Investigative Journalist in Scotland needs help!

[Journalist]

Hi,

I am an investigative journalist in Scotland who is examining a subject directly related to issues mentioned on this site.

I have come across instances where innocent buyers have purchased homes only to discover the house they purchased was not the actual home signed off in the plans stage. Additionally, some issues have also been brought to my attention regarding the issuing of 'Certificates of Completion' for builds which - frankly - don't seem to match the specs submitted by the builders.

The result of course, seems to have been, that unwitting buyers are left sitting in a house with terrible flaws not not not spotted at the purchasing stage. I am also talking here about 'major' flaws - not snagging as such.

Moreover, whilst snagging seems to be 99% to do with new builds - I wonder how many people on this site have any knowledge of buyers of older houses being left with badly-built homes?

What happens when the 1st buyer of a brand new home, has the faults patched up, then sells the de-snagged home on... to 2nd or 3rd buyer... without explaining the serious faults they'd rectified?

Has anyone encountered any examples of this?

I am working on a major BBC documentary about this issue - and anyone's experiences, advice or suggestions would be gratefully welcomed.

Best regards,

E. O'Neill

I can be contacted:

1 - Through this website and forum.

2. Via my own website: www.eamonnoneill.net

[Tony]

[quote:7b967a8a88]The result of course, seems to have been, that unwitting buyers are left sitting in a house with terrible flaws not not not spotted at the purchasing stage. I am also talking here about 'major' flaws - not snagging as such.[/quote:7b967a8a88]

One cause is the workload of the NHBC inspectors.

In the NHBC Annual Review 2004 they claim to have carried out 1,000,000 inspections and with only 330 inspectors it doesn't allow much time for each inspection, especially when the inspectors have to travel long distances between sites and write up the inspection reports.

I suppose it is all about efficiency, and profit. The NHBC generated a surplus of ?11.1 million in 03/04.