AIBU - new build houses are AWFUL

[hooplahooper]

I am currently living in a BRAND NEW Bellway home - renting while I renovate my childhood home. I was excited to live in something new enough to be zero maintenance while dealing with my own big Reno project...

But holy HELL it's been an awful eye opener for me. I've lived in 11 houses across three countries as an adult - 5 of which I have owned + sold - and I have never come across such bad build quality before. Some of the (many) entry level issues (which the landlord has repeatedly
flagged with the builder to no avail) include:

• The walls aren't plastered, just painted plaster board - so zero internal sound insulation,
• the tiling is wonky in all rooms
• the windows don't seal,
• half the doors don't catch on the hinges without considered effort.
• the laminate kitchen counters aren't sealed at any joints
• the front door hinges are loose
• the electric car charge point doesn't turn on
• The stair railings aren't secure
• there is black mould everywhere from a leak (now stopped, but mould not attended to)

I'fe lived in new builds before overseas - I know there are always snags, but everything about this house feels like corners are cut + quality is compromised.

I'd let it go - I don't really care for me, I'm moving into my own home in 8 weeks - but I'm raging on behalf of my lovely + hard working neighbours here - who have got enormous mortgages on these poor quality structures.

I posted about it on my personal stories and have heard all sorts of even worse horror stories about new builds by Baratt Home, Persimmon + Taylor Wimpey as well. It seems universal that these huge developers are building low quality, parasitic dormitory towns on (often) greenbelt lane - and making astronomical profits from them (650m for Bellway last year..!)

With such gigantic profits - they could be building better quality homes if they wanted to. But they don't. And the government is clearly so caught up in meeting housing targets they are turning a blind eye.

I am RAGING. I am grateful I don't have to live here forever - and furious on behalf of the millions of people that deserve so much more.

YABU - let it go, they're not so bad you terrible snob. People are happy with their homes + can make their own judgements

YANBU - hard working people deserve more + there has to be a way of holding these big companies accountable for prioritising profit over quality homes

No, he had had first hand experience of the decline in standards of the British housebuilding trade after 1945. He made a very good living putting right things that should never have gone wrong in the first place.

Yes - currently working on our third now. This is the only one for which we purchased the plot. The previous two were on land we already owned.

Yes - currently working on our third now. This is the only one for which we purchased the plot. The previous two were on land we already owned.

I was going to ask if you found the process stressful but I'm guessing if you're on project number 3 you're taking it in your stride!

I love Grand Designs and while it does look like a huge amount of stress, a lot of that does seem self-created. I suppose the sensible, organised people don't make good tv.

Do you work with an architect? Do you have a site manager that manages the build or do you do so yourself?

@SomeCatFromJapan I think they all come with a certain amount of stress but it's always worth it in the end!
We have an architect that does the design, we handle the planning application ourselves, then it's back to the architect for building regs etc. We use a main contractor who works with us to manage the project and use subcontractors for specific parts of the build. Our architect has the role of principal designer through the build itself but we administer the contract ourselves.
Finding a great builder who has good relationships with local subcontractors/suppliers and who is willing to work with you takes a lot of the stress out of it but it helps to be organised and close to the site so you can keep an eye on things.
Many self builders get more involved practically than we do and save a lot of money that way - people are building to all kinds of budgets and there's a lot of support out there to help you through.

@Tahitiansummer thank you, that is fascinating. I think you should do an AMA! Have you ever used a kit house type thing like a Hofhaus?

@SomeCatFromJapan I'm hapy to answer any questions!
We haven't used a kit supplier but I know Potton is popular. I think Grand Designs followed some of the Graven Hill self builders and at least one of them built a kit home:
https://www.gravenhill.co.uk/grand-designs-the-street/

This forum is great for information and support:
https://forum.buildhub.org.uk/

If you're thinking about self build and want to move away from traditional brick and block to other systems such as timber frame, ICF, SIPS etc, make sure that whatever you choose is acceptable to most mainstream mortgage providers as I know some people who have had issues.

The mass produced new builds from the high volume ‘big six’ are horrendous, it’s a national scandal.

Unfortunately, since 2008 it has become almost impossible for smaller companies to compete.

Last weekend I viewed two new builds. One was awful. It had cheap and nasty kitchen units, the smallest lounge ever and opened on to a tiny sloped garden which was dominated by a shed. There was hardly anywhere to sit out.

The second was finished to high degree. Expensive kitchen, all appliances were fitted and made by Bosch. Superb bathroom. It also had a big drive which wasn't shared and a large, sunny garden.

I'm buying the cheaper one - the second.

One was a big national builder. One a smaller outfit, but award winning. I'm buying from the latter.

Some new builds are fantastic, some dreadful. Just do your research before you buy.

@Tahitiansummer thanks again, some really interesting resources there. We've been toying with the idea of a possible future project in France but it's currently in the dreaming stage, so will be useful to get a clearer picture.

Lots of jealousy on this thread from people who have never set foot inside a new build. The build quality from some of the big ones is shocking, I agree but sweeping generalisations being made are just wrong.

and whinging that the estates all look the same - have you never seen a row of Victorian terraces?

