To be honest, if you were buying an older house you wouldn't have technical drawings either.

BiB1 - often claimed by developers, but not true.  If the drawing is subject to copyright then it cannot legally be used by other people without the copyright owner's permission. The copyright owner giving a copy of the drawing to a prospective purchaser doesn't give them (the purchaser) the right to copy or use the drawings for any purpose other than that they were given permission for.

BiB2 - the difference is that the older house would be available for the purchaser to measure up, and to employ surveyors and other technical experts to examine in whatever level of detail is agreed between the parties. Buying off-plan doesn't permit that - the information and scope for investigation is limited to documents including the plans, usually well beyond the point the buyer is financially committed.

If you can't access and consider the plans then "buying off-plan" would be better described as "buying blind".

The fact is I was told I could request these drawings from my solicitor and this was not true as they refused. I don't even need the drawings I just want the dimensions which is quite normal for any other developers I've seen which is "off-plan", so this is buying blind in comparison in my opinion.

ironlady2022

I asked for these, and quickly took photos when shown

GixerKate

Ellcee said:

Slinky said:

GixerKate said:

When is the sales home available?  Usually there is a sales home available in plenty of time to take measurements etc (once you've confirmed that the sales home is the same size and layout as the place you are buying).

That assumes the OP is buying an exact copy of the sales home, most developments contain a mixture of differing house styles.

Exactly, the showroom has a completely different layout.

thats a shame, I'm guessing that there will time for a viewing closer to completion.  After we had paid the reservation fee we visiting loads of time - before the roof went on, after the roof went on, windows went in etc and also when almost everything was done except carpets, we did our measuring then.

Ramouth

You might have confused things by asking to see technical drawings (which would be the drawings showing how it is constructed with waterproofing details etc) when it sounds like what you actually want is a dimensioned plan.  Dimensioned plans are usually provided to the sales team.  They do not generally have access to the technical drawings.  

The dimensioned plans usually have just maximum width and length of each room not details of alcoves / boxing’s etc which may vary once the services go in.  For ordering furniture you really would be better waiting until the plaster boarding is completed and asking for a visit as things do change on site as unforeseen issues are resolved.

[Deleted User]

Ellcee said:

warwick2001 said:

Could you take photos on your mobile phone of the drawings when you go to look at them?

They won't let me take photos either! 

That's because they don't want to be held to them. It's quite common for what they build to be different to what the sold off plan.

It saves them doing detailed planning work, the site manager just bodges it to something vaguely similar. Also means they can buy whatever materials were cheap that week, and if say paving slabs go up in price they can just add more grass etc.

When they finish building it and you notice they have you over a barrel. Accept it or start looking for somewhere new, possibly screwing up your house sale. They will try to keep your deposit too.

I'd back out now if they won't let you copy the plans.

user1977

[Deleted User] said:

Ellcee said:

warwick2001 said:

Could you take photos on your mobile phone of the drawings when you go to look at them?

They won't let me take photos either! 

That's because they don't want to be held to them. It's quite common for what they build to be different to what the sold off plan.

Just for some context, even in commercial developments, and even where all the parties have access to all of the drawings, and even with construction supposedly having laser-precision measurements etc - they still base the rent etc on the actual measurements carried out after it's been built, rather than trust the plans.

googler

Ellcee said:

Hello all,

I have purchased a flat (off-pan) that is due for completion in Aug.
The developer is refusing to give me a copy of the technical drawings, is this normal?
I've been told I can make an appointment with the sales team and "look" at the drawings, it's not practical to copy them down.

They'll be in the planning application for the development, which, if your council does the same as mine, will be accessible online. 

Ramouth

googler said:

Ellcee said:

Hello all,

I have purchased a flat (off-pan) that is due for completion in Aug.
The developer is refusing to give me a copy of the technical drawings, is this normal?
I've been told I can make an appointment with the sales team and "look" at the drawings, it's not practical to copy them down.

They'll be in the planning application for the development, which, if your council does the same as mine, will be accessible online. 

There can be significant layout changes between planning and construction.  As long as the number of bedrooms and external appearance is unchanged, the developer is free to make changes internally.  Often at planning stage, the structural and servicing strategies have not yet been confirmed so it isn’t unusual to adjust layouts to suit.