You have your say
EvEry week Money Mail receives hundreds of your letters and emails about our stories. Here are some in response to
our investigation into new-build properties:
WE viEWEd a number of newbuilds when we were selling our 1920s semi-detached house and were shocked by the poor construction. The gardens were tiny, too. i’d never consider paying so much money for a glorified shed.
H. S., Worcester. Our past three homes have been new-builds and many of the snagging problems listed in your article are typical with any new properties. Make sure you have a good look around before you complete and get a solicitor to send the builder a copy of the snagging list so it’s on record.
J. J., London. rushEd work with very little
supervision is the main reason behind most of these problems. My kitchen and bathroom floor tiles are cracked owing to poor fitting. My airing cupboard also looks like it was built by a complete novice.
B. S., Hemel Hempstead, Herts. As A plumber working on newbuilds, i have noticed that everything is almost always done on a tight budget. some designs appear to have been drafted up by architects who are more used to building sheds and garages than houses.
G. M., Barnsley. i’ll happily stick with my 1940s property, thank you very much. We’ve got large rooms and an enormous garden. it’s semidetached, but i never hear the next-door neighbours. There is no way i’d want a small and soulless new-build.
C. E., Surrey. A huGE new-build housing estate has been built near where i live. Once upon a time, it was beautiful open farmland, but it used to flood every time it started raining. The new homeowners may find they get a free pool with every purchase.
I. F., Liverpool. ÷ WE LOVE hearing from our loyal readers, so ask that during this challenging time you write to us by email where possible, as we will not pick up letters sent to our postal address as regularly as usual. You can write to: asktony@ dailymail.co.uk or, if you prefer, Ask Tony, Money Mail, Northcliffe House, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TT — please include your daytime phone number, postal address and a separate note addressed to the offending organisation giving them permission to talk to Tony Hazell. We regret we cannot reply to individual letters. Please do not send original documents as we cannot take responsibility for them. No legal responsibility can be accepted by the Daily Mail for answers given.
OUR NEW-BUILD NIGHTMARES
Money Mail, December 1