Help needed - Kitchen in a new build house

rasta75

I am looking for the advice. We bought a new house last year. Developer supplied the kitchen of our choice (upgraded version). Before the completion we have been asked/informed about the need of necessity to reduce the size of the drawers and the cabinet above them from 50 to 45 cm. We agreed. When we moved into the new house, it turned out that the corner unit is completely non-functional, has a narrow door and is so deep that it prevents comfortable use. The previously agreed dimension of the drawers and cabinet above without informing us turned out to be reduced to 40 cm. The edges of the shelves are scuffed and look like the kitchen is worn out! We met with the manager of the kitchen company and, unfortunately, he informed us that the developer orders specific kitchens and they only build them and are generally not responsible for the quality, as it is the kitchen ordered by the developer. The developer does not take the responsibility either. What shall we do? 

GrubbyGirl_2

Go to NHBC or whoever is providing your 10 year warranty.  If it's within the first 2 years they will make the developer deal with it.  The developer will deal with it then.  I had a issue with my new house (long story I won't go into here) but once NHBC gets involved they do listen because they don't want their premiums to go up

subjecttocontract

rasta75 said:

I am looking for the advice. We bought a new house last year. Developer supplied the kitchen of our choice (upgraded version). Before the completion we have been asked/informed about the need of necessity to reduce the size of the drawers and the cabinet above them from 50 to 45 cm. We agreed. When we moved into the new house, it turned out that the corner unit is completely non-functional, has a narrow door and is so deep that it prevents comfortable use. The previously agreed dimension of the drawers and cabinet above without informing us turned out to be reduced to 40 cm. The edges of the shelves are scuffed and look like the kitchen is worn out! We met with the manager of the kitchen company and, unfortunately, he informed us that the developer orders specific kitchens and they only build them and are generally not responsible for the quality, as it is the kitchen ordered by the developer. The developer does not take the responsibility either. What shall we do? 

If you bought the property in 2022 why have you waited until July 2023 to flag up an issue ?

koalakoala

I’ve never found NHBC to be the slightest bit helpful

rasta75

GrubbyGirl_2 said:

Go to NHBC or whoever is providing your 10 year warranty.  If it's within the first 2 years they will make the developer deal with it.  The developer will deal with it then.  I had a issue with my new house (long story I won't go into here) but once NHBC gets involved they do listen because they don't want their premiums to go up

Thanks a lot. I will try this way.

GrubbyGirl_2

koalakoala said:

I’ve never found NHBC to be the slightest bit helpful

Within the first 2 years when it isn't their responsibility they are very helpful in getting the builder to sort it because the last thing they want is to have to deal with it themselves

comeandgo

NHBC have a minimum claim value, I think it’s around £2 k so if repairs not that amount then they won’t get involved.

GrubbyGirl_2

comeandgo said:

NHBC have a minimum claim value, I think it’s around £2 k so if repairs not that amount then they won’t get involved.

having made a claim about 5 years ago it was £1,700 then (total cost of claim turned out to be £19,000 so not an issue, but NHBC only kicks in at year 3, the first 2 years are the builders responsibility