18 months on and still battling

[HamiltonGrangeVictim]

We moved into a Portchester build property in Worcester 18 months, accepting that there would probably be a few teething problems. We did not anticipate to still be having a constant battle to get things put right at this point. I won't list everything we have gone through at this point because I'd be here all day. I suppose the first point to make is that if you want quality don't buy a Persimmon House (in my opinion).

We basically have issues with getting the house warm and this is what we are trying to remedy. I have gone around the house, removed all the trickle vents and sealed over them with tape because of the amount of draughts and noise the gaps were letting in. Persimmon were informed and provided with pics; they didn't want to know. The window company said it is because it is the cheapest quality product.

I really believe we have undersized radiators in the living room. I have requested and been given a copy of the rad spec for the property, which details the make of rad and the size needed for each room. Unfortunately it does not proved their calculations of the BTU for each room. However, I believe in the living room it is about 2000 under what it should be. What chance do I stand of getting them to sort this??

We have had issues with each of the 3 external doors. Last year we had a new back door fitted because it had been measured incorrectly and only just overlapped the frame. How this was overlooked is beyond me. I am still battling with draughts coming in around the french doors and (unfortunately) this morning have felt more draughts after their last attempt to readjust them. I am filled with dread at the thought of trying to get this put right, largely because I have been fighting for a new front door and frame since this time last year. It has been adjusted and readjusted more times than I care to mention and I have finally got them to agree that light coming in between the door and frame, which lets in noise and cold, is not how it should be. Unfortunately we are still waiting to hear when this might happen so yet again I will be chasing up the Customer Care Team. (customer care??? that's a laugh).

And we also have major issues of draughts in the kitchen coming in under the units which are along external walls. We had a maintenance operative come out on 14th December who informed me we would need another visit for them to check the insulation with a camera. I chased it up twice before Christmas and again at the start of the week and they have come back with a date of 29th Jan. Which I am far from happy with. And I imagine they will come out and be unable to do anything and then we are left waiting again. Perhaps I am mistaken, but surely it is not right for the temperature in these 'wonderfully insulated'' homes to drop to 11 or 12 degrees overnight and still not heat up past 16 degrees during the day, with the house thermostat turned up to 24? Does anybody have any similar experience or could shed any light on what it could be so that I am prepared when they come out?

And now, if you are still reading, I apologise for turning this into a rant. But it is a frustrating and stressful situation and one which Persimmon seem to care very little about.

Would I buy a new build property again? Definitely not and I would not recommend anyone else to do so!

[Tony]

Hi,

And welcome to the forum. Are you alone or are your neighbours having similar problems? I suspect the latter.

These might be of interest:

Persimmon Fit Undersized Radiators
Central Heating Issues on Whole Estate
NHBC Guidelines for space-heating

[Useless]

Same with me 18 months on, looks like the legal route is the only way now for us. If only I could turn the clock back 18 months!!

[HamiltonGrangeVictim]

Hi Tony

Yes, I know of neighbours who are experiencing similar problems. I have requested and been given a copy of the radiator spec, but it doesn't tell me the calculation they used. I have now been informed that :
calculations are done by external consultants, in accordance with design parameters given in BS 5449 : 1990 using NHBC Guidance notes.

This means nothing to me, so I think I will be getting in a heating expert to check. It's only the one radiator, but it just doesn't heat the room.

We are due to have an operative check the wall cavity and roof insulation around the kitchen on Friday to see if they can solve the issue of the draughts. If it isn't this, I don't know what they are going to do. I can't understand where the cold could be coming from, but it's definitely coming from somewhere.

As for customer care....it it pretty non-existent. All smiles and help before you move in and once you're in, they just don't want to know.

Uesless, you don't happen to be in Worcester too do you?

[admin]

No I am in Bolton. It should be easy enough to get someone to have a look at this for you. Some people have also had thermal surveys done with thermal cameras.

Tony