First Time Buyers are speaking out about their devastation upon finding out that their new build homes bought some years ago are now practically worthless.
One couple who have found themselves in this situation and have chosen to reveal all to BBC’s Rip Off Britain is Chris and Steph Oliver – who paid £130,000 for their three-bedroom new-build in Bradford back in 2014 – after using the government’s 20% Help to Buy scheme to get a mortgage with a term of five years.
As they came to remortgage the property, the pair then discovered that the building they purchased had not been completed in line with building regulations.
To make matters worse, the firm behind the development – Sherwood Homes – went into administration back in February, and the problem doesn’t end there either, because it then emerged that all 13 homes on the same new build estate are facing the same problems.
It was reported that one of the main issues was that the estate backs onto what used to be a landfill site.
Despite the site being inactive for over four decades, the council claimed it still releases toxic methane gas, however when building began on the estate, there was supposed to be a protective membrane fitting under the floors of each property.
There is at present no proof that this was fitted correctly, or ever even completed.
BBC / Rip Off Britain
Chris Oliver – a graphic designer – said: “It’s a mess.
“We feel let down by the systems in this country [and] there’s been so many people who we should have been able to trust and rely on and no one wants to help.”
He continued: “We tried to contact Sherwood Homes [but] there was no reply.
“They stopped answering phone lines and emails,
“We were in a state of panic.”
Adeel Azfal – another first time buyer who lives with his partner and daughter, Anya – is in the same position as Chris and Steph after purchasing another one of the properties on the same estate for £175,000 back in June of 2016.
Again speaking to BBC’s Rip Off Britain, he said: “We’ve got a young family. My partner doesn’t work so we are tied into what we thought would be our forever home.
“When we realised it was worth nothing it was a shock.
“I’m in £150,000 worth of debt to my mortgage provider and I’m paying for a house that’s worth nothing at all.”
BBC / Rip Off Britain
Gary Rycroft – a new-build solicitor – advised the residents to take action against their conveyancing solicitors.
He said: “The conveyancing solicitor on the face of it hasn’t spotted various issues you would expect them to spot. In terms of environmental issues arising on the site, the new road and the sewers, these are all fundamental issues and all part of the job you would expect a conveyancing surveyor would do.”
Both lots of homeowners claim that their conveyancing solicitors denied any wrong-doing, but did agree to pay towards finishing the building work.
A spokesperson for Bradford Council also told the programme: “Clearly residents have been let down by the developer and the agencies that worked for the developer, and that is why the council have supported residents through guidance and advice.
“We understand that a number of the residents have successfully taken legal action against the developer’s agencies in order to rectify some of the problems on site,
“The council considers to be the correct route for residents to be following.”
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A sneak peek at the first pour: Greater Manchester celebrates the return of Boddingtons
Danny Jones
Greater Manchester has every reason to drink and jubilate this Friday and toast the perfect excuse for an early dart as the first fresh pours in a new chapter for Boddingtons beer have been sunk.
And by’eck if ain’t still bloody gorgeous.
That’s right, in case you didn’t hear the latest news about ‘Cream of Manchester’, we can now officially and ever-so gladly confirm that Boddingtons Bitter is properly back on draught in the region.
With the iconic cask ale making a glorious return decades on from its glory days in the 1990s, the new and improved Boddies beer is flowing from the taps – just in time for the weekend, no less.
Yes, with local brewery and pub chain J.W. Lees taking over the manufacturing and distribution, leaving the Budweiser Group to take over the licensing, the updated recipe Boddingtons – which clocks in at a 4.0% ABV – is about to be rolled out across the 10 boroughs.
Better yet, with five native pubs having already reinstalled honey yellow and black pumps, and with Lees looking to deliver it to the ale-loving masses across the North West, this could be the biggest Manc comeback since, well, those two lads from Burnage…
Speaking of: we were invited along to Founder’s Hall on Albert Square (formerly Duttons and now home to every one of the brand’s beers, not to mention serving as a tribute to John Lees himself), for a special ceremony to celebrate the inaugural public pints of Boddies being poured.
Let’s just say we were honoured to be part of the grand resurrection.
Obviously, there have been some holdouts hanging onto the classic Mancunian brew, and we certainly had fun trying to track them down over the past couple of years, but we’re just glad we don’t have to do as much work to find one now.
Managing Director of JW Lees, William Lees-Jones, said on the relaunch: “When I joined JW Lees in 1994, Boddingtons was ‘The Cream of Manchester’ and we were in awe of their position in leading the cask beer revolution.
“We’re proud to bring it back home, starting with Founder’s Hall, and we’re planning to restore Boddington’s as one of the UK’s leading premium cask beers, particularly here in the North West.” Well said, sir.
Available from Founder’s Hall, The Black Friar in Salford, Stables Tavern; Sams Chop House, The Circus Tavern, Oxford Road Tap, Piccadilly Tap and Victoria Tap from today, as well as Corbières and Stockport pubs like The Crown and The White Lion, we can’t wait to see Boddingtons take over the nation.
In the meantime, why not look back at the storied history behind one of our finest exports?
Subway launches make-your-own jacket potato concept ‘Spudway’ across UK
Emily Sergeant
Subway is finally launching its viral make-your-own jacket potato concept ‘Spudway’ at all its restaurants in the UK.
That’s right – you can now walk into any Greater Manchester Subway and order a jacket potato instead of a sandwich, and you get to choose exactly what goes on top of it.
Britain has always been a nation of ‘jacket fanatics’, with almost half of Brits claiming the spud to be a British cultural icon, but according to new research by Subway, it’s been found that nearly a quarter (23%) of us have argued with family and friends over how to prepare or serve one.
So it’s fair to say that, yes, us Brits do love ourselves a jacket potato, and this is why ‘Spudway’ is launching nationwide.
The UK-wide rollout of Spudway comes after it was trailed in select sites earlier this year, and then proved so popular that the trail was extended to include more locations.
Now, those fluffy jacket potatoes are available everywhere.
You can choose topping options like the simple Cheese & Beans or Tuna Mayo, or you can opt for Subway specialities like Meatball Marinara, and Chicken Tikka, but the beauty of Spudaway is it’s all fully customisable.
This means you can pick, quite simply, from whatever you fancy at the protein and salad counters, and finish it with your choice of Subway’s wide selection of signature sauces.
“The nation’s love of Jacket Potatoes is unparalleled,” commented Cathy Goodwin, who is the Interim Director of Culinary & Innovation Subway EMEA.
Subway has finally launched its make-your-own jacket potato concept ‘Spudway’ all across the UK / Credit: Subway
“The enthusiasm we’ve seen on social media and the strong demand from our guests throughout the trial made it clear that Spudway deserved a permanent place on our menu.
“Made with British potatoes, Irish salted butter, a double portion of cheese, and fully customisable with any of our many toppings, Spudway is the perfect freshly-made, high-quality lunch choice.”
Spudway jacket potatoes are freshly baked in-store daily and can be enjoyed on their own, or as part of a meal deal – which includes a spud, drink, plus crisps or a cookie.
Emily Sergeant -
9th October 2020 
