Building Guarentee

I have a Coral townhouse that has just developed a damp patch in the front bedroom resulting in the paint peeling off of the bedroom wall.

It is clearly caused by a leak from the outside staircase as it is in the excact place on the wall where the stairs run down the outside wall.

Have had the Hacinda  architect in to look at it and they refuse to put it right as they say it is down to lack of maintenance of the structure of the building! And that the house is now 5 years old and is not covered by the guarentee any more

So when is a 10 year building guarentee only valid for 5-6 years? And what kind of maintence do you do on an outside wall or staircase!

Has anybody else had any problem with this same area getting damp and how was it resolved, and did you get any satisfaction from Hacienda regarding them putting it right.

Hi Sidcup

My undestanding is that the 10 year guarentee covers just the structure of the property, that is, if the house started to fall down due to a structure fault then you would be covered! Generally problems, such that you are highlighting need to be dealt with within the first two years to get the builder back to fix! When thy speak of maintenance, maybe the joints of the tiling need re-grouting or the mono cap covering has expanded and contract with the heat and caused minor cracks etc. It seems strange that maybe a lack of water proof memebrain beneath the tiles (I've seen this before) would take five years to materalise! The problem might also be caused by a small leak in the roof due to tiles shifting in the wind, and the water runs inside the walls until it meets the plinths from the stair case that are inbedded in the wall! You should get a local builder to take a look!

SB 

We have recently purchase an Altair on Phase 2 and we had a problem with water damage caused by a leak under the tiles on our balcony. It appears that this was due ton defective lining/membrane under the tiles and this has been repaired under guarantee. I understand that there are 5-6 other villas that have the sdame problem. Peter Whitehead in the sales office was very helpful in getting the problem resolved.

Richard999

When you say recently purchased, di you buy from the developer? I assume you did as they have sorted the problem for you, I think anybody who has the problem appear, after two years from completion will struggle to get asssitance from the developer! Peter if you are out there, prove me wrong! SB

Hi

Yes we did buy direct from the developer but our next door neighbours had a similar problem. They completed on their property more than 3 years ago and they are having their damage repaired by the developer under guarantee.

It would be worth a call to the sales office!