Cove Woodlands, Aberdeen

[Snagmeister]

Hello folks,

Does anyone know of the typical snags that are popping up in Cove ? Or any other problems in dealing with them in general ? I just want a bit of knowledge before my familiarisation :wink:

Thanks in advance :P

Calum

[alanm77]

i own a Bett home at kintore (1 of the 1st on site), the house wasnt even finished when we moved in (house was full of workmen when we got our keys), since then its been a battle to get anything looked at, years of broken promises and no show from contractors, i had to invoke the NHBC resolution service just to get workmen to appear. i feel sorry for anyone brave enough to hand over cash to this outfit

I own a Bett Home in Larbert(Falkirk) which I bought in 2002. The snagging items I found 2 days before moving in included the house oversailing its underbuilding (the timber kit and external brickwork did not sit properly on the foundations and in some areas 90% of the brickwidth is unsupported), cracks in the living room lintel block which are continuing to grow, defective precast concrete sill blocks, damaged door seals, bricks and blocks with no mortar in the vertical joints, mortar joints all over the house not finished off properly, blocked air vents, ground level too close to the DPC, DPC bridged with mortar, numerous window and glazing faults and even more decorative faults.

I though that these were the only items but unfortunately I dug a bit deeper, and found - insufficient number of wall ties, misaligned and partially blocked air vents, the loft insulation had just been thrown about with some of it still in its plastic wrapper, parts of the timber kit were well off plumb, the front and back gardens and the side pathway are saturated and flood frequently, spalling brickwork and I even found what appeared to be a ham roll (although it was very green so could have been anything)and a packet of DISCOs crisps behind my dishwasher.

About 1 year after my house was built the next phase began construction. Vibro piles were used in the foundations and the vibration from this method caused 2 significant cracks to appear on my rear wall. During the pile installation the house shook so much that a mirror fell off of the living room wall. Funnily enough passing trains from the nearby railway also cause the house to shake significantly.
Of the work that I have let Bett Homes carry out most of it was poor to abysmal. In one case repairing one item actually caused a breach of the building regulations in another item and 2 health and safety risks. The solution given for the flooding was 'to plant more grass'?!?!?!?!

Incompetent doesn't even come close to describing Bett Homes.

I also invoked the NHBC resolution process but found much to my, and my Engineer's, dismay that the NHBC inspector, and management, were even more unprofessional than the Bett Homes personnel. My Engineer even wrote in his report that the NHBC inspector 'displayed a united front' with the Bett Homes personnel. I found out recently that this inspector has jumped ship to a housebuilder - I wonder who???? As the Americans say - 'You do the Math' - is it corruption or is it not?????????

The NHBC, now that is another story in itself!!!!!! Remember that in Scotland the NHBC have absolutely no jurisdiction and merely provide a very very limited warranty which if you look deep enough covers nothing but the most serious of disasters, just like any other insurance company. But then it would probably be described as an act of God which is not covered anyway.

So the current situation is that I am applying for Arbitration, Bett Homes are in breach of contract and in breach of the Building (Scotland) Act and I have 5 Completion Certificates, none of which apply to my house.

The unfortunate thing is that it is not just my house, there are others in my estate and further afield.

So in answer to your question - be prepared to be shocked, it will look good from a distance but close up it will be a different story, watch out for the lies you will be told because they do have a script of standard body-swerving responses and accept the fact that you will only get the easiest of repairs done. Anything else will be avoided like the plague - but they will blame you for it anyway and accuse you of being unreasonable.

Some may say that I am exagerating but I invite anyone to view my correspondence file, it is all there in black and white.

Hope you have a better experience.

Unfortunately it is the whole housebuilding industry that is rotten to the core. As one of the Directors of Bryant Homes stated recently 'Anyone can do it' - and this is why there are those at management level in these companies, and indeed the NHBC, who have no engineering training, have no idea of standards and codes of practice and show nothing but contempt towards their customers.

Never again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[brianfish]

I purchased a house from Bett Homes in Glasgow and I can only say that Colin must have been to my house also. I have not to this day met anyone from Bett Homes who is reliable, honest or intelligent.

I have never repeat NEVER dealt with a more incompetent bunch in my life.

Why these house builders get away with it is beyond me. As for the NHBC just read Colin's view, I wholeheartedly agree.

The only person from Bett Homes Customer Care who hasn't openly lied to me was Susan Palmer the Customer Care Director.
However she did say, when I stated I would make all the information I had available to the public, 'You don't want to do that, think of how it will affect your neighbours and the rest of the estate. Think of how it will affect the value of the properties.'
Very valid points - it was as if it was scripted - which it probably was.
In your dealings with Bett Homes you will hear many standard responses (there is another word for them which begins with L)or quotes from the 'Bungling Bett Big Book of Bull'.
Remember: if your garden has ponding water within 3m of the building - plant more grass - it is common practice - it is in accordance with NHBC Guildelines, which are guidance only.
Translation: $%&£ off!
Seriously though Bett Homes have offered to put drainage in my back garden, but not the front and sides, I just don't know when and how they are going to go about it. I have lost count of the number of times I have asked them for drawings/details. I have been told that it is my fault though???????