Manorlane Homes

[EnglishWOLF]

CLICK ME - Manorlane Homes|Poor Quality New Homes & Property Scotland - CLICK ME

Have you been affected by this company selling you a dream that does not exist. If you have, and you have a story to tell, pictures or video. Please contact me at rippedoff@manorlane-homes.co.uk. If the down turn does not get this company then maybe a class action can.

[EnglishWOLF]

Tuesday 22nd July 2008

John Shields - Manorlane Construction Manager, admitting to selling substandard houses.

What have Manorlane done since admitting they sold us a "SUBSTANDARD" house... NOTHING... If I can stop one person from falling into the same trap , then my post's will have been worth it. STAY AWAY from Manorlane. There is a whole estate of substandard houses, Manorlane are just interested in taking your money.

[EnglishWOLF]

Manorlane - Quality Bathrooms

[Lynds]

Well I was about to buy a home at Saville Row but my Dad said he'd been speaking to someone already there who told me to avoid buying one, as she has had nothing but problems.

Then I find this website and watched English Wolf's videos. When I walked round a couple of plots, I really started to notice a lot of similar problems. I did confront one of the sales reps about my concerns and she explained that they knew all about English Wolf etc. Perhaps she'll read this reply! Anyway, I really love the homes, but I'm worried they'll not fix things when they go wrong and perhaps they are on the way out?

The rep also explained that they had investigated a lot of problems and they had either been resolved or were not really issues to start with.

I guess I'll never know....

Lynds

[EnglishWOLF]

I am glad to hear you have thought long and hard.

To say the rep is trying hard to put a shine on things is an understatement. We have supplied Zurich with a 30 page document detailing faults and poor workmanship. Manorlane have agreed to rectify some of them, however others, they have refused.

One of the big issues is plumbing, If we have the hot water on, it heats the radiators. If we have the radiators on upstairs, it heats downstairs also. Likewise, if we have downstairs on, it heats the upstairs radiators. If you see the pipes in the show houses, they are not too long and do not drop below the radiator. They are fitted with cover plates where they come out of the wall. When you get your house the pipes are much too long and some are not fitted with cover plates.

Another good example are the windows. The little black internal seal of the sealed unit should not be ruffled in anyway. If it is, it is a sign of a manufacturing fault and Manorlane will not change them.

Also check the watered down paint used in all internal decorating. Make sure the precast has not been damaged and filled. Manorlane are good at hiding things, but after twelve months the precast looks like someone has taken a hammer to it.

Another thing, check your appliances, Manorlane fitted a damaged freezer and oven to our house. If all this is fine, I am sure they will have painted the units. Not to mention trying to hide the fact of not Ames taping corners, especially if they think you will never spot it.

I think the last things you need to check are the tiles in the kitchen and bathrooms, if they are anything like ours then they will be uneven. Whilst your checking the bathrooms, make sure your en suite is in the right place. Our isn't and what are Manorlane going to do about it... Yup, you have guessed it "Nothing"

Manorlane have, however agreed to replace the glass in the stairs window. Apparantly they changed the spec, making it impossible to fit a normal blind. This would not have been a problem, apart from it looking out onto next door window.

Oh and just before I forget, they do not seal the garage door frame internally, it is just left with a gap between the frame and plasterboard. If you get a garage door that has not been dragged around the building site before being fitted. Make sure you check the underneath at the bottom of the door.

So they can think a lot of them are none issues, but when you have paid good money and do not get the product you paid for, what would you call it... I know what I think it is. I assure you Manorlane have fixed nothing in the time we have owned this property.

[Lynds]

That sounds like a nightmare EW.

I called them today to explain I've put a reservation fee on a Gladedale home, as I'm very nervous about the common problems I'm reading about. I also explained I got a lot more money off the Gladedale plot than the Manorlane one (over double!). I was looking at a Saville with ML vs a Dunrobin with Gladedale. Obviously the Saville is a little bigger but it's still not worth the money they were offering.

I'm gutted as I really did like the Manorlane homes, but not having the NHBC is very worrying indeed.

I'm a single gal, so it's not like I have a lovely dual income to bail me out if things go wrong.

ML did tell me that some customer was threatening to come to the Saville Row site last Sat and hand out flyers warning other potential customers. According to the sales rep, they investigated and found no probs. Surely not everyone is complaining as new build problems are rather common. I guess it is how they handle it that's the key issue.

[Lynds]

Thanks for your reply.

Thankfully I have not put a reservation fee down - just the Gladedale property. The Gladedale one doesn't light me on fire, but at least they have the NHBC.

I think I'll walk away from Manorlane as there's been too many people with rather serious problems; the most common issue being lack of customer service...

Shame really.

[EnglishWOLF]

Lynds, just in case you were in any doubt. Here is an extract from an email received today from Manorlane.
I have discussed the access dates with our Construction team and they have
indicated that access dates at weekends will not be workable as we cannot
get contractors to attend at these times. In addition given the nature of
the works getting access at weekends only will means it will take several
months for the works to be completed. I would suggest that this is
unworkable for both parties.

I would therefore suggest two options to take matters forward:-

1. You allow access during the week for at least 2 full weeks - Access by
sub-contractors would be supervised by Manorlane and so you would not need
to be in attendance. Our own insurance would also cover any damage to your
property. In this way we can get the works done quickly and efficiently.

2. We make payment to you on a without prejudice basis a sum of £5000 (five
thousand) in full and final settlement of the costs of carrying out the
items contained in your list. You can then decide which of the items, if
any, you elect to have carried out. This is a final offer and not an opening
one - I was instructed to start at £3k and work up to £5k but frankly I
would rather cut to the chase and be straight with you. Before payment was
made you would need to sign a settlement agreement which would prohibit
disclosure of the payment and preclude you from any other proceedings
against the works contained in your list (it would still leave the door open
for any other items so as to preserve the Zurich guarantee).

You can guess my reply!

You have to ask, what kind of company does this to it's customer and how many lies do their reps have to tell (The rep also explained that they had investigated a lot of problems and
they had either been resolved or were not really issues to start with.)

My only hope is Zurich will do something about this house. We are now left to seek help from the local councillors, our local MP, Citizens Advice and a solicitor. If anyone has any idea how to bring this company down, I would love to hear it. No one should be treated like they treat the poor unfortunates that were "SOLD A LIE"

[Lynds]

There's simply too many people out there with big problems with this company for me to ignore. I think I have the count at 11, but perhaps it's more.

I'd like to thank you for taking the time to post these issues as I certainly have read everything and come to the conclusion that avoiding Manorlane homes will be a wise move.

I'm so sorry you have so many issues though.

Lynds

[ADale]

Lynds I kind of agree on the face of things, however I too have just bought one of their houses as my sister recommended that we buy one. We move in next month and the house looks great.

i looked a Gladedale, Miller and Barratt and most of them are like old shoe boxes. I think this website is full of the bad experiences from a few, and my sister has not had any problems so far with Manorlane.

I am a bit worried about the NHBC comment you have made, they must have a similar warranty?

A Dale x