Buying Guide
Repairs and Maintenance
New Properties within defect period of 12 months
If you have bought a newly-built property, for the first 12 months the builder will normally be responsible for putting right any problems relating to faulty workmanship or materials (called defects). Any problems which are not the result of faulty workmanship or materials will be your responsibility.
The defects period runs from the date the property is handed over by the builder to Firebird Homes (not from the date you move in). It is therefore likely that the original defects period will be less than 12 months (or not at all if the property is over 12 months old).
Any defects noted during this period should be reported to our Maintenance Team who will contact the contractor on your behalf.
Properties Over 12 Months Old
Under the terms of the lease, the purchaser is responsible for all repairs, maintenance and redecorations to the interior and exterior of the property.
IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO ARRANGE TO HAVE YOUR GAS APPLIANCES SERVICED ON AN ANNUAL BASIS.
Repairs must be attended to and paid for by you, unless the repairs can be claimed for under the terms of the buildings insurance policy. If this is the case, please contact the Homebuy Coordinator or Finance Department prior to commencing any works.
Sometimes unexpected repairs can be very costly, such as if a pipe bursts.
Alternatively, Yorkshire Water and British Gas have a Home Serve service available to homeowners for a monthly, quarterly or yearly fee.
Alterations and Improvements
No decorating (i.e. wallpapering) or improvements to your property must be made for the first year of living in your new home as this will void the agreement we have between ourselves and the contractors in relation to our defects policy.
The purchaser must obtain written permission from Firebird Homes before beginning any improvements or alterations. Structural alterations may need Building Regulations approval / planning consent, and where this is the case it is the responsibility of the purchaser to obtain these. A member of our maintenance team may visit your property to assess the proposed work. You must have written approval before starting the work.
Example of works that will need approving:
- Installing or changing central heating boilers and/or water heaters
- Alterations to any gas pipe-work
- Altering or extending electrical installations
- Renewal or installation of sanitary fittings, including showers
- Renewal or installation of kitchen cupboards and sink units
- Renewal of doors and windows
- Structural alterations
- Construction of porches, attached conservatories and other extensions
- Construction of hard-standings, car ports or garages
- Installing a satellite dish at the front of your home
If you have a satellite dish, please remember that it is your responsibility to ensure it is properly fixed to the building and insured against third party injury and damage to the building.
If at a later date you decide to sell your home, we will value the improvements separately it is therefore important that you keep records of all plans, invoices and receipts.
From 1 August 2007 all home owners in England and Wales will need to arrange for a Home Information Pack and Energy Performance Certificates to be prepared before putting their homes up for sale regardless of the amount of shares you own in your home.
The Pack will bring together all of the key information needed at the start of the home buying and selling process.
All homeowners will be issued with the following once their sale has completed:-
- Gas/Electrical Safety Check Certificates
- Contractor Information
- Warranties/Guarantees for any appliances
- Buildings Insurance Certificate
- Any additional Information relating your home
Once you have received all the items detailed above, please keep them in a safe place for future reference.
