Rear Garden

dissapointed fifer · 19th January 2009, 22:20

When we moved into our new SM house in Dunfermline in early 2008 we paid £850 as an extra to have the rear garden turfed.

To cut a LONG story short, as I'm sure you're all aware, SM take no responsibility for drainage and the preparation of the ground was nil - net result? an £850 sponge.

Can anyone tell me what my rights are in respect of money back or rectification of this problem? My argument being that if it was an appliance I'd paid extra for that didn't work it would be replaced??

I'm at the end of my tether with this lot!!

Any advice is greatly appreciated

Tony · 20th January 2009, 00:40

Unfortunately it is not an uncommon story (sorry double negative) You need it rectifying rather than your money back. They should install a French Drain or something similar - have you contacted the NHBC.

Tony

in031971 · 23rd January 2009, 14:31

It sounds like I'm on the same development as you, and have just posted my own Stewart Milne experience labelled "New Stewart Milne Home issues".

You are doing the right thing in posting in this forum, and any other forums you can find for that matter. An approach to the NHBC as already suggested would be worthwhile.

You could write to Stewart Milne's Managing Director, and threaten to go to the media if the situation is not resolved to your satisfaction.

The last thing Stewart Milne will want in the current climate is bad publicity, even if its only in the Dunfermline press.

As you say there was no point in Stewart Milne turfing the garden if at the end of the day it is not usable. Even if not a legal responsibility, they must at least have a moral responsibility for rectifying this problem, especially after taking your cash.

I will resort to these tactics if my snagging does not get sorted out pronto.

Regards, Phil

malcolm22 · 25th January 2009, 12:20

I've said it several times on this site, SM always use the same tricks. Getting in touch with anyone at SM is normally a waste of time, they will reply to you but do absolutely nothing.

Try contacting your MP for Dunfermline ( Willie Rennie, he's a lib dem so you can get his e-mail address at their website). He helped us at the Linburn Grange development quite a lot and has dealt with SM before. The press don't want to know because they've run the same kind of story about SM, before with no result.

Some folk (generally those who paid more than the original selling price of the house - I kid you not) seem to get better service.

You will find that they will eventually fix most things, but I fear that some people in SM houses are really suffering hell.

I wish you luck.

in031971 · 25th January 2009, 14:22

Thanks for your suggestions.

I will keep the MP option up my sleeve just in case.

Although SM called us back on Friday, and finally gave us dates for most of the work, so hopefully things will work out in the end.

We could do without the hastle though, and I'm glad I'm not moving to another new house. SM have put me off ever doing that again.

Regards,

Phil

malcolm22 · 29th January 2009, 21:30

Just had another thought. You paid for the turfing as an extra, and not as a part of the house deal? If you are the same as Linburn Grange, you will have paid up front for this, and before the house was actually completed?
In this case, they are bound by consumer law and not NHBC or anything else. Contact Trading Standards for advice. They cannot hide behind anything to do with the house, as this turfing contract would be quite separate from that
If you paid by credit card, you will also have comeback against the credit card company.
Best of luck.
Malcolm

linenswamp · 22nd November 2009, 12:37

just came on to this site for the first time today and I'm reading with interest the issues raised. i to have had serious problems with the rear garden, having been told by SM that everything was fine and that the house and garden were in tip top condition. that was june 2008 and i don't think the rear garden has EVER been devoid of water. i kicked up about it time and time again and lo and behold was visited by an rep of SM who said they would put drainage in ........ why wasn't it put in initially ? anyway the result is my drainage has been put in and surprise surprise it worse than ever !!!! don't even get me started on the inadequacies of the interior of the house. I have a train to catch in an hour so wouldn't have time to type it up. do you think SM staff visit this site ?

Sandy Beech · 22nd November 2009, 21:13

Hi Linenswamp - Have family on your development - their wet area is in the room right below their shower. That I believe is fairly standard fro SM. You should ask why your is outside. Sorry I recognise it is no laughing matter unlike their customer relations.