New house delayed

pintsizedblondie · 16th January 2012, 11:00

My boyfriend reserved a house off plan with Keepmoat Homes in August of last year, he was told the house was due to be completed in March 2012. Although we never received anything in writing stating this really, every time we asked for an update we were told the house was still on schedule, despite going to look at the site and nothing ever being started to be built. Now (mid Jan 2012) he has received the news that the development has decided to build some other homes first on the site and his house won't even be started until July of this year!! Is there anything that can be done about this? Can they just decide to change their minds like that? We aren't very "up" on the proceedings on home buying as it is the first house for both of us, so any help or advice would be appreciated!

NewHomeExpert · 16th January 2012, 11:09

Have a look at my website to bone up on new home buying.
My advice here would be to walk away. They have messed you about already so what will it be like when you own their home?
They are obviously waiting until they have sold a few houses before they start building.
They are probably concentrating on the social houses first too.

Unless you have something in writing, there is nothing you can do. In a rising market it works for you, in a falling market the home could be worth less than you pay for it when you eventually move in.

KeepmoatHomes · 17th January 2012, 15:49

We're sorry to hear about the concerns you have about delays to your new Keepmoat Home. We will endeavour to investigate the situation and reply publicly and directly in order to present you with the facts and ease any worries you may have about the build.

In order to do this could you please let us know:
- The development at which the house is being built
- Plot number/address

Once we have these details we will look into the situation as a matter of priority.

Regards,

Keepmoat Homes.

pintsizedblondie · 17th January 2012, 16:20

Hi,

The housing development is Horizon Darnall in Sheffield.
It is Plot 83, 18 Claypit Way.

I emailed another lady at Keepmoat about this issue but she did not really tell me any more than I already knew.

I look forward to your reply.

NewHomeExpert · 18th January 2012, 11:00

I am amazed if the Keepmoat post is genuine!
The e mail address on the forum is a @btinternet one!
It would show that a forum post has got a better response than writing to the actual house builder!

Let's see what happens now.

KeepmoatHomes · 20th January 2012, 16:00

I can assure you this is a genuine response from Keepmoat Homes. A personal email was used to register, belonging to a member of the PR company that represents Keepmoat Homes.

We have apologised to the customer for the delay, which has been caused by an unavoidable change to the build plan on this Sheffield development.

We anticipate the property will be completed before the end of June but have, in the meantime, invited them to site to see other available plots, which will be ready by March, to see if any of these may be suitable.

Customer care and satisfaction is very important to us and the most recent National House Building Council research confirms that, over the last 6 months, 91% of our customers would recommended us to a friend.

NewHomeExpert · 23rd January 2012, 10:13

Regarding the NHBC/HBF customer satisfaction survey results, people should not pay too much attention to these. They are carried out by the NHBC for the HBF. Not all homes are sent a survey form and the majority of new homes owners don't send them back.

By the way six months (June) to build a house seems a long time. Perhaps it is not being started until later?

Snaggedout · 24th January 2012, 22:41

Wrong. The survey is sent to all homeowners of large builders, HBF members or not. I think the response rates are quoted but if not they are statistically significant as the results are audited by Reading University.

Snaggedout · 24th January 2012, 22:59

Sounds like this one is being resolved, but for others who have problems with delays take a look at the Consumer Code for Homebuilders website -consumercodeforhomebuilders - This provides additional protection for home buyers who have reserved a new home.

And NewHome expert is wrong about the National New Home Customer Satisfaction Survey. It is sent to private owners of all new homes built by large builders regardless of whether they are HBF members. And the results independently audited by Reading University.

NewHomeExpert · 25th January 2012, 08:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snaggedout

Wrong. The survey is sent to all homeowners of large builders, HBF members or not. I think the response rates are quoted but if not they are statistically significant as the results are audited by Reading University.

NO NewHomeExpert is not WRONG!
As you say only homeowners of "large" house builders are sent a survey. That means all small builder's customers dont get a survey unless the builder asks for it.
In the 2011 HBF/NHBC survey:
FACT: Only 21% of all new homes private sector homes built received a survey questionaire.
FACT: The HBF only publish customer satisfaction "star ratings" for their member house builders.
FACT: Response rates are low. Only 55% of house buyers who were sent forms actually completed and returned them.
FACT: 28,000 affordable homes and buy-to-let homes were not included in the survey.
FACT: The survey results are weighted. Reading University has indeed been involved with the wat the results are compiled and reported.
As Mark Twain once said, "There are Lies, damned lies, and statistics" A phrase describing the use of statistics to bolster weakened arguments.
If you torture statistics enough, they will tell you anything you want.
If you have you’ve got your head in the oven and your feet in the fridge, 'statistically' your average temperature is fine, but you are dead.

FACT: Two different surveys are sent out by the NHBC. One 8 weeks after completion this is used by the HBF and another after 9 months which is not made public and is the the builder's eyes only.