Forced to sell ‘disastrous’ dream home
ACOUPLE who left Wales to move into their dream home have been forced to put their new-build house up for sale again – at £50,000 less than the original asking price.
Jonathon and Jillian Widlake have been left “devastated” after months of delays, “shoddy” workmanship and “unkept promises” have left the couple unable to live in their new home in South Molton, Devon.
The pair, who have a 10-year-old son, took the decision to move away from Chepstow, where the family had been living in Beachley Barracks for the past 10 years.
But their dreams of owning their own home at last came crashing down after they discovered the house was not ready by the time they were due to move in – despite paying a £27,500 deposit in March 2017.
Jillian, 35, told DevonLive: “We were told we could be in the house by June, but when a member of my husband’s family drove past the building site in May they said the house was no further forward than the last time we had seen it.
“Before this, we had had no contact from Wain Homes to tell us that anything was wrong. The date for moving kept getting pushed back and they then said it would be around the end of August. I was really worried because I had already handed my notice in at work, enrolled my son into school in South Molton and there was a risk our mortgage offer could run out.”
For the family the original moving day came and went as the delays continued.
Jillian said: “It was delay after delay – the roof didn’t even go on until October.
“Eventually they told us that December 7 was the cut-off and that we would definitely be in by then. We booked our removal company for that date, but when we arrived in North Devon with all our stuff the sales manager asked if we could move in the following day instead. We had to pay for our removal men to stay in South Molton overnight.”
The family then found their fridge, dishwasher and washing-machine didn’t work, and in the 10 months since they moved in there have been several problems including incorrect pointing, leaky windows, blocked drains, warped floors and a leaking garage
“It’s been a disaster,” said Jillian. In desperation the family put an advert on the Facebook Marketplace last week offering the house for sale for £250,000 – a price of £50,000 less than its original asking price.
Devon Live contacted Wain Homes with a list of all the problems Jillian had experienced with her property.
Alex Hugo, managing director of Wain Homes, said: “We were disappointed to see the Facebook advert, having been in regular communication with the customer over recent months.
“We have visited the property several times to discuss concerns and have carried out a range of works, some of which over and above what is legally required, as a gesture of goodwill.
“We are committed to ensuring any outstanding works are completed swiftly.”