4yrs Later Major Problem Come To Light!

laghreid · 15th February 2009, 11:10

We bought our house from Brayant Homes in April 05.
We had many problems with Heating Panels falling off walls and Holes under doors, windows ect ect that they never bothered to fix properly.
Also our shower was fitted incorrectly as was constantly on hot... they decided to bodge instead of replacing it..
Now we have had about 4/5 different leaks on the ceiling from where the shower is in the en-suite... A plumber came round and could not work out where it was coming from... He decided to knock a hole in the wall where the back of the shower is only to discover that the whole wall in covered in Mushrooms and Mould... plaster board.. back wall, floor, ceiling and side wall where stairs is is now infected....
They have never fitted the shower right in the first place and pipe burst and has been causeing a problem for the past 4yrs... its caused so much damage that we now have to have the whole bathroom ripped out and treated for fungi.. Luckily our house insurance will cover it but why should it considering that Bryant Homes are the cause of this...And their shoddy work...

So really snagging propertys is ok... but what you cant see to snag might cause you problems in the future

GKandR4CH · 9th April 2009, 19:21

Sorry to hear you are having problems with these cowboys.
We have had 7 leaks to date even down to ripping out the bath completely and replacing it with a new one at my own cost. I still have not been compensated.
Unfortunately Bryant Homes do not build houses of quality.
They bodge. The sub contractors bodge everything and then Bryant Homes deny everything.
Have a look at my website.
mybryanthomeiscrap.co.uk
If I can help you in anyway regarding advice on legal issues (as I am now there) then pm or email me.

GK

Gzmo · 1st September 2009, 19:03

Here in Northampton - every neighbour I know has had at least one leak - I have 4 and still 9 months on they are delaying paying me what it is they owe me - I was even advised by the Site Manager to plug in wet electrical items - guess he thought being blonde and female hopefully I would go zap and then they would not have to pay

I suggest you contact Greg at www.mybryanthomesisshit.co.uk as he is looking for others to take them to court and his solicitor will act for FREE - good luck

GKandR4CH · 11th September 2009, 20:58

Any news with this case?

sazzy1 · 11th September 2010, 09:26

Hello to you all!!

Its just awful these cowboys get away with all this.. This is peoples homes, we have had towel and soap racks fall off, two leaks from the en-suite dripping into to our living room, toilet roll holders falling off and the list grows, but to top it all we have just discovered we have subsidence!! and the property is only 5 years old!. This is all due to a crab apple tree planted by the developers when the house was built, there is also some concern over the foundations. It really angers me that Taylor Wimpey are just not interested, they are going to underpin, but the problems for us dont end there our home insurnce and excess will increse, major works being carried out (we re a family of 5) issues trying to sell the property after!!

Anyone have any advice.. I would be so grateful!!

Chris The Fox · 25th October 2010, 12:49

I have a Bryant home in East Kilbride which we are very pleased with on the whole however after suffering a mild mice problem I have found that the mice have simple and plentiful access into my cavity walls as we have little in the way of foundations to the front (south) face of my house. There appears for the most part to be a 65mm concrete lintel under the facing brick with the facing brick reaching one and a half course below ground level. then under this concrete ...
... nothing, zip, nada, nowt, zero.

On a third small pit under my bay window i have discovered that my facing brick is at similar depth, two course brick below ground max., then is resting on what appears to be a light grey pourous block. This has been suggested as being a 'thermolite' block which is easliy breakable by hand and is not load bearing, plus there is a small gap between blocks which a garden cane/metal rod can freefall into some 550mm without obstruction.

So what is under my bay? and what is there actually holding up my house?

To the rear I have discovered again no scarcement but rather the brick is flush with a light grey material similar to that of the thermolite and is easliy scored by spade and indeed finger nails. Look like hard packed butter, which the exception of being grey!

Mr & Mrs Mouse and family have free access into my exposed cavity wall at any point.
Contacted NHBC who said on phone as no cracks (yet) then not interested and to phone them back when have cracks.

Not satisfied with this I have made contact again getting a reference number and have emailed little over two dozen photos of my small trial pits exposing the problem.

Waited twelve working days and have contaced them again via email yesterday (Sunday) stating that I understood from many commentators on NHBC that in order to make them sit up an take note I require to go legal and or the Media/BBC/Channel 4, although as I was a patient type I wanted them to have the opportunity to reply BEFORE I went to such a length.
They have telephoned this morning at 11:07 stating that my claim is being looked at by an investigator and they shall be in touch, although unsure when.

