exchanged contracts on a new build in June 2006: Not satisfied with end product

I am currently in a similar situation to this, I bought an appartment from the plans in May 2006. I have still not moved into (or snagged) the property as I feel the building is not ready yet! the reason for this is that the plans (& brochure) that i signed my contract for state that there is a window in the bathroom & now that the building is 'complete?' the window is not present.
The argument has gone on now for a couple of months & the builders have now admitted that they have made a mistake by not putting in the window & by not informing me of the change of spec. My solicitor now thinks we should put across demands & suggested that I ask for floors to be laid but in my opinion, as the builder has increased the price of the same unit by 25,000 since my contract was signed, that i should be entitled to more than floors.
Now I am not looking for the world but i expect to be compensated for the loss of the window so I can expect at least the same sell on value. Does anyone have any suggestions of what to demand or any similar stories?

By the way, my contract is up next month but if I pull out the the builder will have gotten out of the trouble & will make a profit from the new sales prices!
 
To echo Sparkles I will never buy a house from plans again. It seems to me that builders have had a free rein in this country and even now continue to do so. I moved into my house three years ago and lived on a building site for two years. That isn't my problem as I expected that. My problem is that it is now over a year since the builders "completed" the estate and left the site. The roads are unfinished, there are no house numbers erected to direct traffic through the development, the landscaping is unfinished, the estate has no sign up to indicate it's name, a river which runs through the estate which is left open and a danger to children.......I could go on and on. The finish of the houses is poor and does not match the showhouses in many respects.
The builders do not return phone calls, emails or letters. They fob off the local planning enforcement officer who then doesn't chase them on their promises. It's just impossible. Never never never buy off plans. If I was buying again I'd buy a second-hand house in a development which has been handed over to the local county council already. At least then you know what you are buying. I really feel that the buying public have been let down by a lack of legislation in these matters.
Apologies for the rant but it makes me so mad when I see that other builders are getting away with this type of thing as well. I have huge sympathy for everyone who is stuck in these situations.
 
just curious about all of this. We and 26 others built our own houses. We have a retention fund, where a % is kept back for a year. So if you are not happy with things the builder doesn't get the retained amount. Why does something like this not exist for people buying off plans?
 
Sparkels I am in the same position as you. I put a deposit down on a house last June 06 and paid the 10% deposit and signed contracts. Since then it has been an absolute nightmare. Endless delays, enforcement order against the builder, house flooding and now it has come to snagging the builder is refusing to complete some of the items on our engineers list and they are quite serious. We are willing to overlook things such as plastering not exactly right or scratches but leaks and faulty workmanship we are not. The builder wont listen he feels our engineer is being unreasonable. We want out of this now, our contact is up in a couple of weeks. Can we get out of it and get our deposit back? Our solicitor is not sure as she has never come across this before. Any advice welcome. Also Sparkles let me know how you get on.
 
you got to hit them were it hurts - reputation..


[broken link removed] - why not set it up?
 
Sparkles,

I just sent you a private email. I think we may be in the same situation as yourself regarding the same development. Please read the email and do get in touch. It would be great to get your insight and advice. I completely understand what you are going through regarding the apartments in this development!!

Many thanks.
 
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