Crappy Wimpey homes UPDATE on the UPDATE

[Yorkshireman]

The flat upstairs had 2 friends round last night,they wasn't playing loud music or partying but we heard every word or laugh they made,the friends left and we had to listen to them having a shower and going to bed,opening there bedroom drawers and hanky panky.This morning we heard them using the loo,one of them had a wee and the other a No2,and we heard the drawers again when they got ready.I write this because Wimpeys and the NHBC tell me nothing is wrong.DO NOT think of buying a Wimpey home please,you have been warned.

[Kaaru]

I can imagine that could get quite tiring very quickly

You could get them fluffy slippers and ball-gags for Xmas though

[Mr Lord]

You'd think there would be a noise standard that they should build to.
Seems to me like decent acoustic insulation during the build would have prevented this, but that would dig into their profits...

[Kaaru]

I saw a TV show ages ago about domestic noise pollution, and it turns out the best builds to avoid this kind of problem were in Scotland.

Being noisy is one thing, but when you can hear them doing their usual business, that`s not right.

[Yorkshireman]

Had 4 years of it now,anyone want to buy a flat?Sunday nights are great,she does the ironing,yes we can hear that as well.

[Perpetua]

It's disgraceful what is considered to be an acceptable level of sound insulation, amongst other things, by Planners . . . it's them to blame for giving Planning Permission in the first instance for many new builds.

Though their argument would be that the structure conforms to Government guide lines, those that set these don't of course have to live with the consequences of them.

Sorry to hear of your troubles Yorkshireman.

[Yorkshireman]

I posted pics of massive cracks and holes in the concrete that separates our flats and Wimpeys and NHBC said nothing is wrong,4 years of fighting and getting knocked back all the time.
www.flickr.com/photos/66811383@N04/

[Perpetua]

That's awful . . . what a miserable situation for you Yorkshireman.

[Kaaru]

I`ve seen the speed at which they erect some of these new builds, there`s been quite a few around here recently - one day, bare ground...the next time you go past - houses !

The snag lists on some of these new builds must be as long as your arm, and that`s just what you can see

[Yorkshireman]

The NHBC say the photos prove nothing,well they prove the concrete planks have massive gaps in them,have holes in them and are not correctly butted together and sealed as they should be.When the NHBC and Wimpeys turn up together in the same vehicle laughing and joking it makes me think they are colluding.

[Jen]

I used to work in the customer care department of a construction company who shall remain nameless even though they richly deserve to be named and shamed. You would not believe the length of some snagging lists, the problems some estates have throughout, the lengths the procurement departments go to save a few quid, the amount of 'dirty little secrets' they have. Also the amount of irate customers shouting at poor old me who was relatively blameless! My advice would be to shout the loudest - the squeaky wheel always used to get the most oil where I worked at least. And then lawyer up if that fails - legal threats put the willies up them and no mistake!

[Yorkshireman]

Thanks,it has taken me 4 years to get them to visit me,i taped the conversation and caught them lying to me.I told them about the lies in a letter and they sent me an apology letter.All i want is for them to add some soundproofing so we can live our lives.The big chief has not responded to any of my letters he passes them down to his minnions

[Jen]

Well, in my experience, construction companies are old-boys' clubs. I wish I'd lawyered up by the end of it all - another woman was having similar bullying problems but her husband was some big-shot architect and they could afford legal representation. The company was forced to bend over backwards for her, whereas they just pushed me out. A similar story with any customers who did the same. It might be expensive, but these companies are so used to bullying people, you have to hold them to legal account.

I'd never, ever buy a new build - I've seen the horrors in some of these places...they even once built an estate over an underground river without telling anyone and then wondered why people were annoyed when their homes started flooding!!

[Yorkshireman]

We can't afford a lawyer although i have threatened it(silly i know).

[Jen]

www.gov.uk/legal-aid/eligibility

There's a checker there to see if you're eligible. I don't know much about this side of things unfortunately, but it's a start