Living Through a Nightmare in Newbuilds: Families Imprisoned in a 'Nightmarish Ordeal' due to a Litany of Defects in their £800k Eco-friendly Houses
In the upscale Swallows Gate community of Angmering, West Sussex, the dream of inhabiting a state-of-the-art, eco-friendly "net zero" home has turned into a living nightmare for its disgruntled residents. They've branded the exclusive development a "horror show," as they grapple with a dizzying array of construction faults that have astronomically transformed their £800,000 country homes into potential "death traps."
Neighbors in this leafy village estate have found themselves embroiled in an exhausting, two-year battle with insurers, trying to fix their lavish abodes. Frustrated homeowners have accused GD Homes of cutting corners and provisioning insufficient, half-baked solutions for the estate's lavish homes.
The residents' litany of complaints includes malfunctioning hi-tech heat exchanges, ducting systems, and insulation that lead to grave repercussions. They've also been battling leaky, underwhelming ventilation systems, heat-recovery systems in shambles, scratched patio windows, mismatched paint on floors, and a myriad of minor annoyances. The drainage system on the estate is reportedly in shambles, with parts that might come up on any conveyancing search, making selling these properties an uphill battle.
Stranded by the developers' bankruptcy, locals are tooth-and-nail with insurers to fix these problems, with estimates pinning the bill per home in the six-figure range. It's the stuff of nightmares, especially as deadly black mold could soon threaten these residential havens, making them potentially "uninhabitable."
Environmental conscious resident Steven Rixon, an IT manager, has spearheaded the fight against the poor construction quality. "The stress this whole debacle has brought into my life has been soul-destroying," he shared. "I moved into this £795,000 four-bedroom home in March 2022 with my partner, her son, and her elderly mother, only to discover the house was anything but a dream come true."
But how did this "horror show" unfold? The homes were styled after Sweden's "Passive House" standard, which focuses on reducing energy use by preserving insulation and heating efficiency. Unfortunately, this ecological marvel left some residents cold, as faulty heating and insulation systems reportedly failed to keep their homes toasty, even with the heat cranked up. This has likely affected their mother-in-law's health, as she struggles to recover from a stroke.
As if the horror weren't enough, Mr. Rixon also took aim at other players in the saga, accusing engineering company Sweco of carelessness during the building inspections. What's more, unfinished works from the development's planning conditions have sparked a rift among neighbors and the local authority, Arun District Council. The council is now saddling residents with hefty bills to complete a footpath on Dappers Lane.
Some homeowners speculate there might be foul play afoot, with GD Homes seemingly inexperienced in building these luxury homes. They ask whether the council overlooked the developer's lack of credentials and track record while granting approval for the construction.
The battle between irate homeowners and developers has already reached the financial ombudsman, with residents questioning the ombudsman's effectiveness in resolving the matter. "Arun District Council should be held responsible for this chaos," one resident lamented. "The council is simply handing out planning permission for developments like this one but they are not protecting homebuyers by making sure the correct planning laws are complied with."
- Residents of the Swallows Gate community in Angmering, West Sussex, are fuming over a "horror show" turned net zero home development, labeling it a living nightmare.
- The homes, styled after Sweden's Passive House standard, are now potential "death traps," with homeowners grappling with a litany of construction faults.
- Frustrated homeowners accuse GD Homes of cutting corners and providing insufficient, half-baked solutions for the estate's lavish properties.
- Malfunctioning heat exchanges, ducting systems, and insulation lead to grave repercussions, and leaky ventilation systems have been battled.
- Heat-recovery systems are in shambles, patio windows are scratched, there are mismatched paint on floors, and a myriad of minor annoyances plague the homes.
- The drainage system of the estate is reportedly in shambles, making selling these properties an uphill battle.
- Environmental conscious resident Steven Rixon, an IT manager, has spearheaded the fight against poor construction quality, with fears of black mold threatening homes.
- Rixon's stress from this debacle, moving into a £795,000 home in March 2022 only to discover its issues, has been soul-destroying.
- EngineerSweco has been accused of carelessness during the building inspections and unfinished works from the development's planning conditions have sparked a rift among neighbors and Arun District Council.
- Arun District Council is under scrutiny for granting construction approval to GD Homes, with residents questioning their credentials and track record.
- The financial ombudsman has already been involved, with residents questioning the ombudsman's effectiveness in resolving the matter.
- Homeowners claim that Arun District Council should be held responsible for the chaos, as they fail to protect homebuyers by ensuring proper planning laws are complied with.
