NHBC wont Help

[allandave]

The NHBC have just refused to back me up in my claim against my builder....let me explain...We had water coming into the house which meant that the cavity trays had to be replaced, as they were faulty. To obtain access to the cavity trays our builder had to remove part of the roughcast (render) from our house. The builder has now replaced the cavity trays and re applied roughcast to the house.
heres the problem....The new roughcast that has been applied is a different colour. The front of my house is now has a patchwork quilt effect. The NHBC say that because the water penetration has been fixed and that the roughcast that is now on my house is not the original that they inspected and passed that I am not covered by my NHBC Insurance.....any help or advice would be greatly appreciated

[Tony]

Hi,

Although this is ridiculous it is their policy. You should escalate your complaint within the NHBC in the first instance and with the builder.

At the same time get a quote to have the problem rectified yourself - you should be able the get the contractor to produce saying that the finish is not consistent nor acceptable. Then make a moneycalim online (https://www.moneyclaim.gov.uk/csmco2/index.jsp)the total of your claim should not be over £5000, neither party can recover costs although it doesn't stop builders making threats about this, such as in Mike's case with Persimmon Homes[/quote]

They requested that the case be summarily dismissed, and I pay their costs.

Good luck and let us know how yo get one

Tony

[SteveS]

Hi,
Does the difference in roughcast show up well in a photo? The reason I ask is that when I had problems I emailed the newspapers (and everywhere else!), the newspapers were not interested until I told them I was going to get a van signwritten with my website on it.
Because they could give the story the impact of a photo it was then worth printing. A reporter called and wanted to come and photograph the van two days later. I did not get the photo or story done but I told the sales office what was due to happen and my snags are getting done now at a swift rate.
It is also worth saying that when I emailed each paper, MP, radio etc I copied my builder in the email. I wanted them to know that I was going to create a fuss until the snags were done.
'The squeeky wheel gets the oil'.
Hope this helps, regards,
Steve.

[Tony]

It is such a shame you had to resort to this, but going to the press does work but they want more than stories of snags these days - they are too common. There needs to be a human angle, near death experience or something with visula impact.

Tony