Angry first-time buyer hangs large sign on ‘shoddy’ £220k home warning others not to buy there
Dad Mike Firth thought he'd bought his dream home on the Sycamore Gardens estate in Castleford, West Yorks but said it turned into a nightmare
A FRUSTRATED first-time home owner has shared a stark warning to other buyers - in the form of a huge sign outside his new house.
Dad-of-three Mike Firth, 31, said he forked out £220,000 for the four-bedroom property, meant to be a "dream first home" for his young family.
But Mike claims the dream turned to disaster after he found the Persimmon Homes property, in Sycamore Gardens estate in Castleford, West Yorks, was allegedly filled with "shoddy" building work – and that it still had not been fixed 16 months on.
His 5ft by 3ft sign reads: “Thinking of buying a home on this development? Feel free to knock and view my house. The problems are endless and it could save you ££££. #newbuildingnightmare".
The HGV compliance controller said: “On the walk around we noticed things were wrong.
“But 16 months later they've done little.
“I decided to hang the sign because I was getting nowhere.
"If I'd had seen something like that before I'd bought my house I'd have asked questions. I just want Persimmon to recognise my problems and to sort out the issues I've got.
"All I want is what I paid for but for them to come anywhere near that seems difficult.
“It's stressful and it's frustrating. You buy new, you expect new, we're far from it.
"If I'd have seen the house before I bought it I don't think I would have done so.
"The general quality of the work is appalling.”
Mike claims the property, which he shares with his young son and partner, has ill-fitting brickwork, leaking shower cubicles and baths, poor plaster work and architraves - the moulded frame around a doorway or window - which aren't level.
He also claims brickwork and door frames are below standard.
In July, he took the drastic step of putting a poster up on the front of his house to share his experience with other prospective buyers looking at houses on the estate.
Mike added: “The brickwork replicates a climbing wall. There are a lot of damaged bricks and it looks sloppy.
“The woodwork is shoddy too. A number of the architraves and door frames aren't level.
“Persimmon have come to do work but then left it unfinished.
“It almost feels like they expect the buyer to sort the problems out themselves.
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“I've lost count of how many days I've taken off for people to come and they've either not turned up or not done a very good job.
“I don't think it replicates value for money.
“It feels like the customer comes second. Some of the repair work carried out has been substandard."
A Persimmon Homes spokeswoman said: “We have been dealing directly with the customer to address his issues and are establishing appointments for work to be carried out that coincides with his availability.”
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