Shoddy Building Work and Zurich Guarantee

[fiddler]

My wife and I moved into our new build house just over a year ago. It was built by a local independant builder. Six months after we moved in, we got the builder to come back and fix two cracked tiles on the kitchen floor, a broken shower extractor fan and some leaky guttering. Unsurprisingly the guttering is still leaking - apparently when they 'fixed' it, all they did was unblock it, but it is leaking from a join, I also have a back fence that is falling down because they didn't concrete in the posts and I have several cracks (about 5mm+ wide) that have appeared around just about any wood/plaster join, so doorframes, stairs, skirting boards etc. Oh yes and one of the showers still leaks. To top it all off we were promised electrical/gas certificates would follow but have been subsequently informed that 'you don't need these'.

The house is covered by a Zurich guarantee, not an NHBC one, does this mean I still have 2 years to get all the snags sorted/still entitled to the certificates? Is it any different to the NHBC one? Any thoughts on what we should do?

Fiddler

 

[Tony]

The Zurich warranty does generally have a two year snagging period - you will need to check your policy documents as there are different types. They also have a dispute resolution service. You can contact them here:

Zurich in the UK - Contacts for home warranties

 

[fiddler]

Thanks Tony

What is the situation with the electrical and gas (corgi) documentation? I am guessing that I should have copies of these certificates?

Fiddler

 

[willyj]

Electrical and gas test certificates are a requirement of the Building Regulations. They are a legal requirement and the enforcing authority (probably the local council Building Control department) should have had sight of them before signing off the property against Building Regulations.

 

[fiddler]

Thanks Willy

I will get onto the builders ASAP about this.

 

[fiddler]

How does this work when talking about path and driveways. The path that runs around the edge of the house has a lot of loose paving slabs. Looks like they haven't put enough of a base down. Where the path isn't moving, some of it has sunk. It's not like it has suffered a lot of foot traffic as there are only 2 people who live here! This would cost a lot to get rectified. Would I still be able to get the builder to do it under the snag list or am I pushing my luck now?

 

[lexi09]

Hi
No you are not pushing your luck, the path they have provided should have been constructed on a secure base and basically the workmanship should be guaranteed. Bring it to their attention and they should get their groundworkers back to re-secure all loose slabs which should not move and come loose within 12 months of moving in.
Good luck