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NHBC cover - neglected to send Acceptance Form

9 replies

user1499168267 · 04/07/2017 13:05

Dear All,

I've just joined this forum. hoping to get an advice on the following matter:

Back in 2008 I bought a newly built flat.
Now I have concerns regarding cracks on the wall of the building where my flat is.
Since it was a new build at the time of the sale I expected to be covered for 10 years under NHBC. I've dug up the documents involved in the sale and to my dismay it looks like I must have missed sending a so called Acceptance Form to NHBC all those years ago. I have a doc with NHBC Policy Number. which kind of gives me hope... but I've got the impression that in order to be covered I need to have that Insurance Certificate issued by NHBC on receiving the Acceptance Form and I can't find either of them among my docs.
( and I don't remember sending back to NHBC any docs whatsoever... :( )

Am I in a really bad position now and there is no way NHBC can help me?

Thank you in advance for any response.

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RandomlyGenerated · 04/07/2017 14:38

Does your document say Buildmark Cover Note? Or does it say Buildmark Insurance Certificate? Shouldn't your solicitor have sent off the acceptance form on your behalf?

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user1499168267 · 04/07/2017 15:14

RandomlyGenerated, thank you for replying.

My doc. says Buildmark Cover sheet.
It's definitely not a certificate.

And, yes, it would make sense for a solicitor to send the acceptance form, but I can find no traces of that in the bundle of the docs received from my solicitor after the completion of the sale...

I suppose ,the easiest thing would be to just call NHBC, but I would really like to know where I stand from other sources before I do that.

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RandomlyGenerated · 04/07/2017 15:19

Have you got the full deeds or are they lodged with the solicitor or mortgage company? If the latter, might it be in there?

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user1499168267 · 04/07/2017 15:49

RandomlyGenerated,

I seem to be such a total dunce - I am not even sure about the deeds...
But having looked through what I have, I think, I don't have the full deeds.

Would it be a good idea to contact my mortgage lender?
Shall I tell them about my concerns with the building? Or will they just make me buy some expensive survey service or something like that...?

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RandomlyGenerated · 04/07/2017 19:22

I would contact your solicitor / conveyancer first - we bought recently and our conveyancer said they keep purchase info for 16 years, so if this is standard your conveyancer should have the info. There is also now an o line NHBC portal that they can log into, so may be able to check if the insurance certificate was issued.

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user1499168267 · 04/07/2017 19:48

RandomlyGenerated,

Thanks a lot for your advice - it's very much appreciated.

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RandomlyGenerated · 04/07/2017 19:55

And looking at our NHBC insurance certificate, it was definitely done by the solicitor (we are second owners).

Good luck - hope you find it's all been done and it's just you don't have a copy of the certificate.

And hopefully the cracks are just settlement and nothing more ominous!

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Bellaposy · 04/07/2017 20:28

Your solicitor should have done this for you user. Contact the solicitor who acted for you if you aren't sure.