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Original poster

New house woes....

41 replies

Becaroooodolf · 09/12/2011 13:41

...hello. Its me again.

So. We are in the new house. Most of the stuff is packed away, have sorted out the tumble dryer issue and everywhere is nice and clean.

BUT we cant get any hot water to the bath taps Hmm Its hot in the WC, bathroom and kitchen basins but not the bath taps!!! Have rung a plumber but they havent got back to me yet.....

The main issue though, is the conservatory roof...its leaking Sad And with all this rain its not good...big puddle on the dining table this morning again Sad

Do I have a leg to stand on to contact the seller and complain about this?? I think not but dh is livid and seems to think we have some legal rights???

Thanks x

OP posts:
Original poster
Becaroooodolf · 12/12/2011 08:43

fizzy oh thats awful! Sad I'm so sorry for your loss. My uncle died the week before we moved into rented accomodatoin (long story, our buyer started playing silly buggers and we lost out on a house because of that) so I had to go to Ireland for 3 days Sad

Was dreading going into rented tbh BUT it was great Smile Lovely converted farmhouse in a gorgeous village - only issue was it was far too small long term.

It has def taken the shine off for me...this time last week I was feeling very tearful Blush

OP posts:
Fizzylemonade · 12/12/2011 16:21

There is a reason they say moving is one of the most stressful things you'll ever do [cgrin]

try to look on the positives, we are saving like mad for a kitchen extension which is about 18 months away. But I just keep imagining how amazing it will all be.

This house is better than the last one with pink bathrooms and gold taps. We gutted that one from top to bottom.

This one is our forever house so is taking a verrrrrry long time to change it to what we want it to be. Every bit of money we spend comes out of the kitchen extension savings so we prefer not to touch it. So we are living with gold taps again [cgrin]

Hope it all turns out ok.

Original poster
Becaroooodolf · 13/12/2011 14:40

So....roof still leaking Sad The filler stuff didnt work.

any idea if we can claim on insurance???

OP posts:
skandi1 · 14/12/2011 00:44

On the hot water issue. Likely that your plumber needs to adjust the flow rate to the taps not working. That is the flow into the tap (ie on the water pipe where the stop screw is) and possibly the flow rate on the boiler. Shouldn't be huge.

Afraid you have no comeback against the seller with regards to plumbing issue or leaking conservatory unless they provided you with guarantees via your solicitor as part of the sale.

If you had a survey done and not just the bank valuation one but a full survey, then you have recourse against the surveyors professional indemnity provided he didn't mentioned or specifically exclude these issues in the survey.

It is likely that a surveyor would, as part of his terms and conditions, specifically exclude boilers and plumbing so it's unlikely you will have any recourse there.

You may have a claim on the leaking conservatory but ONLY if you had a full survey done and not just the bank valuation one. If you only had the bank valuation one done, you have paid for it but it is actually addressed to your bank and you are therefore a third party and surveyors always exclude liability to third parties-part of RICS standard terms and conditions.

Sorry. Sad.

That said plumbing issue is easy to solve and the conservatory may just need a bit of mastic or a replacement seal around one of the units so shouldn't be expensive.
Hth

skandi1 · 14/12/2011 00:46

Just seen your last post.

Yes try your buildings insurance. Just be aware that if it turns out to be a cheap job (£200-£300) then it isn't worth claiming it due to excess on policy.

Gonzo33 · 14/12/2011 05:53

I was really hoping that this was not you Becarooo You have been given some excellent advice so won't add anymore, just wanted to wish you luck.

Original poster
Becaroooodolf · 14/12/2011 10:06

skandi Just had a valuation done. Checked with solicitor and the building regs indemnity policy only covers for things like the LA challenging the build etc, not any problems with the actual building/problems therein.

Checked with insurance company and we are only covered if its due to storm damage - which it isnt and there is a £100 excess anyway.

Sigh.

Just got to suck it up and try and get it fixed and pay out I guess.

gonzo Thanks x

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skandi1 · 14/12/2011 22:15

Sad. Sorry to hear it hasn't been the best start in your new home.

If you just had the valuation done then you have no recourse at all against the surveyor as you are just a third party receiving a copy of the report addressed to your mortgage lender.

To be honest it probably isn't worth claiming conservatory repair on insurance due to excess and the time it might take.

As for boiler. Fingers crossed it is simple. Hard to comment on really.

Not ideal before Xmas!

Won't tell you about my recent house move which involved a toddler, a 4 week race to simultaneous exchange and completion at 36 weeks pregnant and a massive bleed on the day of the move and going into premature labour alone at the hospital as DH had to look after DD.....

Original poster
Becaroooodolf · 15/12/2011 09:19

skandi OMG!!! Are you all ok??

sigh. Its still leaking. Supposed to be having 25 people here on boxing day for a joint house warming/xmas bash Sad

We have a room - conservatory - which we were planning to use as our dining room that we now cant use.

They guys who are supposed to be fixing it for me are rubbish - came and re sealed it yesterday AGAIN and its still leaking this morning.

Going to google other companies in a minute...snow due here tomorrow Sad

Tried 2 loal companies and they just dont want the work this close to xmas Sad

Feel ridiculously upset/sad about this Blush

OP posts:
skandi1 · 15/12/2011 10:30

Hi Becaroo.

Could it be leaking from somewhere else and running along or down towards the area where you notice the leak?

Sorry out of sensible suggestions short of hideous tarpaulin over your conservatory.

Yes. We are all ok thank you. Smile. It was all very dramatic. The labour stopped and DS hung on in there for another 4 weeks when he had to be prised out by CS as he refused to budge. Grin.

Hope you get dry soon!

Original poster
Becaroooodolf · 15/12/2011 11:47

phew! Glad you were all ok! I went into prem labour with ds2 at 33 weeks - thankfully they stopped it and he ended up being 1 week overdue!!! Smile

Moved all the furniture out of the conservatory - well, as much as I can, and am trying to accept it isnt going to get sorted this side of xmas.

OP posts:
Fizzylemonade · 15/12/2011 12:39

Any chance you can get up a ladder, dry off the water with kitchen towel and then start poking dry kitchen towel into the gap to see where the water is coming from?

Like skandi1 says it could be leaking from one place and the water runs to another. I am assuming it is coming from the roof. Is it the middle where the panels meet the roof ridge or somewhere else. We need pictures!

Feel like getting in my car and coming round Xmas Grin you're probably miles away though. I'm in West Yorkshire.

Original poster
Becaroooodolf · 15/12/2011 14:19

[sgrin] I am in derbyshire! You are more than welcome though...I will provide mince pies!!!!

Am coming to the conclusion that we just have to accept we cant use the room til after xmas Sad

OP posts:
Fizzylemonade · 15/12/2011 17:04

My last suggestion, tarp the roof on the outside, it will look like you have a lovely blue sky Christmas day Xmas Grin

That way you can still use the room and sort out the leak later.

Original poster
Becaroooodolf · 15/12/2011 18:19

I will suggest it to dh...I cant get up a ladder with my poor mangled toes!!! Smile

OP posts:
skandi1 · 15/12/2011 19:16

If you went for the short term solution of tarpaulin you could then still use the room for Xmas dinner and you could get some fairy lights to twinkle the place up.

Just a suggestion as to how you could get around it temporarily.

After a few drinks no one would notice...

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