Consumer rights on repairs in new build homes - shared ownership

Altior

Ironically my formerly new build toilet developed the same problem. After several years though. It was a perished donut ring. 

kraven_t_punter

From what I can gather, the developer's new builds are backed by NHBC, which normally includes a 2-year defect liability period and a subsequent structural period up to 10 years.

As I bought the home through a third party (the housing association), who has the contractual relationship with the developer? Is it me or the HA? If it is the housing association, is it their responsibility to apply to the developer to fix this?

For people who are saying I should fix this myself - I would have a go, but I am worried I would make it worse and then that would definitely increase my liability.

born_again

kraven_t_punter said:

user1977 said:

Apart from anything else, isn't this a relatively trivial plumbing job?

Yes probably. But isn't it expensive to get a plumber out, even for a trivial job?

If this was a brand new toilet which I had paid for and had fitted by a professional, I would have been protected against this fault by consumer law.

I would not like to bet that the toilet was installed by a professional with many developers. It will have been another employee or temp worker.

Expensive depends.

Altior

You don't need to fix it yourself, but the way I see it you have two options. Make a complaint to the HA, or get a plumber in. 

I took a video clip of the leak and my plumber was able to diagnose the issue from that before visiting. 

My cistern was stuck to the wall, he informed me that they aren't ordinarily built like that. Perhaps it's a new build thing. The cistern has to come off to replace the donut ring. It's not something that I would have tackled myself. Of course your issue might not be the donut ring. There are plumbers that post on here so you could ask them on the relevant sub forum. Perhaps share a video/images. 

visidigi

kraven_t_punter said:

From what I can gather, the developer's new builds are backed by NHBC, which normally includes a 2-year defect liability period and a subsequent structural period up to 10 years.

As I bought the home through a third party (the housing association), who has the contractual relationship with the developer? Is it me or the HA? If it is the housing association, is it their responsibility to apply to the developer to fix this?

For people who are saying I should fix this myself - I would have a go, but I am worried I would make it worse and then that would definitely increase my liability.

Where is the leak? Is it into the bowl or is it out the back? If its a leak into the bowl its a very easy fix - as Altoir said, the donut seals in the cistern > bowl perish quite quickly (our home is nearly 10 years old since new), we've had to replace the donut seals inside the cisterns twice (all three toilets as they were all installed at the same time and all suffer the same problem!).

kraven_t_punter

Water drips from one of the screws at the back, only when flushing. It started as a drip but is slowly getting worse to the point where we have had to put a bucket underneath. The donut ring sound likely to me, but I work in IT, not plumbing.

Alderbank

Pictures?

The donut ring sits between the flat bottom of the cistern and the top surface of the pan. If it is leaking the underside of the cistern will feel wet but everything dry above that. 

By 'screws at the back' do you mean the two screws fixing the cistern to the pan?

Or do you mean the two screws inside the cistern near the top which fix it to the wall? What is the water level when the cistern is full? It should be well below those two screws.

Okell

What has this thread got to do with consumer rights?

Shouldn't it be moved to here  House buying, renting & selling — MoneySavingExpert Forum ?

user1977

Okell said:

What has this thread got to do with consumer rights?

Shouldn't it be moved to here  House buying, renting & selling — MoneySavingExpert Forum ?

Or to the extent it's a plumbing question, in In my home (includes DIY) MoneySaving — MoneySavingExpert Forum

sheramber

Okell said:

What has this thread got to do with consumer rights?

Shouldn't it be moved to here  House buying, renting & selling — MoneySavingExpert Forum ?

The OP is questioning Consumer Rights for getting the developer to repair his faulty toilet in his new build share ownership house.
 

Other posters have diverted on advice on repairing it himself.