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| Linden Homes: Swindon family claim developer withheld 'unsafe roof report' | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A homeowner plagued with issues in his new-build house said his family was left unsafe when the developer withheld a report condemning the roof. | A homeowner plagued with issues in his new-build house said his family was left unsafe when the developer withheld a report condemning the roof. |
| Joe Tompkinson also said Linden Homes "reneged" on a promise to pay expenses if they moved out during repair work. | Joe Tompkinson also said Linden Homes "reneged" on a promise to pay expenses if they moved out during repair work. |
| He said more than 400 different faults had been identified since his family moved into the house in Abbey Farm in Swindon in December 2017. | He said more than 400 different faults had been identified since his family moved into the house in Abbey Farm in Swindon in December 2017. |
| Linden has pledged to "attend to any issues" at the property. | Linden has pledged to "attend to any issues" at the property. |
| Mr Tompkinson claimed he and his family had suffered a catalogue of "extremely poor and negligent" workmanship and botched repairs - including unbolted banisters, sinking bathroom floors, micro-cracks, subsidence and missing brickwork. | Mr Tompkinson claimed he and his family had suffered a catalogue of "extremely poor and negligent" workmanship and botched repairs - including unbolted banisters, sinking bathroom floors, micro-cracks, subsidence and missing brickwork. |
| Shortly after they moved in, the couple were alerted to problems with the roof when a tile fell off, causing £3,000 of damage to Mrs Tompkinson's car, and tiles were found to be secured with duct tape. | Shortly after they moved in, the couple were alerted to problems with the roof when a tile fell off, causing £3,000 of damage to Mrs Tompkinson's car, and tiles were found to be secured with duct tape. |
| Mr Tompkinson said in December an independent survey condemned the "unsafe" roof because the majority of tiles were incorrectly secured and soffits built too low. | Mr Tompkinson said in December an independent survey condemned the "unsafe" roof because the majority of tiles were incorrectly secured and soffits built too low. |
| The father of three said he only discovered this information through a subject access request. | The father of three said he only discovered this information through a subject access request. |
| He claimed the "dishonest and obstructive" firm would not release the report or provide a copy to the National House Building Council (NHBC). | He claimed the "dishonest and obstructive" firm would not release the report or provide a copy to the National House Building Council (NHBC). |
| Mr Tompkinson said: "Despite Linden Homes withholding the roofing report, they have stated to me that they do not need to remove the roof. | Mr Tompkinson said: "Despite Linden Homes withholding the roofing report, they have stated to me that they do not need to remove the roof. |
| "This report condemns our roof and Linden have allowed our children to carry on sleeping under it, sitting on this report for six months." | "This report condemns our roof and Linden have allowed our children to carry on sleeping under it, sitting on this report for six months." |
| Mr Tompkinson said the company had previously promised £7,350 to cover expenses while the family vacated the house to allow the extensive remedial works to be carried out. | Mr Tompkinson said the company had previously promised £7,350 to cover expenses while the family vacated the house to allow the extensive remedial works to be carried out. |
| But he said the firm had since "reneged" on the offer, saying the family could remain in the house. | But he said the firm had since "reneged" on the offer, saying the family could remain in the house. |
| In a statement, Linden Homes said: "We have confirmed to Mr Tompkinson, on a number of occasions in writing, that we will attend to any issues with his home which do not comply with NHBC standards. | In a statement, Linden Homes said: "We have confirmed to Mr Tompkinson, on a number of occasions in writing, that we will attend to any issues with his home which do not comply with NHBC standards. |
| "We warrant to finish our homes to these standards and the customer has agreed that the NHBC are best placed to determine which issues require attention." | "We warrant to finish our homes to these standards and the customer has agreed that the NHBC are best placed to determine which issues require attention." |
| It admitted there was "an unusually high number of reported issues" on the development, which has seen more than 40 other homeowners detail problems. | It admitted there was "an unusually high number of reported issues" on the development, which has seen more than 40 other homeowners detail problems. |
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