NHBC Claim

[Hubby1980]

Hi,

Random question, but wondering if anyone has any experience of this...

Moved into a David Wilson home almost two years ago, the house is now around 6 years old, so we didn't own it from brand new.

Since moving in we have noticed a lot of cracks, gaps in woodwork, creaking and uneven floorboards etc. (and yes we are disappointed in ourselves for not spotting them before we purchased, ironically we turned down another house for having just these problems, I blame the loud colour scheme they had in place!!)

As its still within the ten years I think we can still potentially make a NHBC claim, but not sure how we go about this, i.e do we have to get a survey done and take it to them, or do we just contact them and they send someone out?

We will be putting a call in to them soon but just thought this might be a good forum to see if anyone had any experience of this?

Thanks!

I feel it would be a complete waste of your time... They will call it settlement... unless there are obvious structural issues, but even then they will drag their feet for ages so if I were you I would pay to get it fixed

As far as I'm aware the NBHC doesn't fix things like that unless it's severe structural issues or subsidence due to the builders lack of groundworks. We live in a new build and have pretty much all of that 4 years in, we just fill the cracks and decorate over, it's just settlement.

NHBC will only be interested in any crack wider than the width of a pound coin. Anything less than that is normally just settlement cracking and superficial rather than structural. I appreciate this doesn't make it any less annoying to live with.

Depends on whether the cracks have been around for a while or if they are recent. The very hot and dry summer has caused an increase of settlement and claims due to shrinking of clay soils.

Are cracks to both inside and outside walls. If only inside then probably not due to foundation movement. If to both inner and outer walls then more likely to be related to foundation movement and more likely to be a valid claim. Claims have to have an estimated repair cost in excess of a set amount so if just cosmetic stuff then it is unlikely to be valid. They don't have an excess where you pay the first £xx then they pay the rest.

Thanks all. Suspected it would be a bit hard work like any claim!

To be honest the cracks in the plaster aren't that bad, nothing we can't fill and then paint/paper over.

It's really more the floorboards, uneven, creaking far more than you would expect from a house this age. And in some rooms they literally feel on a slope!

Guess the short answer would be to take up one of the carpets and have a look!

Does all seem to be on one side of the house as well and we are at the top of a hill!

Learning point from this is next time to go for more than just the basic mortgage survey!

Thanks all and enjoy the New Year!

We made a claim through NHBC. We live in a development where every block of flats leaked. When it rained water collected in a cavity in the roof and then poured down the walls of the top floor flat. The water then went though their floor to the flat below collecting above the living room light and pouring through the light fittings like a tap.

NHBC originally said it was wear and tear, not liable, eventually sent one of their people to inspect the roof who again said it was wear & tear. Luckily some of our neighbours were solicitors & surveyors who proved the roof wasn’t built to plan, part of the roof was at the wrong angle leaving a gap meaning water could get in and the builder was at fault. Two years later NHBC authorised the fix. The didn’t fix the roof properly though, the roof still leaks 14 years later but of course it’s no longer under the 10 year warranty.

Lodge a claim and make sure you get your handlers name and direct number.

Just new to this forum but researching peoples experience of NHBC.
I have experience of professionally dealing with NHBC claims and know how they attempt to avoid them. It costs nothing to call them, lodge the claim and ask them to come out and inspect the floors.
If the floors are uneven and creaking then the reality is that they should not do this if they were designed and installed correctly - so there is most likely something wrong.
They should arrange to visit your home and do an investigation. They will tell you there is nothing wrong and possibly give you a whole range of reasons why they won't pursue the claim. Record the visit on your phone including what investigations they do. It doesn't matter if the house is six years old - you have the benefit of the 2nd part of the warranty, years 3 to 10.
Good luck with the claim