^OPM^

We have been to look at a house that is approx 7 years old, and we have noticed that there are some cracks (approx 3mm) by the windows, is this normal for a house of this age. The estate agent has said this is settlement cracks, is she right? Also what is any guarantee does the NHBC hold over these cracks. Advice needed please, and soon.

Account deleted by request

Never believe an estate agent.

If you are interested in the property then get a Structural Engineer to have a look at the cracks for you. A RICS surveyor is a waste of time for this as he will just refer you to a specalist. The engineer will be able tell you very quickly if there is a problem witht the structure of the building. Have you got pics? If so post up and I will have a look. I suspect the cracks are settlement cracks as it is very common for new build houses to have a period of bedding in. Windows are very often the place where it frst shows.

Another good sign to see if it is a serious problem is the crack itself. Does it follow the brickwork? i.e just the mortar has cracked or have the actual bricks cracked? If it has cracked a brick that is a potential sign of something serious.

If you buy the property and you have a report saying there is no problem you will beable to get house insurance so if at a later date the problem did become serious you would be covered and they would rectify.

I doubt NHBC would be interested in looking at the property for a small crack.

Chop

MikeCardiff

iTrader: (2)

Do you mean on the brickwork on the outside of the house, or the plaster on the inside ?

Settlement cracks on new build houses normally appear within a few months of it being built - it could be they did, and whoever owned the house just didnt bother getting them fixed, or if they are on the inside of the house, chucked some filler in, but then the gaps opened up more.

Interior cracking is very common on new houses as they are use very low quality wood, which often twists and warps as it dries out after being fitted ( have seen lots of new build houses with plaster cracking where the stud walls have shifted and split the joints between the plasterboards ).

^OPM^

no pics but crack was just in one bedroom directly between where plastic of upvc meets the plaster wall-also what is differance between a normal upvc front door and a composite one? apart from about £200 in price

what would scooby do

IIRC the NHBC scheme is aimed at protecting the builders more than the buyers!

Account deleted by request

Incorrect. Have a read of this, it was the biggest ever NHBC claim

We won the battle of the Wharf | News

NHBC is like an insurance policy if a housebuilder wont recitfy problems you can bring them in and they will arbitrate. If the housebuilder still wont sort then they will and claim costs back from builder. In the case above they had no choice to rectify problems because the quality of work was so bad, against building/fire regs etc etc so buying a property that has NHBC attached gurantees you that if structural problems occur it will get sorted either way. Unfortunately it can forever.

Chop

what would scooby do

Just for balance

Housebuilder in administration - NHBC cover still valid? Singletrackworld Forum

john banks

On our previous new build we had cracks around the windows, the builder agreed to patch them as they will still on site.

Four years in the house and we noticed a damp patch on a wall behind a shower. NHBC wouldn't help, builder wouldn't help. Claimed it was a maintenance issue. House insurance paid to gut half the bathroom and renew, cause was a water leak from poor soldering with the shower water supply pipework, I'm amazed the insurer didn't go after the builder to be honest as it was shoddy work.

I wouldn't take the NHBC warranty with more than a pinch of salt, due diligence required off your own bat.

Dark

iTrader: (1)

The house would need to be falling down before NHBC showed any interest.......