newhome

I got every penny back from HMRC for my eBay purchases apart from a couple that were from private sellers that I knew weren’t eligible, but they were mega cheap. I just messaged them first and asked it they could provide a vat invoice if it wasn’t clear that they could in the description and they all obliged and emailed me one.

Or watching motor racing, drinking beer and using the remote. That was my hubby’s best effort at multitasking but then he had lots of practice with that one ?

This is one of the Peebles houses.

Well they don’t do ASHP installations. I contacted them last week (along with a few others) from the MCS installer site and they rang me and said that they handed off ASHP installs as they don’t do them themselves.

He could have had the swimming pool suspended instead http://homeworlddesign.com/embassy-gardens-sky-pool-suspended-glass-swimming-pool/

Yes that looks (even more) terrible doesn't it, and that bit has (presumably) not been finished yet either.

Seems like they make it up as they go along TBH . Surely the warranty would need to start at the completion date as I assume any mortgage company would expect a warranty to be in place for 10 years after sign off, not some mythical date that they decide the house is weathertight? Seems odd if that's not the case. If you're not thinking of moving it's no issue I guess but I doubt I will be here 10 more years ...

This happened to me with Buildstore. They backdated the warranty to the date that I completed the form for the completion inspection by BC rather than the actual date of completion that was a year later. They said that it was because that is when the house was deemed to be complete by me as well as them as I had completed the form. I pointed out that I had done this as that’s what the council told me to do after my hubby had died as I wasn’t sure what still needed to be done, and this would trigger an inspection by them that would detail what was still needed. Anyway as a result of my explanation they changed the date to the day of completion. I think @PeterStarck had a similar experience where the date doesn’t quite match the completion date.

Well at least you got what you paid for I guess. Wonder how others have fared.

Not a multi tasker? Clearly male then ?

Yep, and that seems the most prudent thing to do. Still worth checking whether there is something minor you can do to stop the CT though. Does your LA have CIL in place? If so you can apply to have that invalidated as a self builder (assuming you are going to live in the property for a minimum of 3 years) but you have to apply BEFORE you start any work or you have to pay it. It can be big bucks.

Because they didn’t want to imply that’s what they would do in every case with the mortar issue I guess (as in repair it, not buy back). They say they organised the repairs, they weren’t done properly and due to the owner’s ‘circumstances’ whatever they are, they decided to buy back. No idea why they didn’t do the repair again though. Most of these folk are gagged like @JSHarris mentions so not sure why this guy has been left free to speak up.

Well if it’s only advice re the company you have to put your complaint in writing to begin with. Use the contact details here, don’t bother with trying to sort it out in the shop. http://www.tileandbathco.com/customer-services/ Then if you don’t get any joy start a small claims case against them. CCJ just means county court judgment which is the thing that is put in place if you win the case.

You’ve finished that whole side now? Happy days! ?

The estate in the Borders is at Peebles, not a million miles from me. One of the big complaints from those fighting this kind of issue is how ineffective NHBC is when the developer refuses to do anything. And NHBC is supposed to be the gold standard. Makes me think there is zero chance of claiming on any of the self build warranties. There is a blog here that looks at the crumbling mortar issue. http://www.new-home-blog.co.uk/weak-mortar-britains-crumbling-new-homes/ The government has recently announced a new ombudsman scheme for new home owners. It remains to be seen if they have teeth. https://moneyweek.com/496292/a-helping-hand-for-homeowners/ The government says “We intend to legislate to require all new developers to belong to a new homes ombudsman”. I wonder what the definition of developer is. Large corporates, smaller builders, or anyone VAT registered building homes that they don’t intend to live in?

What's the status of your planning permission? If it's approved then you qualify for zero rating the demolition work (including things like asbestos removal if applicable). If it's not yet approved then you don't qualify for zero rating (plus I don't think you should demolish before PP is granted?) If it's not useful at all, by that I mean the services connections, storage, a working toilet etc. for the builders to use (assuming the new house isn't going in the same place), probably the best bet is to demolish it asap but check with the council first what will trigger the removal as they may remove it if the services connections are removed as per Peter's experience (although his new house was built by then so they were still able to charge council tax for a house on the plot). Councils seem to vary in relation to their interpretation and implementation of council tax rules.

Can you finish the pockets between the toilet and the shower please. The blue flash is bugging me ?

Would help if you shared what sort of tiles they are. Are they glazed or the sort that need sealing? Do you have a website link?

Yep, my thoughts too. I know design is all a matter of personal taste but how was that ever going to fit into what looks like a fairly traditional house? Even the staircase looks much more in keeping with the original room than the glass box it is there to serve.

No one else made any comment as to what he does for a living. What else does he ‘deserve’ based on his Job? You may as well say that anyone earning a fairly high wage deserves no sympathy in that case. He will have paid lots of tax and spent a significant amount of money in the UK that goes to others either directly or indirectly.

Some people have more money than sense frankly ... https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/financier-suing-architect-for-1m-over-ugly-floating-home-cinema-a4008916.html Plus who wants to swim with that thing suspended above your head!

Be interesting to get the rough split between materials and labour. This was pretty much an all trades build apart from a few bits so bound to be much higher than a hands on build.

I thought you’d been drinking. It’s that time of year again ?

Que? It's south of me, as near to England as you can get pretty much

TBH what's the worst that can happen? You end up having to manually input addresses when ordering online as yours won't be there. No biggie really.