NHBC Report
The NHBC – Friend or Foe?
Quote from NHBC Report on our upstairs floors….
“A 2m and 1m level were used to gauge the deviations in the evenness of the floors and measurements taken. Under our requirements the floor decking is required to be suitable for the intended use. There are specific measurements detailed in the NHBC’s document, a consistent approach to finishes, however these figures are only recommendations, not requirements, and should only be used as a guide.
The nature and extent of any work necessary to remedy minor variances from the tolerances given should be appropraite to the circumstances. In this instance although a few of the measurements taken exceeded the guide tolerance, the amount by which they deviate is not considered to be excessive”
The guidelines state a floor should be level with in
omg 
NHBC? An absolute joke. You will spend months phoning and writing and in the end they will take the builders ...
I am also at loggerheads with the NHBC who are just backsliders as far as I am concerned. I ...
Hi, if you read the standards document carefully, you will notice in the introduction that the guidelines provide best practice ...
Lionel. I'm interested in hearing more about your experience with the 2005 build Bovis Homes in Witham. I'm currently looking ...
Well I'm not surprised at these comments, our experiences at the hands of Redrow Southern are just as bad.It took ...
Sounds exactly the same as ourselves. For weeks before move in, there were a number of faults that I ...
A homeowner in Gerrards Cross is suing the National House Building Council for breaching a warranty
Gerrards Cross homeowner George White ...
We have paid a deposit and we are in the middle of processing a Redrow home in the South West. ...
Comment by jon clark on 25 January 2006:
Hi,
just thought I’d drop you a quick line to say you’re not the only one up against the frustratingly useless NHBC. Should any of us be surprised though, after all, it’s called the National House BUILDERS Council and not National Home BUYERS Council. Pity. They’re absolutely useless though and our solicitors bill is going to be huge!
Hope you got sorted out in the end (I found NHBC bit of your blog whilst searching for the guide to mainting standards)
All the best,
Jc
Comment by Phil Davies on 27 March 2006:
I can assure (with evidence) anyone who has any doubts, that the NHBC fully protect the construction industry against their diabolical workmanship and not the unsuspecting homebuyer.
Its utterly bizarre then that the homebuyer pays something like 4% of the price of the property to the NHBC for this fallacious protection and the builder gets the benefits
Comment by Dennis McGillivray on 1 May 2006:
NHBC do set standards. The lowest possible. indeed lower than you would expect from the poorest tradesman. NHBC do not even know what the water bye-laws are, let alone comply with them. indeed their recommendations are a receipe for legionella. NHBC do not know what an insulated envelope is or how to prevent thermal bridging. After showing evidence of thermal bridging to their concilliation inspector he wrote back saying this is acceptable. Their concilliation service is in my experience, (not once but twice),is a pat on the back for shoddy workmanship by the builder,NHBC says purely cosmetic. They do not insist the builder complies with manufacturers recomendations or their own NHBC rules, bumps on the walls or anything else that is not correct is purely cosmetic.Where do we go from here, Watchdog?
Comment by Lionel Knight on 3 May 2006:
I purchased a home , ridiculous word to use in the circumstances , from Bovis in Witham , in June 2005 . Water rises through the ground floor , the stairs have pulled away from the wall , the lounge floor has the action of a Trampoline , the 1st and now second floors creak with any kind of movement . The kitchen worktops are blown , and the decorative standard redefines the meaning of the word poor . This is only a brief outline of the problems , with major issues of sound insulations , and the possibilities of source of water coming through the ground floor . Further reports regarding Bovis Homes appreciated .
Comment by NHBC on 13 July 2009:
A homeowner in Gerrards Cross is suing the National House Building Council for breaching a warranty
Gerrards Cross homeowner George White is headed for a High Court showdown with the National House Building Council, the building industry watchdog.
The disputes centres around his home Thames Bank in Marlow and Mr White is demanding damages of £500,000 after accusing the NHBC of breaching a warranty.
His former wife Gillian White bought the property in 1997 from developers Thames Lawn New Homes for £1,243,908.
Building work should have been finished by Maxims plc, who went into liquidation, and Thames Lawn new Homes were unable to finish the project, according to a High Court writ.
More here: http://www.building.co.uk/story.asp?storycode=3120680
Comment by paul on 20 August 2009:
Lionel. I’m interested in hearing more about your experience with the 2005 build Bovis Homes in Witham. I’m currently looking to move into the area and on paper the Bovis homes looked ok – did you get your issues resolved? would you recomend them now.
thanks
paul
Comment by Fred on 21 September 2009:
Hi, if you read the standards document carefully, you will notice in the introduction that the guidelines provide best practice etc etc.
However, crucially, it also states that deviation from the guidelines is acceptable ***by prior consultation and evaluation***. You could try and argue that as no consultation / evaluation has been undertaken between the builder and the NHBC then the guidelines should be followed.
The NHBC will try and claim that the builders dont have to follow the guidelines. Personally I don’t think this stands up and I feel that the NHBC don’t understand their own standards documents properly.
If you can find anything in the building regulations, the NHBC technical requirements require that the build conforms to all building regs…. this would put you in a strong position.
Good luck anyone dealing with the NHBC, no a pleasant experience.
Comment by Ray Chapman on 21 November 2009:
I am also at loggerheads with the NHBC who are just backsliders as far as I am concerned. I have pursued these useless idiots for months and got nowhere.
Does any know, can anybody recommend a good solicitor who is prepared to take them on for me? Any suggestions and I will be eternally grateful
Comment by kate on 15 December 2009:
NHBC? An absolute joke. You will spend months phoning and writing and in the end they will take the builders side. Their ‘inspectors’ don’t even read the case notes before they arrive on site. It’s a licence for shoddy work