An investigation by Channel 4 programme Dispatches revealed a startling number of problems in houses for the Government-backed scheme
A leading Help to Buy developer has fallen short on its pledge to make buying one of its homes an “enjoyable” experience with many of its new build homes riddled with snags, according to a new investigation by Channel Four's Dispatches documentary programme.
Persimmon Homes is the biggest builder of Help to Buy homes, a government-backed scheme that makes it easier for people to buy new build homes, in the whole of the UK.
READ MORE: New build homes checklist: 6 essential things to do before you buy
Each property they sell it makes a profit of £66,000 – higher than any of its competitors – and yet in the programme Britain’s New Build Scandal, which aired on 15 July, reporter Liam Halligan found that many of its homes are simply not up to scratch.
One of the Persimmon homes featured on the Dispatches programme. In this picture, a cracked tile in the shower spoils the finish in this brand new house. Image: BBC
The programme talked to the owners of three separate homes who have been unhappy with the properties they have bought from Persimmon, including Theo Borstlap and Kelsey Alldritt, of Pembroke, Wales, who were so frustrated that they paid for an independent investigator to compile a list of ‘snags’.
Among the 167 issues found in their home, one wall was judged to be 30mm off the vertical – way over the industry standard variation of 8mm – and there were missing fire barriers: not good in a timber-framed house.
Speaking to the programme, Alldritt said: “What we have are not snags...and for the property not to have fire barriers, and we didn’t find that out until we paid hundreds of pounds for an independent company to come and find out where the faults were [is not good].”
A leaking toilet in the house owned by Theo Borstlap and Kelsey Aldritt. Persimmon Homes make around £66,000 on each house they sell. Image: BBC
Persimmon Homes has now retrospectively fitted the missing fire barriers at the home and is now inspecting other timber-framed homes. However, the programme makers question whether Persimmon’s method of inspecting properties from the loft is full-proof as it doesn’t always tell you whether barriers are correctly installed lower down the walls, and around windows and doors.
After speaking to the homeowners, the programme decided to carry out its own independent inspection.
Professional snagger, Harry Yates found 295 faults in the house. Image: BBC
They called upon the services of professional snagger, Harry Yates, who found 295 snags during his five-hour inspection of a brand-new Persimmon home, including an ineffectual fire door with an 11mm gap at the bottom, which would allow smoke to get in should there be a fire.
Reporting back, Yates said: "Around 70% on the list is below building regs’ toleration for this property."
Confronted with the findings, Persimmon told Dispatches in a statement: "We fully accept that on too many occasions in the past we have fallen short on customer care. We apologise without reservation to the customers featured in this programme".
Housing Minister, Kit Malthouse, told Dispatches: "I expect all developers to deliver good quality housing on time, and to treat buyers fairly. It’s unacceptable if they deliver anything less.
"We know more needs to be done to protect buyers and our New Homes Ombudsman will protect the rights of homebuyers and hold developers to account."
Read more: This family's nightmare new build has 354 defects