Other than the leak all those snags are minor and I have to question how much your landlord has really tried to get them resolved?

I thought I'd never ever buy a new build due to everything you hear. I actually looked at a number of older, and modern-ish properties and they were in SO much worse condition than what you can get for your money on a new build.

You have a 10yr warranty. Anything that goes wrong in the first few years (esp when they are still building) gets fixed. No major expenses like a new roof, boiler etc.

Unless you're expecting a champagne house for lemonade money, they're actually pretty decent.

Have you ever seen a row of Edwardian terraces in a conservation area? They all look similar but they look stunning. Similar in itself isn't bad.

But all looking similar with no character or interesting features. No nature (lawn or fake turf with no trees), driveways with tarmac is the type of new builds people are referring to. Some look good but can't deny lots look so dreary

I have to also add: nobody is jealous of new builds. Anyone who wanted one would just buy one.

I knew they rang a bell.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/in_the_news/3607991-Barking-fire-Major-incident-declared-as-fire-breaks-out-in-block-of-flats-in-East-London

They have built a cluster of homes in Colchester

There’s a load of new builds around the corner from my parents house. Before anyone could even move in they’re being torn down as no damp course was put in so they’re all covered in mould

Hmm Surprised they didnt rent them out as the culture in theUK is to blame any mould on tenants!!!!

The 10 year thing is barely worth the paper it's written on!

Social housing tenants have had this kind of thing for decades.

THIS DOCUMENT. Myatts Field North refurb.

//www.geog.leeds.ac.uk/fileadmin/documents/research/pfisocialhousing/MFN_PFI_Refurb_Experiences_Report.pdf

Residents were told to remove their pets, but no compensation was offered to cover the
costs involved.
 No consideration was given to residents who worked night shifts.
 Workers used electricity paid for by of residents, without offering compensation.
 Doors were left open and residents were able to wander in unchallenged by workers
who did not know them.
 Quality alterations that residents had already made to their homes were ripped out to
make way for inferior alternatives.
 Supposedly completed electrical rewiring was found to be substandard and occasionally
dangerous.
 Supposedly completed pipe works and its housing were found to be substandard.
 In some homes, odd sized radiators and kitchen unit doors had been fitted.
 Flooding in one home had been caused by an unsupervised apprentice.
 Households were left overnight without running water or a toilet.
 At least one resident was left without electricity for a whole weekend.
 Some workers were found to be abusive, bullying and inconsiderate, especially towards
elderly or otherwise vulnerable residents.

peoplevspfi.org.uk/2017/07/21/myatts-field-north-regeneration-a-pfi-horror-show/

//www.theguardian.com/society/2017/jul/21/the-real-cost-of-regeneration-social-housing-private-developers-pfi?CMP=share_btn_fb

"Hodkinson carried out a qualitative survey of 14 homes refurbished by Rydon that had been the subject of a huge number of complaints. Showers were fitted next to electric fans. A toilet was installed so close to a wall that you could only sit on it sideways. Some households went for days without electricity and weeks without cooking facilities. Cupboards were fitted with wrongly size doors. Tenants who complained reported that they were treated dismissively. One remembered the site supervisor saying to him, “It ain’t Chelsea, mate.” Regenter’s out-of-hours emergency line linked to the wrong database, so callout engineers weren’t available. The striking thing was how long problems could drag out: one family’s flat was flooded in January 2014, and repairs weren’t even scheduled till September. Two years later, their flat still hadn’t been fully repaired and redecorated. Even at the most straightforward level, the work wasn’t done to a decent standard.

When approached for comment, Rydon said that since the complaints were made, three years ago, attempts have been made to remedy the problems. They said the comments were not reflective of most of the residents, and that there was a good level of satisfaction among the residents now.

For tenants with more complicated requirements, the situation was worse. The Cifuentes family, one of whom used a wheelchair, was left without ramps, hoists or any means of escape in a fire, and without a lock on the front door. Repairs were so slow and haphazard that, at one point, the family had to move out for over a month, and the disabled member could only have his needs met by going into a respite unit – whereupon they were threatened with losing their carer’s allowance, their disability allowance and their car."

According to whom?

Yup. We looked at them. Ended up with ex council hous3. My 30s-40s semi had more m2 and even with updates costed less than new builds in the area. Considerably less

@Checkcurtains according to people that have had need to contact NHBC...

@greenacrylicpaint

You ask “where is the council/trading standards?”

building control was privatised under Thatcher. The major housebuilders employ their own in-house building control officers.

It doesn’t take a genius to realise that any who stuck their necks out and cost the firm money wouldn’t be employed for terribly long…

Its yet another case of the country going to the dogs because privatisation is a massive error when it comes to public services.

Not surprising when it only takes a couple of weeks to build one

Right, well your assertion based on 0 data or source is not very convincing

@Checkcurtains that's ok I will base my opinion on personal experience 🙄

The big firms just engage any subbies they can find to do the work, at very low rates, so they'll never get proper experienced/able workers to build them and fit them out. Time served/qualified workmen can earn a lot more money doing "proper" work directly for customers and aren't interest in low paid subbie work.