Bovis Homes Build Troubles: Dream Home Nightmare in Wellington, Somerset

The aspiration to settle into a dream home turned sour for John and Liz Pritchard, a retired couple who invested £600,000 in a new-build townhouse in Wellington, Somerset. Their excitement quickly dissipated upon discovering a staggering array of nearly 200 defects in their five-bedroom home, ranging from structural flaws to poor finishes, turning their investment into a relentless struggle for resolution.

From the outset, the Pritchards encountered problems that seemed superficial but hinted at deeper issues. The house's uneven floors made their furniture wobble, initially dismissed as possible transit damage. However, a deeper investigation revealed that the entire flooring needed to be re-laid, a task that was inadequately addressed by Bovis Homes, leading to further dissatisfaction. The shoddy work extended to crooked door frames, making it difficult to open their front door, and visibly poor brickwork, notably in the garage where concrete was separating from the bricks.

The couple's experiences in their daily lives underscore the extent of the negligence. For instance, the kitchen was so poorly fitted that the cupboard doors would not close, and the tap over the sink was installed so askew that fitting a kettle underneath became an ordeal. Adding to their frustration, an independent snagging expert's report identified almost 200 defects, highlighting the gravity of their situation and the potential costs, running into tens of thousands, to rectify these issues.

Perhaps more disturbingly, the Pritchards' multiple attempts to have these issues addressed by Bovis were met with what they describe as a series of dismissals and delays. Their communications were allegedly ignored, with promises of repair work unfulfilled, exacerbating their distress and leaving them feeling overlooked and undervalued.

The plight of John and Liz Pritchard is a stark reminder of the potential pitfalls of purchasing a new-build property without thorough oversight. The defects in their home, ranging from the structural to the cosmetic, have not only impacted their quality of life but have also brought into question the reliability of developer promises and the effectiveness of standard quality checks in the construction process.

The Value of a Snagging Survey

This unfortunate story underscores the critical importance of conducting a snagging survey when purchasing a new-build home. A snagging survey, carried out by an independent expert, can identify a wide range of issues - from minor cosmetic blemishes to more serious problems - before they escalate into more significant concerns. For homeowners like the Pritchards, having such a survey done prior to purchase or shortly after moving in could have provided leverage to ensure that defects were rectified promptly by the developer.

A snagging survey offers peace of mind by ensuring that all aspects of the new home meet the expected standards. It serves as a crucial tool for negotiation with developers to fix problems at their expense, potentially saving homeowners from significant future costs and stress. As seen in the Pritchards' case, without this early intervention, homeowners may find themselves in a prolonged battle to achieve the home standard they paid for and deserve.