New build house - insured by builders for first 6 months?

[Lioninthesun]

I feel really naive and stupid at the moment so any advice would be gratefully received.

Recently moved in to my new build house and am sure I spoke to the head builder about insurance before moving. I am sure he said they insured it until the house settled and they came back to do the touch ups in 6 months.

To be honest I'm a lone parent and the months have flown by with always something to do over the last 3 months and insurance was at the back of my mind. Every time I thought about it I calmed myself thinking of that conversation. That is why I feel such a wally.

However last week we had a flood and the carpet upstairs is soaked through in 2 bedrooms and hallway. Everywhere I look online and ask on here says to get rid of it before black mould sets in. I've been desperately attempting to soak it up and aerate it and have a small dehumidifier but it isn't working and is starting to very slightly smell... I asked the builder if there was anything I could have done to prevent it and he said no, it was a faulty part under the bath. He has been very good and came over straight away even though I called him at 5:50am! I have a good relationship with the firm and am hoping this can continue.

Anyway to cut to the chase - I can't now find anything in writing regarding the insurance for the first 6 months. Property is NHBC and was all signed off.

How should I proceed? Builder said to wait until carpet has dried out and then call them to re-lay it and move all of the heavy furniture back. Should I be asking him to supply an industrial dehumidifier? Is the firm liable?

TIA.

I've never heard of builders providing insurance. Was it not a condition of your mortgage that you took out buildings insurance? It usually is. Contents isn't mandatory, but most people choose to have it, if they can afford it.

The carpet will never be the same again, unfortunately. It will smell and get mouldy and you're as well cutting your losses now. Sorry - that's not what you want to hear.

If it was a faulty part, the builder's insurance may pay up, but usually what would happen is that you'd claim through your insurance and then they'd deal with the builder's insurers. I don't know how it will work if you don't have any.

Thanks Agent. I own the house outright and so didn't need it for a mortgage. I could kick myself as I thought it sounded funny but had my DD crawling all over me at the time of the conversation and just never saw any paperwork to confirm it. One of the hazards of being a LP with no childcare when supervising a build! I was so happy it was finished I just got distracted with the move. I am an idiot, clearly.

I don't know whether to contact NHBC as it is covered by Buildmark - which I think states that if damage is done as a result of them not meeting NHBC standards they are liable. Or should I call the builders and talk it through first?

Sorry to hear this OP.

I am not an expert but I would ring the builders and ask them to come and sort it out as a matter of urgency rather than to let the carpets dry out. If they are prepared to replace the carpets, then in reality you are only asking them to do the job sooner? You tell them on the phone that you can not live in it like this and that it is now drying.

I would also get insurance done today for anything that may crop up in the future.

*not drying

Builder has just been over and is going to come back with some timber to separate the carpet and underlay and a large fan to air it some more. We'll see if this works!

Surely carpets would be covered under contents insurance , rather than buildings. If it is down to faulty fitting it may be covered under their liability policy but even assuming buildings insurance was part of the deal you should have contents cover separately anyway. Check it wouldn't be included with your bank account too.

Hi Lion,

Sorry to hear this, it's not what you need when you've just moved into a new home!

I wonder if there's been a bit of confusion over the termin insurance as the NHBC cover is also known as ' Buildmark Warranty and insurance'

In the first two years from completion date the builder must put right anything that is not built to NHBC standard and after two years the NHBC provides cover for structural issues.

Usually the builder would give you a defects/warranty period and during this time they will fix problems that pop up as the house settles. After this time the NHBC

Echoing other advice on this thread, the builder has admitted that the flood was called by a faulty figment under the bath

Oops sorry, damn mobile phone, I posted too soon!

Hopefully you'll get my gist from the post above. I'm wondering if the terminology used when you purchased your home has confused things a bit re 'insurance'

Although you will have the defects or warranty period from the builder and the NHBC Buildmark Warranty and Insurance, you will still need your own buildings and contents insurance too. Usually a mortgage company would insist that cover is in place as of the completion day but you have purchased without a mortgage.

I think you've done the right thing by contacting the builder, NHBC at this stage would simply act as a resolution service and refer you back to the builder anyway.

The builders have said that there's a faulty fitment under the bath which caused the flood so I believe they should be liable to repair/replace anything damaged as a result of this flood including the carpet. I previously worked in new homes and unfortunately this is a common problem that fitments are faulty or have not been fitted correctly, it's only when they are being used day to day that problems are discovered.

Let us know how things go, I would advise you arrange buildings and contents cover sorted as soon as possible!

Thank you NotADaffodil - agree and will get buildings insurance tomorrow. I do feel silly as I half knew that but think, as you said, the NHBC cover threw me a bit.

Builder has come over and bought a big fan and propped up the underlay and carpet on planks with the fan on top in the hope of saving them. I'm not too hopeful but feel I should try everything before I take it further with them. He doesn't seem worried about it affecting anything else structurally, which I assume he would be as they would have to re-do anything to that end if it did, so am trusting his idea that the carpet may be saved as it would cost them more to replace joists for example! I have until August to see if anything else has been affected so I think it would show up in that time.

It's easily done and sounds like you have your hands full with your DD

It sounds like the builder acted quickly when you told them about the problem so that's good but if you are at all concerned that the water might have damaged anything else ask the builder to check, especially if there's any chance it could have seeped into electrics.

Hope you manage to save the carpet!

Hi Lion,

We had a flood, sounds similar (our entire hot water tank escaped out). We used an industrial dryer and mountains of cheap nappies to clear up the flood.

The carpet looks a bit worn but the house doesn't feel damp now a year on.

You might be OK.

PS sorry that isn't very legal advice!

I have great news - the builder has worked his magic and saved the carpets! They don't even smell now! Just another day or two with the fans on he reckons and he'll have his carpenter in at the end of the week to re-stretch and make good. The only patch is in DD's room but her bookshelf will go over it to hide it!
I am so relieved! The thought of moving all of the furniture out again was pretty dire (had to do it all alone first time round and killed my back!) so I am glad to report a good outcome. I've yet to see the electricity bill, however
Thank you all so much for your help and advice.

That's great news

I spoke too soon Their carpenter came today and said it had shrunk too much to re-fit. I thought this was the case as they are wool but builder convinced me the stretching machine would work it's magic.

So looks like we have a few more uncertain weeks with back breaking lifting of furniture Such a waste of electricity!