Additionally, I have contacted Bryant (Taylor Wimpey) speaking to the MD in West Scotland, Willie Burns, who does not really believe my problems as seems that my house should have fallen down already (agree with him actually, although facts are contradictory) however he very kindly suggested that should it be a 'Structural Issue' then they are responsible and thus shall organise for an inspection.

Waiting...

Chris The Fox · 25th October 2010, 18:44

Since my last Blog today, I am happy to inform all who read this that Alana from the NHBC has again responded replying to our earlier converstaion today on the 'phone and has stated that she is registering my claim with John Clydesdale an NHBC Claims Investigator who is currently on annual leave thus the required 'respond within fiive wortking days' may extent somewhat.

I am quire delighted to have had a response to a clear emailed intent on my behalf sent yesterday to NHBC noting their 'oversight' in not responding within the allocated time frame and that should they appear to me to be as problematic as many commentators claim then we would be forced to involve the Media, BBC etc., which would undoubtedly be inadvisable.

So, wait now to see what they say on this future visit and too await the investigator of Brayant and promised.

Until next time...

Chris The Fox · 26th October 2010, 22:02

Todays blog:

Got telephoned from Bryant to say that a Mr Lyons will be in my development on other business tomorrow, Wednesday 27th October and shall pop in, if suitable, to see problems at 3pm.

Wonderful!

Additionally, a very nice Mr Clydesdale from the NHBC has telephoned (twice) to speak to me to arrange for a visit at his earliest date of Tuesdau 9th November at 10am.

He will write to confirm appointment he says.

Wonderful squared!

Will keep note of what occurs.

Another dead mouse today I am afraid, poor little begger.

Brings death toll to five.

How many more innocent little lives will be lost before my foundation and wide open cavity wall is mended!?

Structural Assistance · 27th October 2010, 01:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris The Fox

Todays blog:

Got telephoned from Bryant to say that a Mr Lyons will be in my development on other business tomorrow, Wednesday 27th October and shall pop in, if suitable, to see problems at 3pm.

Wonderful!

Additionally, a very nice Mr Clydesdale from the NHBC has telephoned (twice) to speak to me to arrange for a visit at his earliest date of Tuesdau 9th November at 10am.

He will write to confirm appointment he says.

Wonderful squared!

Will keep note of what occurs.

Another dead mouse today I am afraid, poor little begger.

Brings death toll to five.

How many more innocent little lives will be lost before my foundation and wide open cavity wall is mended!?

If you do your Homework NHBC are very nice, they publish all the standards their approved houses should be built to.

Your problem is proving that the house isnt build to spec.

Once you prove that, life will be easier. For that you will need an independant report.

Try theexpertengineer.co.uk

Goodluck.

Chris The Fox · 27th October 2010, 17:53

Many thanks for reply, will consider my options but wish at present to give Builder (Bryant/Taylor Wimpey) the chance along with NHBC to come up with a solution.

Today, 3 pm as suggested two individuals came from 'Wimpey' to view issue and looked first at Bay window, confirming that it was indeed built (facing brick) onto thermolite block which one, Chris, suggested had a kilonewton compression of around 7(kN). Fellow 2, The Brickie, when asked why i can simply drop a rod through the thermolite block some 500mm or more stated that these blocks would be on my found and that my found would be deeper. He could no explain as the blocks were not 500mm deep each and should interlap why the rod should free fall into a void. Unless they were to dig down properly they could not know for certain.

On viewing my non-found / mice entrance foyer, they could not offer an reasonable explanation other than the actual builder (they both assured me that they were not actually involved on this site at the time) may have made a mess of it and has spanned a 'service hole' with the 65mm lintel and not filled in the gap but rather simpley back filled with earth and builders rubble/rubbish and walked away.

The third pit to be veiwed is to the rear corner of the house where I have uncovered a couple of course of brick below ground as elsewhere, then a softish light grey material which can be scored with a spade and indeed with your finger nail. This said Fellow 2, The Brickie was the same thermolite block (7kN strength) which was probably on top of my actual foundation deeper and so far unseen. however as this block is holding up ground and first floor of gable wall surely that weight would be more than the suggested capability of the block?. No answer.

Fellow 1, Chris, assures me that it is the responsibility of the NHBC and that he may well come out with the investigator a week tuesday.

In short, 'there is a problem but we are not really able or willing to suggest anything beyond that as to how large this problem may be' si pretty much what they are saying.