Posts tagged as:

new homes

Housebuilders face home truths over complaints

Complaints about alleged defects in new homes are increasing, despite a slump in the number of properties sold in the recession. Complaints to the National House Building Council (NHBC), which offers warranties on 80% of new homes, topped 64,000 in 2008/09. This is up only slightly from 63,000 in 2007/08 but comes in a year [...]

New homes are too small for everyday life, say residents

Forty four per cent of all households surveyed say they do not have enough space for small children to play safely in the kitchen while meals are being prepared, and 37 per cent say they or their children do not have enough space to entertain guests privately.
Seventy two per cent do not have enough space [...]

Callcut Review

While we see partnerships between local authorities and developers as key to unlocking the urban land supply that is needed to deliver housing growth, it is essential not to neglect other parts of the market. In the past, it has been the smaller and medium sized housebuilders who have delivered much of the volume growth.We [...]

Not so Greatworth

We purchased our dream House, ‘bespoke’ claimed the builders, it would be ready to move into in January. There were numerous problems along the way but we finally moved in on April 12. When we were given the keys we were told of a few minor problems that would be sorted out asap. To give [...]

Buying property: Old versus new? Those hidden costs

Whether you go for a period piece or a shiny newbuild, don’t forget the extras. Gwenda Brophy does the sums
Until recently there were two separate camps of buyers – those who would only consider period properties with their “character” and original features, and those who favoured the easy-living low-maintenance of newbuild. Period properties were derided [...]

City Point buyer still waiting to move

A woman who bought a flat in a new £200 million city development has spoken of her nightmare move.
Gemma Bernard splashed out £300,000 for a swanky apartment in Brighton’s City Point Development and was due to get the keys on September 14.
But the day before she was due to move in she was told the [...]

Developer warned not to let families move in

Hardline councillors have told a developer to find alternative accommodation for families caught up in a planning row, rejecting a plea to allow them to move into their new Exeter homes.
As the Echo revealed last week, 11 families have been prevented from moving into houses they bought in Kings Heath, Digby, until developers provide an [...]

Pace of housebuilding falls despite tougher targets for new homes

Official figures reveal that the housebuilding industry is on a build-rate to start about 172,000 homes this year.

Building up housing problems for the future

The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has launched an investigation into the £20 billion industry amid claims that companies have been manipulating the planning process in a bid to inflate
new house prices.

Unfit for Habitation Bryant Homes

Bryant Homes would not let us into the property until 10 days before completion “for health and safety” reasons! We were pressed to complete on December 21st and since then have been the owners of a property that is quite frankly NOT FIT TO RESIDE IN!! There is currently scaffolding to the whole front elevetion [...]

Countryside Properties Asbestos Scandal

Countryside Properties commissioned an environmental assessment on the site of what was the world’s largest asbestos factory in Spodden Vally, which stated: Of particular note is the absence of any asbestos contamination. A separate report commissioned by Rochdale Council in July 2006 painted a very different picture.
I am sure it was just an [...]

New Homes Disaster

In the drive to provide thousands of new homes, the building giants have been handed unprecedented power and influence. How wise is that? By Sarah Lonsdale
John Prescott’s drive to build thousands more houses in the South-East is in danger of becoming a “developers’ free-for-all”, with housebuilders taking increasing control of the planning, design and inspection [...]

Advice from new build buyers at Fairford Leys

This article has been compiled from the mass of e-mails we receive from Fairford Leys residents concerning the problems of buying a new home in this development and we hope it will be helpful to anyone considering buying a property here.
The Pros and Cons
Buying a house is generally regarded as the biggest investment that most [...]

Property Nightmare: Deveron Homes

When Sheana and Mike Tibbs bought a home in Inverness off-plan for their retirement, they chose a generous plot near the beautiful River Ness so that they could indulge their passion for gardening and fishing, writes Christine Webb. Read more: Deveron Homes

Westbury Homes Home from Hell

We moved into our Westbury home last May, only a few other properties were occupied.The land above our property was still being developed. After having to live one what one would describe as a bomb site, the road was eventually completed and properties landscaped.
On returning home after a weeks holiday we found that the [...]

GEORGE WIMPEY HOMES Poor Build, Poor Service, Substandard repairs

At this point we then inspected the property and found approximately THIRTY defects. Some of these were cosmetic, some more important (i.e. the bathroom light could only be turned on if the hall light was already on).The site manager then mentioned to us that he had fitted the thermostat on the top floor (this is [...]

UK vs Australian Houses

I stress this is a highly subjective account, based on opinions formed
over a few months of househunting/living. It is far from scientific
and I am no expert. Most houses are fairly new by british standards
and my experience of the houses is looking at and renting houses
new-15 years old.
Here new build is not predominately [...]

Do new homes guarantee problems?

Although new homes are increasingly the first choice of affluent buyers happy to pay over £150,000 to avoid the hassles of repair and renovation, many builders appear to be struggling to achieve service and quality standards required by more demanding purchasers.
A large majority of new homes are sold with the protection of a warranty issued [...]