When you move into a new place, you obviously want everything to be perfect. And if not, you’re probably running some Instagram account with ‘reno’ in the name while you make it perfect yourself.
But either way, you’re probably not hoping for some absolute f**k off fence to appear right outside. That’s the nightmare Ewan Botcherby and his partner had after buying a four-bed, new-build detached home.
The pair purchased the place for £359,995 in Callerton, Newcastle upon Tyne from Bellway and moved in back in January.
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With the place looking onto Westerhope Golf Club, a 12-metre metal structure was suddenly built right outside their place to support netting.
Botcherby said: "We live on the edge of a golf course and no one instructed us, or my solicitor, that there was going to be a 12-metre metal structure built in front of my front door to hold golf netting up.”
They complained to the New Homes Ombudsman Service (NHOS) with an investigation launched, finding Bellway should have given fuller information about the protective netting.
So, with the decision that the couple had been in distress, the developers were ordered to pay £700 in compensation - something the couple are not at all happy with.
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"The structure in front of our door is 12 metres and it doesn't look good. How is £700 going to fix the issue? It’s nowhere near what we thought it would be. I won't accept the offer from the Ombudsman.” The 25-year-old said. "I'm really frustrated about what has happened. It's like Bellway is getting away with it."
Having spoken to estate agents, he reckons the netting may have ‘consequences’ on the house’s marketability and value. The dad added that they bought the property for the view, which is no longer visible.
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The couple said they’d seen a plan of the location of the netting and supports but despite requesting one, neither they or their solicitor got a copy.
They’d expected the netting to be held up by slim poles with the ability to be wound up and down as needed. But this wasn’t the case.
Botcherby added: "They said Bellway wasn't transparent with us. They've just been an absolute nightmare. We have had six site managers in seven months. If the structure doesn't get taken out we will look to move."
A spokesperson for Bellway said: "The New Home Ombudsman Service (NHOS) considers complaints by customers to ensure housebuilders, such as Bellway, adhere to the New Homes Quality Code.
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"As a responsible housebuilder, Bellway was one of the first major developers to register with the voluntary Ombudsman scheme in October 2022, to ensure our customers are treated in line with the rules of the regulatory code.
"In this case, the NHOS has ruled in favour of the customer and Bellway is bound by this decision, including making payment of the financial award set by the Ombudsman.
"In this particular case, the property is adjacent to the golf club and the complaint relates to the siting of netting and the associated support structures required to protect properties and residents from golf balls.
"Bellway informed the customer of the position and dimensions of the netting in question and referenced the 12m support structures during the initial reservation meeting. This has not been denied by the customer. The Ombudsman adjudicated that Bellway should have provided more detailed information to the customer, which we did not do."
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LADbible has contacted NHOS for comment.
Jess Battison