Chelford Homes

Maggie · 24th July 2004, 10:27

Hi, We purchased a house from Chelford Homes over 18 months ago and still the snagging list has not been completed. It has gotten that bad that we have repaired a leaking shower ourselves and we still have a toilet out of use as the flushing system has collapsed (although this is not on the snag list) Wr received a letter from Chelford in September last year stating that all snags would be complete within 8 weeks and have heard nothing since. I cannot contact Chelford Homes as the number is no longer in use. Does anybody know where I stand or what my next step should be? We will have been in the house for 2 years come October and I believe the builders are not responsible after this time is this correct? Thanks

Tony · 24th July 2004, 17:09

Chelford homes are registered with the NHBC, did you receive a warranty? Under your buildmark cover you can go to the NHBC to get your problems dealt with. I haven't checked with companies house, but if they are not answering the phones it would suggest they have gone out of business.

The NHBC state the following:

"For the first two years after legal completion the builder is responsible for putting right any building defects resulting from breaches of NHBC Standards which are reported to him in writing. If the builder and home owner are in dispute about the repair work that is needed, NHBC will attempt to resolve the dispute. If the builder fails to carry out repairs that NHBC considers necessary, NHBC will get the repairs completed. If the builder is unable to carry out repairs (due, for example, to insolvency), NHBC will take over responsibility for the repairs from the start.
Please note: The builder and NHBC are not responsible for wear and tear or any damage resulting from the home owner's failure to maintain the property."

If you need assistance, let me know.

Tony

PhilS · 20th October 2005, 11:04

Hiya - my wife & I bought from Chelford just over a year ago - we still have a few outstanding snags, but the majority have been pretty much sorted by contacting the NHBC (as Tony responded). Chelford are still in business (I'm on a "live" site with about a year's worth of development left on it). We are still waiting for some minor snags to be dealt with plus other issues have been raised. I think we had around 60 or so snags to begin with.. We also have been given deadlines which are continually broken and we'll probably contact the NHBC again shortly. We've also had plenty of problems with the plumbing..... Which site are you on if you don't mind me asking? My wife & I are in Bury...

Phil

Maggie · 20th October 2005, 11:32

Hi Phils - It has now been 3 years for us and still the snags are not complete!! Although some of the major snags have. We had to contact the NHBC too and we still have a leaking water tank. They only installed the cavity wall insulation last month aswell! I find them very unwilling to help at Chelford and they like to pass the buck blaming external companies for the repairs not being completed.
We also had a problem with the Gas connection and my supply was isolated and I was advised not to use it as my life would be at risk!! All 10 houses in our section were isolated!
I am not holding my breathe for the other snags being completed anytime soon and have threatened them with legal action.

Oh and we live on the Wigan site which is now complete.

Maggie

PhilS · 20th October 2005, 14:54

Hi Maggie - glad to hear that most of your snags have been addressed. I'm shocked at the cavity wall insulation though.... We have also had the same stories regarding passing the blame on to outside contractors - a number of other home owners on our site have had the same experience... Here's hoping you get things fully sorted in the not-too-distant future. We expected some snagging issues (as my brother-in-law has bought new build properties previously, from a couple of different builders), but as far as I'm aware, he's not had anything like a 12-month plus wait for snags to be completed... I don't think I'd recommend Chelford to anyone, in fact I'd actively discourage people from buying with Chelford. Though having browsed the boards on the site, I get the impression that the same problems (though perhaps not quite to the same degree) crop up time & time again with new builds...
Regards Phil.

mooshooh · 27th July 2006, 22:09

:angry: We have been in our home for 12 months and still havent had our completion snagging list done. We have given in 4 snagging lists the fourth one handed in last week . We purchased a dorchester; one of its kind on the development at bury and it is one of its kind !!!!..... an employee of Chelford homes who does repairs has told us its the worst home he has seen for defects. We are currently waiting for a date for repairs to be done and if this isnt forthcoming we will be taking legal action and contacting channel 4 who we were told were looking for home owners to take part in a builders from hell series . In my opinion do not buy from Chelford Homes as they will keep fobbing you off, quick to take the money but dont want to do the repairs.

mad-as-hell · 14th July 2009, 12:00

Hi, we bought our chelford home 2 years ago and am STILL waiting for the snagging to commence!!!!!!! We've contacted chelfords more times than I find acceptable and had a bad response. Our site in Blackpool has been a 'down tools' site for the last 9 months or so and even the sales advisor left because they were so fed up. We have suffered over 2 winters with windows that don't fit properly, gutters that were not completely finished so water runs off the end onto our pathway. Too many to list but they are quick to request the ground rent. Unbalanced if you ask me.

Tony · 14th July 2009, 21:27

This is completely not acceptable. Have submitted the snags to them formally in writing or has it all been by phone? If you have written to them you can now go to the warranty provider and ask them to intervene. If that fails, get a quote for the snags to be fixed that is less than £5000 and start a small claim against them to get the money to pay for the work to be done.

Have you given the Blackpool Gazette a ring they may be interested in this story?

Let us know how you get on

Tony

don · 16th July 2009, 15:23

Buying a new home is one of the most important decisions in your life, we want you to make sure you have chosen well and we pride ourselves in offering a professional service both during the buying process and after you have moved in.

Above.......A quote from the Chelford Homes Website......What a crock of you know what!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Helford Holes · 22nd July 2009, 01:12

Three years this September we have lived in our property, and really don't know where to begin. Major defects on our property range from "Live wires in the boiler cupboard", "a leak which took seven months for Chelford to attend causing exstensive damage throughout downstairs", "Water meter buried under the pavement for 12 months, requiring the front garden to be dug up" just got it re turfed, and they dug it up again to stick a lampost on the front lawn" on both occassion we left for work in the morning, and came home a lunch to find a 4ft x 4ft hole in the front lawn, it took them 2 years to install the street lights, and secure our fence to the rear of the property, only then after we were burgled, the fence has since fallen down. I have just received a seven day letter for none payment of ground rent. Its criminal they have the audacity to request it, we have windows that don't close securely, and a property about as insulated as a tea bag, They excel in incompetance, and as someone said previously pass the buck on every occassion. I'm thinking of door to dooring our site to see just how many people they are in breach of contract with, and I will be using the information found on this website in court, if they pursue me for the unpaid ground rent. feel free to contact me. I'm currently exploring all avenues of legal action against Chelford Homes, Chelford have had in excess of 10 snagging list, and failed to deliver on every occassion. I read on the NHBC website as long as you've notified them prior to your NHBC cover ending (2 Years) they are still required to complete any outstanding snags roll on 2020 you never know! I'm also in Blackpool "Mad as Hell", I've had rows with a number of their employees, and I've been reported to all the site managers, maybe they could report to my house, and put right their shoddy work......