Our dream £230k new-build home is riddled with issues including a dip in garage roof and a front door that doesn’t fit
A COUPLE has told how their dream new-build home was left riddled with issues - including a front door that does not even fit.
Nick Findlay, 30, moved into the £230,000 home with his partner and her two kids earlier this year.
But the family-of-four claimed they were immediately faced with a number of issues, including "shoddy workmanship" and add that their dream £230,000 home has turned into a nightmare.
Nick made the switch from Kidsgrove in Stoke-on-Trent to a four-bedroom house at Hollington Grange, which is around 3.5 miles away.
The 30-year-old lives with his partner and her two children and decided to upsize to give them more space as they hope to have a child together in the future.
But he says there have been numerous problems with the house and they are still waiting for snag checks to be carried out by developer Keepmoat Homes.
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Nick alleges there has been "poor" plaster work, a dip in the garage roof and a front door which doesn’t fit its frame, which allows wind to blow into the living room. He also claims an extractor hood - which he paid extra for - has been fitted incorrectly.
Nick says moving house has been "stressful" enough without the added problems. He told Stoke-on-Trent Live: "After seven days they should come around to do a snag list and make repairs within the first two weeks which they haven’t done.
"It’s always us chasing Keepmoat for snags and what’s happening. We kicked up a massive fuss and I’m aware they have had directors on site due complaints.
"I’m having workmen turn up to my door when both me and my partner work full-time. No one is in so we can’t let them in, the communication is very poor. I paid a lot of money and am still having issues with it months after moving in."
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Nick added: "When I started painting the living room all I could see was waves in the plaster. They’ve had to come to replaster the house because the plaster work is really poor - I’ve got bare plastered walls.
"As an apology, they said they were going to get a painter and decorator to paint for us, I thought 'that’s fine'. I’ve since been contacted by them to tell me they can’t get hold of a painter and decorator on their books.
"I’m having to get a quote myself to send to them and then they will pay me the money. It’s unbelievable.
"I feel let down and disappointed. We moved into a new build, there shouldn’t be this many issues.
"They’ve done a very lazy job. I would like some response from Keepmoat to give me a valid reason on why it’s taken so long for these jobs to be done."
A spokesperson for Keepmoat Homes said: "We are in regular contact with our customer in an effort to agree a timeline to resolve their outstanding issues. We apologise for any inconvenience this has caused."
Homeowners who believe their new built home has faults can apply for a payout under a new watchdog.
The New Homes Quality Board (NHQB) has been launched to set out new rules that developers must abide by.
The New Homes Ombudsman Service (NHOS) will also provide free advice from the watchdog when raising a dispute.
