Wwyd?

[Sososick]

Condensed version, moved into new build shared ownership. Boiler and under sink has been plumbed in wrong. Had no hot water, which is now fixed, but washing machine and dishwasher are still on hot water pipe not cold. DM thinks I should complain and claim compensation, I'm not so sure.

Long version.

So DP and I have finally managed to buy our first place. It's shared ownership, and we moved in almost two weeks ago.

We noticed pretty much straight away that the hot water wasn't running properly. Kitchen seemed OK, but all the other taps were very intermittent, and the shower/bath wouldn't draw hot water at all.

Builders sent an engineer, who flooded the kitchen (thankfully not big as I turned the mains off pretty quick), and said it was a part missing in the boiler, and needed to call the manufacturer. He left us with no heating.

Boiler engineer couldn't get to us for 5 days, and builders couldn't get anyone out to us before. Rang the HA, they sent an engineer who got the heating back on the next day, but who also flooded my kitchen (again minor thanks to me), and said the boiler was fine, but piped in backwards. Needed to be fixed by the builders.

Builders booked someone in, but kept the boiler manufacturer appointment so the could check the boiler over just in case. Boiler person confirmed the plumbing was backwards, but that the boiler was OK (checked the gas installation as well)

Builders sent someone, hot water fixed, but after noticed that the cold water feed for my washing machine and dishwasher is actually plumbed onto the hot water pipe. Builders have said they will try and send someone next Monday or Tuesday, but I won't hear until the day. If not, it'll definitely be straight after the Christmas period. They've also agreed, at my request, to have all the pipework double checked. They've apologised, and also stated they won't be using the original plumber again.

My mum reckons I should complain and claim some sort of compensation. I'm not sure as they have done all they can to rectify it as quickly as possible, and I've had follow ups, etc.

What would you do?

You should complain and they should fix it.

Not sure you’ll be able to get compensation unless you demonstrate what costs you’ve incurred due to things not working properly, eg staying in hotel as it was too cold in the house.

You need to give them the opportunity to remedy. Compensation for what though? Who supplied appliances?

@JoJoSM2 that's my point. I've told them about the issue with the hot water, and its been sorted. The pipes under the sink will be sorted ASAP. It's just that it's the Christmas period, which means it might take a little bit longer.

@LIZS it's not the appliances, it's the plumbing.

DP and I wouldn't know what to claim as compensation. It's my mum who thinks I ought to, as I put in original post, but truthfully we wouldn't know what for. We were without heating for one night, and it's been quite mild, so not a problem. Washing has been a pain, having to use the kettle to get hot water, but not the end of the world, and that's fixed now.

I've had to rearrange a couple of client appointments due to waiting in for engineers (I'm self employed) but that happens. Maybe our water and electric bill will be a bit higher because of it, but I can't see it making a huge difference. I suppose my mum just made me wonder if I was being soft.

But surely whoever put the appliances in would have noticed the issue.

@LIZS no they're not new appliances, it's the house that's a new build. I already had a washing machine and dishwasher, which DP attached to the relevant taps, which both gave blue handles, so it's not immediately obvious that it's actually hot water. It was only when we got the hot water fixed that we realised. As obviously before that the water it was drawing was cold.