Defects in new build homes are issues that occur as a result of the way the home has been built. This could be due to faulty materials, design or workmanship of the developer. Defects could include:
Accidental damage, general wear and tear, or improper property maintenance do not cause defects. Examples of things not classed as defects include:
Your home will be drying out during the first year and shrinkage cracks may appear. This is normal and will be assessed during the inspection at the end of the defects period. To minimise the risk of shrinkage cracks, you should heat your home at a moderate temperature (16-21 degrees) and allow plenty of ventilation.
Your newly built home comes with a one-year defects period which lasts for 12 months from when Selwood Housing takes ownership of the home from the developer. During this period the developer takes responsibility for defects.
You should report any suspected defects to us. We will then arrange for the developer to fix the defect within an agreed timescale, depending on the urgency and severity of the problem.
Defects in new build homes are categorised into four categories depending on the impact of the defect and how urgent the need for repair is. Find out more below about the different defect categories and the time it usually takes to resolve them.
Estimated time to resolve: 24 hours
Defects in this category might include:
Estimated time to resolve: within 7 days.
Defects in this category might include:
Estimated time to resolve: within one month
Defects in this category might include:
These are minor issues that might be common in a new build property. For example, shrinkage cracks that may occur as a result of the new home drying out in the first year. For these defects, we will usually wait until the defects period ends and pick up these issues at the end of defects inspection. You should contact us about any defects in your new home, and we will advise which category it falls into and if it can wait until the end of defects inspection.
Report any suspected defects to us through our request a repair pages, at info@selwoodhousing.com, or by calling us on 01225 715 715. If you are within the defects period, we will then pass this on to the developer.
If the builder needs to return to carry out any repairs or complete items of work. We will:
Near the end of the defects period, we will get in touch with you to arrange a visit to your home and inspect for any remaining defects or outstanding items. The developer will then have up to three months to complete any outstanding work.
Once the defects period has ended, Selwood Housing will then take responsibility for any repairs required as part of our standard repairs service and our in-house repairs and maintenance team will carry out the work.
If you can't find what you're looking for please contact us at info@selwoodhousing.com