given the following article what do list members feel is the probability of
a smooth transition when the DDA part III becomes law in 2004, and perhaps
more importently what is happening right now when all new homes have to be
"accessible" and where those making most use of the accessibile features of
a house are likely to be those in a weaker position to do anything about it.
Builders of new homes face rising complaints: The Sunday
Telegraph. (07.11.99).
By JO KNOWSLEY
THE booming housing market has pressured builders and developers
to cash in on the biggest volume of work since 1988. But the number of
complaints about new homes dealt with by the National House Building Council
(NHBC) increased by 26 per cent from 4,128 in 1997-98 to 5,230 in 1998-99.
Last week residents on a new estate in Liverpool were so angry
at the shoddy workmanship in their pounds 65,000 houses that they staged a
sit-in in the estate's show home.
Chris Lorentzen, of the National Association of New Home Owners,
a lobby group for house owners with problems, said: 'The problems are
growing all over the country.
'We are receiving calls from more than 1,000 people a year; and
that's just the serious ones. The Government, as promised, needs to look hard
at introducing new and powerful legislation to control these
house-building companies and properly protect buyers. The breeding ground for
cowboy builders is the house building industry.'
The story is echoed throughout the country. Paul Anderson, 39,
a drafting engineer, has been protesting about problems he and his partner
Carmen have encountered since they moved into their pounds 108,000 Barratt
house in Watersmeet Place, Thamesmead, in April.
'It was our dream home, and the Barratt deal was very appealing,'
Mr Anderson said. 'But we have had everything from carpeting which
had been fitted over a large hole in the floor, to shoddily painted and
chipped woodwork and windows. The garden floods whenever it rains, which
is simply bad design. I could go on and on. Our dream house is a nightmare
of poor workmanship.'
An NHBC inspection backed up a number of his complaints. But a
spokesman for Barratt said it had addressed every complaint. 'We very much
regret that Mr Anderson has experienced these difficulties, most of which have
been of a minor nature and all of which have now been comprehensively
addressed,' he said.Ô
Adrian Higginbotham:
S U R F A C E
Salford University, Research Focus on Accessible Environments.
tel> 0161 2954939.
if a pig looses his voice is he disgruntled?
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