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fairview new homes - unhappy customer
rfr
Posts: 1 Newbie
i've just received a house i bought with fairview and the problem i'm having - so far - is that i thought i'd bought a house with garden but the house came with what is to me simply a plot of land. the corners with pointed concrete, wired metal fence which is actually tearing apart - both of which very dangerous for my kids who were longing to play in the garden - and ground full f big stones.
i and my wife contacted them a few times and in all the occasions we were told the garden was delivered as per specification and there was no provision for the laying of turf or anything else.
The fact is that i went to check the marketing brochure I was pitched with and the only reference i have and on it the only reference made to the garden reads "Choice of executive 3 and 4 bedroom houses with private gardens." plus the site plan with a green garden etc.
then in the specification in the brochure there is no mentioning whatsoever to the garden but to the house only.
i contacted them again and received a very short reply with the same content - according to the specification and no provision for it.
i see this as misleading and am willing to take it further because i paid for a house with a garden. however i'm not sure from where to start or what to do.
any help on this is much appreciated.
i and my wife contacted them a few times and in all the occasions we were told the garden was delivered as per specification and there was no provision for the laying of turf or anything else.
The fact is that i went to check the marketing brochure I was pitched with and the only reference i have and on it the only reference made to the garden reads "Choice of executive 3 and 4 bedroom houses with private gardens." plus the site plan with a green garden etc.
then in the specification in the brochure there is no mentioning whatsoever to the garden but to the house only.
i contacted them again and received a very short reply with the same content - according to the specification and no provision for it.
i see this as misleading and am willing to take it further because i paid for a house with a garden. however i'm not sure from where to start or what to do.
any help on this is much appreciated.
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Comments
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Unfortunately, they gave you what they were contractually obligated to, a garden, i.e. a plot of land for you to develop. If you had wanted turf etc. you should have negotiated it and had it written into the contract. Legally, you haven't got a leg to stand on. All you can do is develop the garden yourselves or get gardeners/landscapers in.
The fencing, however, is a different matter. If it is damaged/dangerous for your children, they should put it right.
Live and learn, I'm afraid. The system for house purchasing, including new builds in the UK is an outdated mess as we have been finding out ourselves over the last 6 months.0 -
You do have a garden, it's just not been landscaped. My house was the same when I bought it, a lot of new builds are. Unless it was specifically stated that turf was included I don't think you'll get anywhere with them.0
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The standard for new builds does not necessarily include turf to the gardens. I got it with mine but it was specifically mentioned as an extra that I was being offered, they gave it to virtually everyone but they don't everywhere.
You may find you will get a better job done by someone else to be honest.0 -
Very unusual, you normally find this out when they are trying to sell you every extra under the sun from upgraded kitchens, to carpets, a shower over the bath, more tiling/heated towel rails. Turf is always extra. The last time I viewed a new build they were charging £500+ for each fitted wardrobe.0
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New builds have always been a pile of earth, often with rubble buried in them.
Some people do get offered turfing/etc as part of the deal they negotiate.... the rest don't.
This is, therefore, the way it works. Sorry you didn't know that beforehand, but it's better to put your time/energy/money into turfing what you've got and chucking up some nice fencing.0 -
I had a similiar problem. Builders do tend to chuck a lot of building rubble in the 'garden'. Remove as much of the stones as you can (fortunately turf doesn't need much soil in which to grow), level what soil you have (might need some sand if clay soil) and seed or buy turf strips. It won't cost a fortune and is a far better spending of your time than complaining over something you'll never win (as has already been said).
Fencing is more difficult but I'm afraid unless your spec says wooden fencing will be supplied, you have been supplied with a boundary marker rather than fencing in a way. Again, if money is short, you'll have to do a price comparison, but make sure you get reasonable quality fencing as you don't really want to do it all again in three years.0 -
Don't panic ...
Get the fence looked at if it's actually dangerous. And then take a deep breath. You DO have a garden.
This was my "garden"
A £40 bag of seed selected as suitable for chalky ground and 10 weeks and a little bit of water later
Another month or two and minimal effort later
These days mowing twice a week and wondering if I should replace some of it with decking
... It's the right time of year to plant a lawn, go for it and don't waste time and don't look back!
ETA: mine wasn't a new build, but had a single slope of chalky rubble rubbish from the back all the way down to the house. I terrassed by hand, added the fence, flattened it out by hand and then seeded. There's entire bricks under that lawn now LOL!0
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