New Build Homes
On Rip Off Britain on Tuesday 28 May 2024, we featured the stress of buyers of newly-built homes who’d faced problems with mould, plaster beetles and general ‘snagging’ issues.
The Competition and Markets Authority recently published a report on the new build housing sector, which raised concerns about the quality of some new-build housing.
Lawyer Gary Rycroft has this advice for anyone enduring problems with a new-build:
• Check the housebuilder you’re buying from is a member of the voluntary . There are plans to create a mandatory Ombudsman body in the future but until then, it is up to individual housebuilders whether or not they join the scheme.
• Talk to others who may have bought from the housebuilder before and find out what their experience was like before parting with your cash.
• Carry out a ‘snagging list’ straight away, identifying small problems that the housebuilder needs to fix. The sooner you identify issues, the sooner they’ll be put right.
• Consider hiring a professional ‘snagger’ to inspect the property and produce a report you can send to the builder.
