bbctv watchdog slams NHBC over foundations on manchester sit

[mooey]

BBC TV CHALLENGES NHBC over foundataion failures

Eighty five per cent of newly built houses are covered by the NHBC's Buildmark Policy, a warranty that guarantees the NHBC will fix any major defects occurring to a property within the first ten years after purchase.

In 1999, Helen Staub moved into her new home on the outskirts of Manchester. Two years later, cracks started to appear in the house and Helen contacted her insurers who identified major problems with her foundations. ... went to the NHBC, hoping that it could fix the problem, but it rejected her claim, stating that it wasn't serious enough.

Two doors down, Vicky Slater had also discovered cracks in her home and ... reported them to the NHBC. Her claim was also denied.

The neighbours grouped together. Finally in July 2007, three years after Helen had first contacted the NHBC, it acknowledged that the houses needed underpinning and agreed this was a valid claim under the Buildmark warranty. But nine months later, Vicky and Helen are still waiting to learn when the work will begin.

Prue Dundas Petrie knows all about waiting. ... bought her new house in 1999 but soon noticed cracks. It took three years for the NHBC to repile her foundations and Prue moved out for seven months so the work could take place.

But after Prue moved back in, more cracks appeared. The repiling hadn't worked. Independent engineers identified that the builders contracted by the NHBC had failed to put in movement joints, and had left temporary support jacks in the new foundations.

The NHBC says that foundation failures are extremely rare and "the unusually complex problems with these homes has resulted in these cases taking much longer to resolve than we would have liked. However, we remain committed to resolving these issues for the homeowners as swiftly as possible."

source bbctv watchdog april 2008

[PhilW]

A "warranty that guarantees"

The NHBC Buildmark is not a guarantee at all. It is a warranty that gives an insurance policy that will cover the cost of putting certain things right.

i]"The AskOxford website defines them as:

Warranty: 1) a written undertaking promising to repair or replace an article if necessary within a specific period. 2) an engagement by an insured party that certain statements are true or certain conditions shall be fulfilled.

Guarantee: 1) a formal assurance that certain conditions will be fulfilled, especially that a product will be of a specified quality. 2) something that makes an outcome certain.

A new home building warranty, is in essence an insurance policy paid for by the builder, to provide cover against any latent defects that may occur in the new home. The fee also includes the cost of inspections during specific stages of the construction of the home.

Extrated from: .://brand-newhomes.co.uk/brand_new_home_warranty.htm

Everyone has a go at the NHBC but ther are the only quality check most new homes get and the only . setting standards that new homes have to comply with.
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[Martyn]

I TOO AM GUILTY OF HAVING A POP AT THE NHBC

....but this week i have seen 4 builders go bust , spoken to three couples who have come unstuck with projects under an architects certificate and one lady in dispute with her builder who cant tell and paint brush from a nail gun....who claims the FMB WARRANTY is worth the paper

so yes ......better to have them than not ...especially the quality of the standards book......although many builders will say its just guidelines

its especially good when compared to premier warranty.

has any one got experience of the new build zone warranty???? would love to hear any experiences
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