Missing Window

Karla · 18th January 2006, 16:24

Hi All! Barratt home not even built and already have an issue. Not quite a snag, more like a rather big mistake. When viewing the construction of the house we relised that there is no window for the main bathroom (as per the plan we have)(and show home).
I have written a letter expressing this, but have been told that this window isn't in the draughts for the house? (which i was shown, but obviously didn't understand otherwise i would have noticed) Do i have any rights to claim compensation for this window? HELP!

Tony · 18th January 2006, 21:12

This could be a contravention of the property misdescription act. The best thing to do is to contact your local Trading Standards office. they will review your case and for a small fee, two or three pounds, write to Barratt Homes. Have a look at this site from Warwickshire Trading Standards. Warwickshire Trading Standards

This case is smiliar:

Quote:

In the second case the purchaser was expecting his property to have three dormer windows, as had been described in the brochure he received when he visited the development, when in fact it only had one, changing the overall look of the property.

IanP · 10th February 2006, 16:46

We also along with others in our developement had a landing window dissapear over night. It was there one day and bricked up the next. No one told us we had to visit site and see it for ourselves. We did compplain as this was the middle floor of a townhouse and was given downlighters and compensation. The reason for this was the stairs went across the window..... not sure why that was as on another development the same house had the 2 landing windows with no issues.
Seems builders/developers seem to have a free reign on what they do. This was not a barret home but a Wimpey home.

tonyw · 23rd March 2006, 23:49

No they dont have a free reign on what they do, what they have is DISCLAIMERS on all drawings, but like all big companys, they dont want to upset the purchasers to much and will ofton or not offer something as a form of good will gesture, please all you real human beings out there, a house is constructed by human beings, who sometimes make MISTAKES !!!! (a word that is probably worse than any swear word on here !!!) Also a house can not be built within precission engineering tolerances, you have to accept certain things might go wrong and cant be reversed.

(im sure my comments are going down a treat !!!)

Tex · 28th March 2006, 20:14

Unfortunately, Drawings or draughts are exactly that, just drawings. as Tony from above say's 'please all you real human beings out there, a house is constructed by human beings, who sometimes make MISTAKES !!!! '
This also includes the architects, surveyors, engineers etc etc, the drawings are only a guide & sometimes major concerns are evident on the drawing stage, others during the build stage. This is where the experiance of the site manager, surveyor & engineer expose their strenghs. Some people end up with, for example, a larger bedroom or smaller bathroom etc.
You ended up with a staircase blocking a window. It seem's obvious that the staircase detail couldn't be altered at that build stage, but losing the window rectified the problem, & that seem's the chosen route!
However, the compensation offered of a few downlighters or whatever seem's a bit lousy. You should demand a complete bedroom suite or complete garden landscape. Although the latter wouldn't be much cop as you dont have the window to apprieciate it!