last updated: 16.4.2003

I've created this website to warn other people off buying BOVIS HOMES properties in England, if your thinking of buying don't, if you've already exchanged on a Bovis property don't complete until they finish the work. This is not an isolated incident, other people I've spoken to (on this and other estates) have had the same problems and told us they would never buy another Bovis home.

We put a £250 deposit down on a new Bovis House in February 2002. We were then told we needed to exchange in 28 days which we did, at this time we were then told our house would be ready at the end of May 2002 which was fine with us. One week before we were due to move in we were then told the house wouldn't be ready till the end of June 2002, this came as a surprise to us as Gillian Greenall (Site Office Manager) had not mentioned this on any of our previous visits. We obviously weren't very happy with this so wrote a letter of complaint to Brian Smith (Head Office), He told us they'd had slight problems with the weather but it would be definitely ready for the end of June and they would keep us informed of the situation. One week before moving in again we were told there was another month delay, We complained to Brian Smith yet again as nobody had been keeping us informed until right at the last minute. In the meantime we had to move out of our old house. Both Gillian Greenall and Brian Smith never gave us any real reasons to the delays or ever answered any of the questions asked of them, but instead took the attitude of ignore it and it'll go away. Bovis finally got the house ready again one week later than the final date given to us. 1.8.2002

Little did we know this was only the start of the problems, We moved into the house on the 1st of August after a ten week delay only to find stuff was not finished off we were told by Peter Popeck (Site Manager) and Gillian Greenall this would be done on the following Monday if we made a list up for them. We made the list including some major repairs such as having a garage door we couldn't open! Bovis failed to turn up on the Monday, the appointment was rearranged for the Thursday again on the Thursday nobody turned up (Peter had forgotten to write it in his diary), this was two days we'd had too take off work to be at the house, we again arranged for the work to be done on the following Thursday, this time somebody turned up but only with half of the equipment so he could only do half of the jobs. After this point we still had a broken garage door, blocked down stairs toilet, broken oven and really badly fitted kitchen. Since then BOVIS have failed to turn up for another three appointments. 20.9.2002

Bovis have now been to repair the garage door (after two months, one week) we still only have one remote for a double garage door. Put a ramp up onto the drive (after two months, three weeks). They have also replaced half of the kitchen units (after two months, three weeks). We still have 27 items on the list including a now leaking bath. We have also had to repair several of the items on the list ourselves. 30.10.2002

Christmas has been and gone and Bovis seem to have forgotten to finish our jobs. We still have a list of 12 existing jobs to be finished,We sent them a letter on the 5th January reminding them we are still waiting, to which we got the reply your letter will be sorted out in due course, WE'VE BEEN WAITING FIVE MONTHS, how long is due course. Other problems have now started to appear such as a crack in the outside wall, and internal and external doors have started to warp out of shape. The roads and pavements have been left in a appalling condition and Bovis have failed to tell us when they are going to be completed. 5.1.2003

CALLING JO WHITE & IAN FAIRCLOUGH WE ARE STILL WAITING 26.1.2003

Hurray! Ian Fairclough is coming to visit us on 4th February to discuss the items on our list, I hope he stays longer than his last "can't wait to get out of the door" five minute visit. 2.2.2003

Ian Fairclough came and check out work still to be done admitted most of it should have been finished by now. He then told us Bovis had a new system in place and the work should be done shortly. He also told us he would ring Wednesday and arrange the appointments, we are still waiting and it's now Friday. 7.2.2003

I received an email from Bovis complaining about this site and giving me seven days to remove certain information, 'SEVEN DAYS' I've been waiting over 'SIX MONTHS'. I've sent them a challenge to get my house finished in the next seven days, as I've amended this website within one day. I particularly like their end statement 'and look forward to your co-operation' as cooperation is something we've never had at any stage of this process. See a section of email attached below.

You are hereby given notice that, if you do not remove: the logo and; the words "Bovis Homes" displayed in our house style from your website within 7 days of the date of receipt of this email, we will take legal action against you. We are also concerned with the libelous content of the statement "Building ****** homes..." and the effect it may have on our business. We therefore give notice that if this statement is not removed, again within 7 days of the date of receipt of this email, we will take legal action against you. We trust this will be unnecessary and look forward to your cooperation Yours sincerely, Martin Palmer, Group Company Secretary

Bovis would much rather go to the expense and time of taking legal action against me to get me to remove this website, rather than talking to me and resolving the problem, let that be a warning to anyone else buying from BOVIS. If they'd done the work when they were supposed to this website would never have appeared. 8.2.2003

I now have a three day appointment with Bovis at the start of March to finish off all outstanding work. 14.2.2003

Bovis have finally completed the majority of the jobs they are coming again this week to finish of the last few (hopefully). This is after a nightmare seven and a half months of telephone calls, letters and this website. 10.3.2003

I've just sent a letter to Bovis asking them to answer all the unanswered questions they've either failed to answer or cannot be bothered answering, and there are still three remaining jobs on the list and one that I'll have to finish myself as Bovis are incapable of doing it themselves - now at eight and a half months since moving in and over a year since putting down a deposit on the house, it certainly is a good argument for buying new!
16.04.2003

If you have a story about a badly built BOVIS HOME e-mail it to:

bodged@bovishomesexposed.co.uk