I have a 2 1/2 year old house. The limestone floor throughout has now started to crack and the builder/developer and architect are refusing to answer any of my letters. Obviously my next step is solicitors but does anyone in RRS world know what my legal rights are? I have been told, but only by someone unqualified that the builders have to rectify this if it's a building fault that occured within 8 years. Is this right? The 2 year NHBC is now invalid so where do I stand?

Thanks in advance 2005 Zambezi TDV6 - Gone but not forgotten
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its normally a ten year nhbc building warranty VA ive worked with the NHBC for many years and im a Zurich registered builder , 2 years dosnt sound right especially for NHBC

Is the builder one of the nationals ? 

aljo - no the builder is a medium sized local builder, the developer employed them as he did with the architect. Each basically are blaming each other so I will sue all three of them! They basically say the floor beneath the limestone has moved and not sure why. I have underfloor heating but they say that might cause the problem as well. Being totally in the dark on building matters I don't know what to do next. The NHBC were informed of the problem before 2 years by a telephone call but guess what they have no record of it and say the tiles cracking are not in their realm under the 10 year cover. 2005 Zambezi TDV6 - Gone but not forgotten
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Very Annoyed wrote:

aljo - no the builder is a medium sized local builder, the developer employed them as he did with the architect. Each basically are blaming each other so I will sue all three of them! They basically say the floor beneath the limestone has moved and not sure why. I have underfloor heating but they say that might cause the problem as well. Being totally in the dark on building matters I don't know what to do next. The NHBC were informed of the problem before 2 years by a telephone call but guess what they have no record of it and say the tiles cracking are not in their realm under the 10 year cover.

seems likely you have a load bearing floor slab ie: compacted fill underneath your floor , and concrete slab above . if the fill underneath is not compacted properly or inferior materials used then you will get movement ! could also be a internal drainage run under the floor slab

this is down to the sub contract builder employed by the main contractor who in turn have to take responsibilty for defects within a normally 18-24 month period

will make a few calls tommorow VA and see what exactly is covered structually in the NHBC warranty and get back to you 

Like a fool I never put anything in writing until the 2 year period was up! I informed the developer from 6 months in by telephone that the floor was a problem and he said we should leave it to settle and then fix. They played the game!  2005 Zambezi TDV6 - Gone but not forgotten
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first thing you need to do VA is define your nhbc buildmark documents

they offer 3 main levels of warranty and you obviously need to see exactly what cover you have at present if any to take this any further and incur uneccessary expense

i would have a look at you normal buildings insurance too you may find your covered for structural defects 

I've got the documents here but I cann't see where it says what cover I have. 2005 Zambezi TDV6 - Gone but not forgotten
2009 Alaska TDV8 - Gone and much missed.



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Very Annoyed wrote:

I've got the documents here but I cann't see where it says what cover I have.

should be one of the following ar all three


1.Cover before completion 2 years
2.Cover during the first two years (from the date shown on the Ten Year Notice/Insurance Certificate)
3. Cover during years three to ten
Additional cover in years three to ten (where our subsidiary carried out the building control)

the web site might help you more va www.nhbc.co.uk 

I think it's all three as all three are mentioned in the enclosed policy booklet. 2005 Zambezi TDV6 - Gone but not forgotten
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VA we are NHBC registered builders and we cover our buildings for 12 years.

We have a 12 month defect liability period when we obviously rectify any minor problems within that time.

But I know for a fact we have had to go back and rectify problems such as yours after the 12 months if subcontractors have done a sub standard job. I find it hard to believe underfloor heating would affect limestone, plus the flooring contractors would know they were laying it on top of the limestone.

I will have a look and see if any of our documentation sheds any light on such problems.

Very Annoyed wrote:

I think it's all three as all three are mentioned in the enclosed policy booklet.

are they "just" mentioned or more importantly are they part of your policy which is what we need to know

can you get one of the butlers to thumb through it VA?  

The main crack is about 10 foot long and there are about another 8 throughout the ground floor. Basically the whole of the floor needs lifting and a new one put down. We will probably go with a ceramic tile next time as the limestone is a nightmare to keep looking nice (it absorbs fluid, it scrathes easily etc) I really appreciate your help on this matter so I know where I stand. 2005 Zambezi TDV6 - Gone but not forgotten
2009 Alaska TDV8 - Gone and much missed.



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The certificate states that cover is from March 2004 to March 2014. No mention of cover provided except a £500,000 limit. 2005 Zambezi TDV6 - Gone but not forgotten
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caz wrote:

VA we are NHBC registered builders and we cover our buildings for 12 years.

expert help at last and i promise i wont mention boobies



VA does you policy metion anything about boobies ?  

Let me check!























No!  2005 Zambezi TDV6 - Gone but not forgotten
2009 Alaska TDV8 - Gone and much missed.



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