THE NATIONAL HOUSE BUILDING COUNCIL (NHBC) has agreed to take over and resolve issues at a Manchester development that has had problems since it was built five years ago.

Hannah is angry that the building was even signed off in the first place by buildings inspectors from the city council and the NHBC which gave it a 10 year certificate guaranteeing its quality.

It’s an unusual step by the National House-Building Council and a major victory for frustrated owners at Castlefield Locks who want someone to take responsibility and fix the faults.

All four blocks in the scheme off Chester Road, built by Mayfair Development & Properties, are thought to have the same issue with soil pipes not properly secured, resulting in waste water flooding some apartments on a regular basis.

Repeated efforts by the management committee and the managing agents Scanlans to get the situation resolved and numerous reports and promises had met with frustration and it had begun affecting values with one two bed apartment failing to sell at auction last week for £75,000.

But this week, after the committee had decided to take legal action and following inquiries by ManCon the NHBC finally agreed to accept responsibility.

In a statement it said: ‘Following a thorough review of this case NHBC has decided to formally take over from the builder to ensure that all of the outstanding issues are fully resolved at the earliest opportunity.

 ‘We would like to apologise to the homeowners for any distress and inconvenience that they have experienced and acknowledge the unfortunate delays they have encountered. We would also like to reassure them that we are fully committed to bringing this to a conclusion for them.

 ‘Although we have received regular assurances from the builder and seen evidence that some work has been carried out in an attempt to address the problems, it is clear that there are continuing problems, which is why we have decided to step in at this point.

 ‘We have contacted the Managing Agent to confirm our decision and will arrange a full investigation of the outstanding problems as a matter of urgency, to allow us to determine the most appropriate course of action going forward.’

This is fabulous news for people like Hannah, a Southern based investor, who owns two flats in Mere House, one of which has been flooded twice.

She said: “It’s been dreadful. One of the flats was flooded with waste, sewage really, from the flat above, at Christmas 2010, and we had to compensate the tenants who then understandably left. We had all sorts of problems with the insurance about who would pay for what and it was empty for two and a half months while it was repaired.

“Then it flooded again last summer. No-one would accept responsibility. We have had to accept a reduced rent of £650 while for the other one, which has not been affected at all, we get £800.”

And that seems to be the problem, with some flats badly hit and others not at all. Add in that many units were bought by investors who live hundreds of miles away and it has been a difficult situation to manage and pull together.

Alex Norman of Scanlans said: “The problem is with the soil stacks which warp, pulling away from the wall allowing waste water to flood into units below.

“Numerous reports have been done and the NHBC has given the developer opportunities to do repairs. But they were notified of this fundamental fault four years ago and I thought that was the point of the NHBC, that they stepped in when there was a major build issue that needs addressing. It has been a totally frustrating process.”

And she is slightly sceptical of the latest pledge to take over from the builder. She said: “I really hope that they do step in and get it resolved once and for all for the sake of the owners who want to protect their investment and the people who enjoy living there. But the repairs could involve substantial work on each flat so we will have to wait and see.”

It could mean builders going into each of the 220 properties and breaking through the bathroom wall to properly secure the soil stack and then repair the wall again.

Hannah is angry that the building was even signed off in the first place by buildings inspectors from the city council and the NHBC which gave it a 10 year certificate guaranteeing its quality.

She said: “What is the point of having inspectors if they don’t inspect.  But once they have done they have to take the responsibility and for years we have been pushed from one place to another trying to get it resolved.

“The really frustrating thing is that the development is in a good area and they are really well fitted out and popular with tenants and we just want to make sure the basics of the building are sound.”

She rents out her flats through Julie Twist Properties, one of the city’s sensible agents, and said: “Her staff were fantastic and went to great lengths to help my tenants.”

The NHBC has promised to: “investigate outstanding problems reported through the claim in each of the four blocks.” And says it will be “taking this forward as a priority; a clearer indication of timescale can be made on completion of investigation.”

Julie Twist said: “It is good to see that progress is being made, it’s been a long time coming, but I am really pleased to see that the development will have the time and money spent invested that it so desperately needs,

“It will remove a lot of unnecessary stress and pressure from owners as values then increase back to an acceptable level.”

The NHBC site can be viewed here. Julie Twist here.