Linden Homes Buyer in Dunstable Spent Over £20,000 Fixing New Build Defects

A Bedfordshire couple who purchased a new build home from Linden Homes have spent over £20,000 rectifying issues with their property, according to an investigation published in The i Paper on 20th November 2025.

Louise O'Riordan, 49, and her husband Bart bought their three-bedroom home for £267,500 on the Kaleidoscope development in Dunstable in September 2016. What they thought would be their dream home has instead become what O'Riordan describes as a "living nightmare" that has dominated the past nine years of her life.

The problems began immediately upon moving in. "From the moment we moved in, it was a nightmare, and it has been a nightmare ever since," O'Riordan told The i Paper. The developer had forgotten to lay the new floors which the couple had paid £4,500 for, only realising just days before completion. When the work was rushed through, it was poorly executed.

Beyond the flooring issues, the property suffered from numerous defects including back doors that were not fitted properly, allowing heat to escape. It took 18 months for these to be fixed. The flooring dispute escalated to the point where O'Riordan had to threaten court action, with the matter only being settled on the day of the hearing.

However, the individual property defects pale in comparison to the wider estate management issues that have consumed O'Riordan's time. The couple discovered after reserving the property that it was leasehold rather than freehold, despite their initial assumptions. Whilst they were assured the 499-year lease would not be problematic, the reality has been far different.

The Kaleidoscope estate, comprising 69 houses and two blocks of 20 flats, has been plagued with problems including drainage issues, wonky lamp posts, and chronic parking problems due to only one space per property. Most seriously, both blocks of flats have suffered from leaking roofs since they were built, with water ingress making two flats currently uninhabitable.

O'Riordan has inadvertently taken on the role of unpaid estate manager, becoming a director of the management company in an attempt to resolve the mounting problems. "It has literally taken over my life and I have wasted nine years of my life trying to sort out all the problems and as a result, I am not able to enjoy my own property," she said.

The couple spent £20,000 on their garden alone due to drainage problems. Through her campaigning efforts, O'Riordan managed to negotiate for residents to buy their freeholds for just over £3,000 each, saving them from escalating ground rents that would have increased at year 10 and then every five years thereafter.

Katie Kendrick, founder of the National Leasehold Campaign, commented to The i Paper: "Louise O'Riordan has been sold a home but is trapped in a double nightmare. Not only was her house leasehold, she also has estate management charges to pay. The National Leasehold Campaign has coined this 'fleecehold' as it is another income stream generated from our homes to a management company."

Kendrick added: "The private estate model is a ticking time bomb as more and more new homes are being built using this model. If the Government is serious about ending leasehold, they must also end fleecehold."

A spokesperson from Vistry, the parent company of Linden Homes, stated: "All of the snags reported by this customer have been resolved, in line with the home's NHBC warranty." The company noted that O'Riordan chose to become a resident director of the management company, an unpaid role that purchasers sign up to voluntarily. Vistry added that details of the purchase were clearly stated and agreed upon, and that any queries should have been directed to the purchaser's conveyancing solicitor. The company said it will continue to liaise directly with O'Riordan to address any concerns.

This case highlights the critical importance of thorough snagging inspections for new build properties. Many of the defects experienced by the O'Riordans could have been identified and documented before completion, potentially preventing years of disputes and remedial work. Professional snagging inspections can identify issues early, giving buyers leverage to have problems resolved before taking ownership of their new homes.