Anger spreads over squalid new homes

MPs join backlash against shoddy Persimmon

PErsIMMon faces mounting anger over the ‘shoddy’ quality of its work across the country.

MPs and families accused the housebuilder of fobbing off disgruntled customers while raking in hundreds of millions of pounds in profit.

They warned that buyers of new-build homes were encountering a litany of problems with their properties well beyond what was normally termed ‘snagging issues’ by developers.

This included leaks that caused damp and mould, exposed nails, doors that didn’t close properly, unsafe staircases, incorrect plumbing, dangerous electrics and poorly-fitted bathrooms and kitchens, as well as unfinished roads in estates.

The Mail yesterday reported that a block of flats in Coventry built by the company had been evacuated due to fears it could partially collapse in high winds. And shareholders are feeling the pain too, having seen the stock lose nearly a quarter of its value since early June.

The problems have sparked fresh anger at a £75m bonus handed to Persimmon boss Jeff Fairburn, with Labour MPs Kate Green and ruth smeeth branding the payout a disgrace.

Green, who represents stretford and Urmston in Greater Manchester, said homes in a development in Woodsend in her constituency left residents distraught, with one reporting a toilet that flushed boiling water.

Green said she was recently inundated with emails and messages from people in other parts of the country after raising the issue in Parliament.

she said: ‘Persimmon in many cases will not talk to residents or to MPs about the problems and that is not acceptable.’

smeeth, who represents stokeon-Trent north, also backed calls for stronger scrutiny of new build homes. she criticised bosses’s ‘outrageous pay packets when the quality of their products is so appalling’.

Problems with Persimmon’s homes were found by the Mail up and down the country, with many unhappy buyers even setting up Facebook groups.

Lucy and Guy sousse of newquay, Cornwall, put up signs in their windows to warn others not to buy homes in their estate. The couple complained of nearly 100 faults with their home, including ‘nails sticking out of the stairs’ and leaks that caused mould.

John Fitter, a Conservative councillor for the area, claimed Persimmon had also not stuck to commitments to build a crossing over a busy road nearby.

In Lawley and Lightmoor in shropshire, residents have complained of unfinished roads, leaks, broken doors and door seals and missing garden gates. And in Botley, near oxford, people living in another Persimmon estate say the area was left ‘like a building site’, with unfinished roads and a playground never delivered.

Last night a spokesman for the builder insisted all the issues reported by the Mail were being tackled, with some already fixed.

He said: ‘We take our customer service extremely seriously and are wholeheartedly committed to resolving all issues that arise.

‘We would urge any of our customers who have concerns to contact us directly.’