A friend bought a basement flat in a newly converted Victorian Hospital. All the owners have had various problems with the developers, and have had difficulty getting them to do anything.
My mate's now discovered dampness coming through the bathroom walls. The developers have diagnosed this as the tanking failing and suggested that he pays them to put it right. He's been in the flat sixteen months although he reported the problem within the first year.
He's asked me if conversions come with a guarantee like new builds, and I don't know. (He's German, BTW, so not familiar with our English ways - not that a native has been much help so far.)
I suggested he contact his conveyancing solicitor. He did - and the guy told him that property law was outside his area of expertise (?!) but if there was a guarantee, it was probably just between the builder and the developer. That sounds like rubbish to me.
I told him to give ConsumerDirect a ring too. He did - and they told him they didn't deal with property and he should ring Shelter. He suggested to them that Shelter was a charity dealing with the homeless but they insisted Shelter also gave advice on the problem he had, so he rang Shelter. And Shelter, unsurprisingly, said they were a charity dealing with the homeless.
What should he do next? Is there a general remedy under law? Is there likely to be a specific written guarantee that may be in the possession of the mortgage lender?
Any pointers much appreciated.