Persimmon Homes buyers Mr and Mrs D Barlow of Harleston in Norfolk moved into their new home in November 2012 and began to notice problems “within hours.” Having written a letter to the Daily Mail to warn others they said:
“Persimmon has reported record profits, might some of this have been achieved by reducing the quality of their buildings” “The clean-up after construction left a lot to be desired. The paintwork had been damaged, the front door didn’t fit and an upstairs window had a gap so large you get your fingers in it.”
The Barlows also said they found that basic things like screws missing from door handles and hinges, whilst sealant around shower trays and basins was “incomplete” leading to leaks which caused contamination of the electrical consumer unit requiring an emergency repair.
After some repairs, the kitchen appliances arrived and they found the spaces provided were too small for the washing machine and fridge freezer. After “modifications”, the door fouled the skirting board, which Mr Barlow says “the builder just ripped off the skirting board and left it as it was.”
The Barlows found problems with their new home were increasing by the day and said that they had “34 faults to date, some serious and many still unresolved.” The pipes to the showers “are too small to deliver sufficient water” if both showers are being used at the same time.”
The new home was sold to them as 
being very energy efficient “with high-spec insulation to walls and loft, a solar panel and the latest condensing boiler.” Despite this they also claim that the radiators are too small to produce the heat required, a ventilation system is drawing cold air into their house. “the solar panel has never worked because it was incorrectly installed.”
The Barlows say that Persimmon Homes has agreed that they have problems and that the house must be “uncomfortable” but claim the builder isn’t doing enough about it and are now calling in the NHBC to help.
Persimmon Homes are the only major house builder to have never achieved a five star rating in the Home Builders Federation Customer Satisfaction Survey and just 13 sites won NHBC awards for quality in 2013.
