Welcome to your new home information

 The Inspection Process

Regular quality checks are made as your house is being built, not just at the end. Before moving into your new Betterment Properties home, our inspection and handover process will allow you the opportunity to check you are happy with every aspect of your new home.

Completion and Handover 

On the day of completion there are a few little tasks you will need to carry out to make sure moving into your new home is as carefree and enjoyable as it should be.

· Please check you have all the necessary keys to your home.

· Along with the site manager, take all meter readings to ensure there’s a clear handover of responsibility

· Building a home is a big project and occasionally there can be some minor issues, from a scratched door to a cracked tile. So please check for any damage within the first 48 hours or before moving any personal belongings in whichever occurs first, and report it immediately to our after-sales team either by emailing maintenance@betterment.co.uk or calling 01305 773353 in office hours.

Snagging

We realise with all the excitement of moving in, unpacking and beginning to enjoy your new home, the first couple of weeks can be quite hectic. However we ask that: - 

· Any damage be reported no later than 48 hours after moving in. After this time, it may be impossible to determine who caused it and it may not be covered.

· Any snags or minor defects (such as fit and finish) you have spotted should be emailed to the above email address as one full and final list within 7 days. Please note, trades (i.e. decorators, landscapers etc. will only make one return visit so please ensure all items that you require looking at are on the submitted snagging list. 

· Should you have any difficultly in completing a full snagging list within the one-week window, please contact the maintenance team to discuss the circumstances and agree an extension. 

Other issues

Any other maintenance issues which occur within the first two years must be reported in writing or via email to maintenance@betterment.co.uk in an emergency please call the office so we can respond quickly, but we do request you follow this up in writing. 

Your Warranty 

a) The Betterment Properties Warranty

This lasts for two years from the date of legal completion, covers items not included in the NHBC Buildmark cover. For that period, we guarantee items supplied as part of your new home, covering defects caused by our faulty workmanship or materials. Following on from your Betterment Properties 2-year warranty the NHBC provide insurance to cover the cost of putting right any damage caused by defects in specified parts of the home, usually the structural and weatherproofing parts. This is part of your Buildmark Warranty and you can find out more by visiting the NHBC website at www.nhbc.co.uk.

b) Alteration of your home

Any alteration or extension made to your home following legal completion may adversely affect all, or part of your Warranty. Please liaise with the Betterment Properties head office if you plan to alter or extend your home prior to starting any work. 

c) Change of ownership

This Warranty is not affected if you sell or let your home. It would help if you could pass on the details about the Warranty and what it covers to tenants or subsequent buyers. If you sell your home, whilst it is still within Warranty, the cover automatically transfers to the new owners.

d) Your rights

This Warranty does not affect your statutory rights. Some manufacturers also offer warranties to Betterment Properties customers over and above the initial Betterment Properties two-year Warranty. Please contact the manufacturer’s own customer services department. We do not protect you against every problem that may occur and you are obliged to carry out maintenance on your home. Several limitations and conditions apply.

Covered for Two Years (Used for illustration purposes and subject to terms and conditions. Please see the NHBC website for full details.)

 Appliances

 Bathrooms

 Wardrobes

 Windows

 External Doors

 Driveway

 Brick walls

 Drainage

 Ironmongery

 Central heating

 Plumbing

 Electrical

 Internal Doors

Covered for Ten Years (Used for illustration purposes and subject to terms and conditions. Please see the NHBC website for full details.)

  Foundations

 Structure

 Roofs and ceilings

Responsibilities and exclusions

Owners are responsible for the following (failure to do so may invalidate any warranty):

· Regular servicing of central heating system

· Servicing of appliances in accordance with manufacturer guidelines

· Ensuring any damage is repaired in a timely manner

Gardens

We strongly recommend that you refrain from walking or letting children and pets on to the lawn for at least 28 days after the lawn has been laid, this will allow the lawn to settle down evenly. If it doesn’t rain within 24 hours of moving in, you must water the turf. Do not let the turf get dry and shrink as this will cause gaps and the edges of the grass will die. Mowing can commence as soon as the turf starts growing, just topping until the lawn gets established, then reducing the cut. Regular mowing discourages course grasses and weeds and makes fine grasses produce fresh shoots. Do not allow the grass to get too long and then cut it short. This will cause destruction of the fine grasses and will weaken other grasses. Your lawn will need fertiliser to stimulate healthy growth. All fertilisers should be well watered.

NHBC standards 2023 - a consistent approach to finishes

We as a company adhere to NHBC acceptable finishes in accordance their recommendations (available at www.nhbc.co.uk).

· Chapter 9.1.8 - fitted furniture should be viewed of a distance of 2 metres under natural light.

· Chapter 9.1.9 - joint sealants should be viewed from a distance of 2 metres. 

· Chapter 9.1.10 - walls and ceiling finishes, surfaces should be viewed in daylight from a distance of 2 metres and not by shining artificial light on the surface, wall lights and/or uplighters should be switched off. 

· Chapter 9.1.6 – Glazing. Glass should be checked in daylight, from within the room and from a minimum distance of 2 metres; the following are acceptable bubbles or blisters, fine scratches not more than 25 mm long, hairlines or blobs, minute particles.

· Shrinkage, thermal movement or movement between different types of materials may cause cracking of the paint finish particularly where joints appear in plaster or woodwork, this is a normal occurrence and will depend on how the home is allowed to dry out during the first months of occupation and as such is not the responsibility of the builder and should be attended to as part of usual home maintenance. 

The following items are excluded from your warranty: 

· General wear and tear

· Minor shrinkage

· Blockages 

· Condensation

· Alterations

· Wilful damage

· Neglect 

· Abuse

· Poor maintenance

· Acts of God

· Infestation

· Storm fire or flood damage (your normal buildings and contents insurance should cover these). 

Further guidance on exclusions can be sought by visiting the NHBC website at www.nhbc.co.uk