Why Do Brits Hate New Build Houses?
Ever bought a dream home only to step inside and find a nightmare waiting? Brace yourself as we unveil why Brits hate new builds!
Many think that new builds are a good investment as they’re far less likely to have the issues older properties may throw up. But, from a wealth of mould to cracks in brand new plaster, it seems that isn’t always the case…
UK new home targets
We’ve mentioned in many videos that demand is outstripping supply in the UK rental market. Generally, there is a chronic shortage of homes in the UK. One estimate by the National Housing Federation (NHF) and Crisis from Heriot-Watt University found that around 340,000 new homes need to be supplied in England each year. On top of that, 145,000 should be affordable.
The government set itself an ambitious target of 300,000 new homes built per year. Unfortunately, the pandemic tanked that target and the government has yet to catch up.
In 2021-2022, 232,820 dwellings were built, with an average over the last ten years of 178,228. So we’re pretty short of the 300,000 target.
However, while the lack of supply is an issue, the quality of what is being produced has also been brought into question by homeowners, who are not at all impressed and are taking to social media to complain.
So are new builds actually worth the money?
‘Watershock’ in new builds
There are a number of reported issues with new builds, but let’s start with damp.
We’re all aware of the damage that damp can do to a property and the impact that the resulting mould can do, after an inquest found that the primary cause of the death of toddler Awaab Ishak was black mould.
But it’s not just older properties that struggle with mould, as this seems to be a recurrent issue in new builds too. In fact, there has been such an increase in cases of condensation and water streaming down from roof spaces that a new term to describe this has been coined: ‘watershock’.
This seems a huge problem for a brand new property to have, so what causes it? Well, new homes are being built with energy efficiency in mind thanks to net zero targets set by the government and the requirements of buyers and renters, looking to keep their energy bills low. This means new homes are particularly airtight, to keep warmth in… but that means that moisture generated by cooking, bathing and laundry need to be filtered out by the property’s ventilation system.
But remember those huge targets we mentioned earlier? You can imagine what that means for building deadlines – and some properties are finished to such tight deadlines that there isn’t the time for the water that is part of the construction process to dry out. So when people move in, the water they generate adds to the excess moisture which puts the ventilation system under additional strain.
Add to that a winter move in date, when the windows aren’t going to be open as often and things like hot showers and tumble dryers in use… cue ‘watershock’.
Usually, the issue rights itself with some lifestyle changes and a few months of warm weather to dry everything out. But it’s still not what you want to face in your first months in your new home and it can lead to mould and water damage.
The Property Care Association is calling for a greater compliance with Building Regulations when installing ventilation systems, as there is a general belief that less than 30% of installations in new builds complied with Building Regulations.
If you’ve recently moved into a new build and are experiencing watershock, here’s what you can do to help the property dry out more quickly:
- Dry clothes outside where possible
- Prevent excess moisture from bathrooms and kitchens getting into other areas
- Always put the extractor fan on when showering
- Open windows and doors to allow excess moisture to escape
- Cook with lids on the saucepans
- Keep the household temperature lower, but on for longer, rather than higher temperatures for shorter periods
Knocking down new builds…
While problems like watershock can be fixed over time, there are other problems for which the only solution is demolition.
In Cambridge, Barratt David Wilson Homes is knocking down 36 new homes on a housing estate because of problems with the foundations. Not something that can be fixed over the course of a summer.
After an inspection of the estate, the developer found that some of the homes didn’t meet their ‘usual high standards’ and that the ‘most effective course of action’ was to demolish and rebuild.
But while these are new builds, they aren’t sitting empty. The development has had people living on it for up to three years – people who are now worried that their homes are at risk. One home owner, living in a £700,000 home on the development, expressed his concern that despite tests before families were allowed to move in, this issue has only just been discovered.
Local councillor Cheney Payne is, understandably, calling for an independent review, while Barratt David Wilson Homes said:
The most important thing is that the homes we build for our customers are of the highest quality possible and this means spotting and mistakes and putting them right, which is what we are doing here.
While other new build owners aren’t facing demolition, they are finding that their literally brand new home isn’t quite as perfect as they hoped…
Didcot in Oxfordshire has been dubbed the ‘new build capital’ due to the sheer number of properties popping up, with one estate, Great Western Park, boasting around 3,300 homes since 2020. But many of the residents have complained of issues with the ceilings, walls and gardens. One resident, who paid £275,000 for her home eight years ago, said the garden was ‘in a bad state’ when she moved in and there was a leak through the ceiling.
A tenant in another property claimed that if ‘You lean up against a wall and it wobbles.’
Other new build issues
But it’s not just the building itself that you need to worry about as a lot of people who have moved into new build communities have found other issues beyond their four walls.
With so many new homes springing up, the pressure on local amenities really rachets up with residents complaining that they have to register with dentists and GPs several miles away in order to be treated. One local Didcot resident pointed that that:
There are three GPs at the local surgery with 22,000 patients – so more than 7,000 people for each doctor. It doesn’t take a genius to work out that won’t work.
The problem extends to schools and infrastructure, as roads aren’t being updated to cope with more traffic.
Developer Taylor Wimpey insisted they aren’t just focused on building homes, and pointed out that at Great Western Park they have built:
brand new facilities for everyone to enjoy, including a secondary school, primary school, nursery, health centre, local pub, coffee shop, supermarket and the excellent Boundary Park playing fields and sports facilities.
What to look out for if you buy a new build
So there’s a lot to consider when looking for your next home. Whether you are looking to move in yourself or rent it out, it’s important to do your due diligence to make sure that you’re investing your money in the right property.
There are many businesses these days that specialise in ‘snag checks’ – thoroughly inspecting new build properties to make sure that everything is as it should be. It can be worth investing in this inspection as these are experts – they know exactly what they’re looking for and are likely to stop defects that you might overlook.
However, here are some things that you can look into yourself:
- Local amenities. Check to see if there is a local GP and dentist and you can get in touch to see if they are taking on new patients. Even if you are a landlord looking to invest for your portfolio, this is a good thing to check out as it could put off potential tenants, if they can’t get registered with a local GP and dentist
- Local schools. If you have a family, it’s key to check on local schools – how close are they and would your children be able to attend. Again, even if you’re a landlord, this is a selling point for your property, so look into it!
- Understanding your warranty. Most new builds come with a warranty, so if you do notice anything wrong, you can have it fixed free of charge within that time (this is why getting a professional inspection is a good investment!)
- Walls and ceilings. Are there any cracks or lumps and bumps you want smoothed over?
- Windows. Do the seals all look to be in good condition and working order? Are there any scratches and damage to the glass?
- Water. Are all the taps running as they should? Is everything draining quickly and efficiently? Are the toilets all flushing properly?
- Cupboards and work surfaces. Is everything in good condition? Are the cupboards hung straight with the doors properly attached?
- Carpets and flooring. Are they well fitted with no stains or damage?
If there are any issues at all, speak to your developer as soon as possible!
So what do you think? Would you invest in a new build property? Or chance your luck with an older one? Leave us your thoughts in the comments below – especially if you’ve bought a new build! We’d love to hear what your experience was.
