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Property related - can anyone be held liable for this?

3 replies

JohnSnowsTie · 14/10/2013 16:58

Looking for advice on behalf of my BIL and SIL.

They've lived in their flat for circa six years, and it was brand new when they bought it (19 story block of modern apartments).

Since they've lived there there have been no fewer than 16 instances of leaks and mould, many of which have required extensive work to rectify them.

Most recently, my SIL had to move out with her toddler DS and stay with her parents for 7 weeks while floorboards were ripped up/replaced, concrete left to dry out and plastering re-done.

When she returned they decided to put the flat on the market and within a week had a buyer. But given that they have had to disclose details of the continuous problems, the buyer has (understandably) pulled out. They have since discovered yet another leak.

They are starting to feel doomed to be in this flat forever with one problem after another needing attention. It's affecting their wellbeing and the rest of us are very worried about them (they're refusing to talk about it at the moment and BIL is very low).

I just wonder how this can be happening in a new build property? There's surely a serious design fault but it shouldn't be up to BIL and SIL to be constantly rectifying it, should it?

OP posts:
aliciagardner · 14/10/2013 17:03

New build should have a 10 year warranty as standard - can your B/S IL check the paperwork they got when they bought and contact the building company?

iheartdusty · 14/10/2013 22:30

who owns the freehold? normally the freeholder is responsible for leaks etc in between flats or from shared pipes.

unadulterateddad · 16/10/2013 22:16

It's not uncommon for new build flats to have significant problems with leaks etc - your SIL/BIL need to speak with the management company regarding their issues - it should be covered under the block insurance policy for correcting Escapes of Water. Either that of there should be a building warranty policy that covers building defects. Either way the management company should be dealing with it for them.

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