A COUPLE who bought their dream home for £275,000 say they feel trapped in a nightmare after discovering a litany of major issues.
Dayle Dixon, 54, who bought the new-build in Ivybridge, Devon with her partner Mark Lee, said the problems are so bad she’s developed PTSD and suffers from sleepless nights.
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The couple said the problems have become so severe that their grandson can no longer pay a visit.
Despite being desperate to sell-up, these issues have resulted in the couple being told the home is now valued at just £1.
This has left the pair feeling trapped in their own home.
Ms Dixon, 54, told The i Paper: “I still cry about it all the time as we were sold a dream that turned out to be nothing but a nightmare.
“We can’t sell our house and we can’t decorate it. We are just living here knowing it is crumbling beneath us and we fear it will collapse.”
The couple bought the detached three-bedroom Barratt home as first-time buyers nearly seven years ago.
Prior to this, Ms Dixon explained that she and her partner had both rented their whole lives.
However, after she inherited £100,000, the couple, who have been together for roughly 25 years, decided to purchase their first home.
They bought the property using around £55,000 borrowed through the previous government’s Help to Buy scheme.
Reminiscing on the big move, Ms Dixon explained that they thought everything in the new home would be fresh and wonderful – however, this was not the case.
She recalled a feeling of unease when just days before they got their keys, they paid a visit to the home and noticed a hairline crack on the floor in the hallway.
She added: “Something in my stomach was screaming with alarm.”
Ms Dixon raised the issue with Barratt’s representative who told her it was nothing to worry about.
A dissatisfied Ms Dixon asked for it to be put on record that she wasn’t happy about the crack, as her gut instinct told her this would become a problem.
She went on to explain that the next issue presented itself when the couple had flooring done.
Once the kickboards were taken out of the kitchen, they noticed water pooling in the wall and under the sink area.
It later transpired that the soil pipe had been left broken in the wall.
Ms Dixon claims they have experienced around 500 snagging issues.
These include gaps in the window frames, having to replace the en suite showers, dust throughout the property, and structural problems.
Due to living on a slant on a corner plot, Ms Dixon said that rain and run-off water comes in the property.
This has led to serious damp issues throughout the home.
She explained that there is mould all over the walls and the floor is crumbling.
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A tearful Ms Dixon told The i Paper that these problems mean her elderly parents, both in their eighties, are unable to visit.
She explained that the last time her mum visited, she ended up very ill and on three lots of antibiotics.
Her grandson also can’t visit for prolonged periods of time due to the damp setting off his asthma.
She has also had to switch jobs to allow for more time to work on the issues.
Ms Dixon previously worked for a council on the tourist information desk, however, she now works in a coffee shop.
To make matters even worse, the couple had the property valued by an independent surveyor where they were told it should have a market value of £330,000, however, due to the defects, it was only worth £1.
Ms Dixon has expressed hopes for Barratt to buy the home back from them at market value, saying she “wants out.”
She also wants compensation for the emotional distress and the money they have had to fork out on items such as ruined furniture.
According to Ms Dixon, Barratt agreed to buy back the property, making three offers, but all were below market value.
The development company later agreed to buy the home for £330,000 but would only give £5000 in compensation, despite offering more previously.
Ms Dixon said that this amount “would not even touch the sides” of everything that had been ruined.
After refusing the offer, it has since been taken off the table and there has been no further negotiation.
The couple has made the National Housebuilding Council (NHBC), which provides warranties and insurance for new-builds, aware of the problems.
How to add 20k value to your home
Property expert Jonathan Rolande shares 12 simple, affordable hacks that could help add £20k of value to your property…
Banish bins – before the estate agent takes photos, move them out of sight. Value added: £1k
Ace your kerb appeal – re-paint the front door, add pots and plants. Value added: £2.5k
Up your EPC rating – switch to energy-saving LED light bulbs, and insulate your loft. Value added: £3k
Clean your carpets – it’ll instantly refresh the room and eliminate odours. Value added: £3k
Take a pen to tatty tiles – a £5 grout pen could be the difference between poor offers and a swift property sale. Value added: £1k
Groom the garden – buyers want a low-maintenance space, so trim the lawn and bushes, and hide the rusty trampoline and BBQ. Value added: £1k
Buff up your basin taps – remove any limescale so the fittings stand out in photos. Value added: £500
Replace the toilet seat – and accessorise the bathroom with new towels and a soap dispenser. Value added: £500
Remove scuffs and scrapes – you can get a magic eraser for a couple of quid and the walls and skirtings will look brand new. Value added: £1.5k
Replace dodgy door knobs – out with the old, and in with modern sleek handles for kitchen cupboards. Value added: £3k
Update the drapes – and tie curtains back to allow more light in. Value added: £1k
Go greige – swap garish painted walls for a neutral hue – like grey or beige – but don’t be too bland. A splash of colour on a feature wall, cushions or cabinets will add a little interest. Value added: £2k.
A fed-up Ms Dixon said they feel trapped, and are stuck paying an almost £800 a month mortgage on a house that isn’t worth a quid.
Paula Higgins, CEO of HomeOwners Alliance, told The i Paper that no one should buy their first home only to later discover that it is riddled with problems.
She went on to say that this case makes clear that the system is failing homeowners.
Ms Higgins urged others in similar positions to act quickly by reporting defects within the first two years.
A spokesperson for Barratt told The Sun: “As a five-star housebuilder, we are sorry that Dayle Dixon is unhappy with her home.
“However, all our attempts to remedy the situation over many years have been refused.
“This includes offering to resolve any issues using independent surveyors and contractors.
“Unfortunately, despite numerous attempts, we have had no contact from her this year, but we remain open to discussing how we can best resolve the situation.”
An NHBC spokesperson said: “In this case, the policyholders benefit from our 10-year buildmark warranty and insurance for new-build homes, which protects homeowners in the event of serious structural defects.
“The homeowners have been in contact with us previously and we’ve helped resolve their concerns via the NHBC resolution service, under the terms of their policy.
“The protection provided by the buildmark policy is in addition to any other statutory, contractual or common law rights the homeowner may have against the builder or vendor of the property.”
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