Couple say they've found 150 FAULTS with 'mould and burst tank' in new £265,000 Help to Buy home
A COUPLE say they have found 150 faults with their new £265,000 Help to Buy home.
Amy Fenn, 24, and fiancé George Watts-Sturrock, 32, claim to have had endless issues with their "nightmare" new-build – including damp, mould, uneven walls and even a burst water tank and two floods.
The pair bought the detached three-bed property in Norfolk in 2018.
It was advertised as being part of "a superb collection of stunning homes" by Suffolk builder Hopkins & Moore.
It should have been their dream home, but they say it has been "a nightmare".
It started with mould in the first week, and then the pair noticed damp, uneven walls and that the stairs were unfinished.
They say there was also a wonky sink, wobbly doors, damaged worktops, dodgy tiling and the drains were blocked with rubble.
And then to top if off, the couple experienced two floods – one while they lay in bed.
Amy told The Mirror: "We heard a huge bang and gushing water and found the tank in our boiler system had literally exploded.
"It has just been one thing after another."
George, who works in quality assurance, said: "We were so excited to get our first home but it’s been a nightmare."
The first flood happened in October 2019 when a toilet pipe burst.
It drenched the house and the couple were put into temporary accommodation for eight weeks.
And the second saw their water tank burst – an issue which George says has happened to other houses on their development, part of the Queen’s Meadow in Hockering.
He said the housebuilder has sent workmen round to look at other people's vessels, and several have had theirs replaced.
He told The Sun: "We had the second flood and then it spread across the plot. Other houses have also had the same issues.
"Three houses have had a leak in the vessel tank, but it could be more.
"Sixty per cent of the houses are having plumbing issues with the boiler.
"This week they have started going round to give a goodwill gesture.
"They [the housebuilders] have accepted liability for the first flood, but we are literally getting nothing from them."
The couple first logged concerns within days of getting the keys, and a buildings expert has since compiled a list of issues.
Care worker Amy added: "We took pictures of mould within the first week."
The house has a 10-year warranty backed by the National House Building Council.
As much as Amy and George would love to move, under Help to Buy rules they cannot sell without repaying a 20 per cent equity loan.
They would also face a £7,000 penalty for breaking the terms of their five-year fixed mortgage.
George said: "Help to Buy has meant we’re effectively unable to sell because of the costs we could incur.
"We just can’t afford it. We’re trapped here for the time being."
Hopkins & Moore is a trading name of Suffolk housebuilder Hopkins Homes – co-owned by fine art trader James Hopkins, 60, and wife Selina, 46.
It appears in the Sunday Times Rich List with an estimated £300million fortune.
Lee Barnard, managing director of Hopkins & Moore, told the Mirror: “We are always disappointed when a customer is not satisfied.
“As part of our rigorous processes, all snagging items, which can feature in any new home, were satisfactorily completed and approved by the customer in January 2019.
“Many items did not, however, require attention as they related to work completed by the customer, met required standards, or were not covered by our or NHBC’s warranty.
“All heating systems in our homes are of a high quality, but as with all systems they need to be regularly maintained and serviced.
“While the recent pressure vessel incident took place outside of the two-year warranty period, we remain keen to support the couple in any way we can.”
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