Advice needed trouble with builders

Oxoners


Joined: 24/01/2008
Posts: 128

Message Posted:
30/05/2008 21:56

We purchased an apartment which was due for completion by March 2007, although our apartment is liveable the site is not completed and we have no mains electric. We have been renting another property since March 2007 but on the advice of our solicitor have this week moved into our apartment. Our builder has clearly run out of money and is currently trying to get all owners to pay over £2000 for a electricity supply. Our solicitor has advised us that according to our contract we should only be liable for half the requested amount. We have given this amount to our solicitor and today our builder went to the solicitors to collect the cheque. Whilst there they wanted to change the receipt to read that we would pay more at a later date. Our solicitor rang me to asked if this was ok to which I said no.



Our electricity supply at the moment is a cable running from pole in the street which is single phase and is supplying two apartments. We are very concerned that our builder might disconnect our electrity supply, if this happens what can we do, do we have any rights here or not. The builder has ordered the transformer from Kibtec and submitted the plans and paid for this part of the process, they have not however paid the contractor to actually fit the transformer and to run the cables etc.

ttoli


Joined: 24/03/2007
Posts: 1172

Message Posted:
30/05/2008 22:17

It is well worth seeking the advice of the Home Buyers pressure group

http://www.hbpg-trnc.net/ . They have helped many who have found themselves in your shoes, I think that they have an open house tomorrow(saturday)morning at the hut behind Kyrenia Post Office.

Good Luck

newlad



Joined: 02/03/2008
Posts: 7819

Message Posted:
30/05/2008 23:15

Oxoners,

My heart goes out to you, whatever you do do not pay out anymore money,or you will certainly be taken to the cleaners.You must seek advice from hpbg and dont pay your solicitor any more money.Where have you bought and who with.Best of luck and keep posting there are a lot of good people on here who will give you sound advice,

Regards,

Paul.

spook


Joined: 23/01/2008
Posts: 244

Message Posted:
31/05/2008 00:06

The HBPG surgery is held on a Tuesday 12am to 4pm at the Pia Bella Hotel, you do NOT have to be a member, the "open house" held at the hut is run by the the British Residents Association i dont feel that they would be able to assist you with regard to this problem - good luck - keep posting as i am sure that there are many members who have had or are having similar problems who may be able to offer you advice

Regards

Spook

rayz1


Joined: 22/03/2008
Posts: 65

Message Posted:
31/05/2008 03:24

your solicitor should deal with this surely do as above advise stick in there rayza

cocos


Joined: 04/04/2008
Posts: 129

Message Posted:
31/05/2008 10:10

Yes speak to marian at HBPG at their surgery. She will give you alot of advice. I would also reiterate not to give them any more money until you are happy with the situation.

doghnuts40


Joined: 15/02/2008
Posts: 21

Message Posted:
31/05/2008 10:18

Oxoners have you spoken direct with the builder to find out exactly why the 2k+ is being asked for? It could be that the Government have changed the rules again and this builder may well have to make this payment that he did not plan for in his pricing. Lawyers do not know how to resolve issues here i.e. get builder and client together and communicate. They would rather take the matter to court and basically everyone loses out except the lawyer! Who's the builder?

doghnuts40


Joined: 15/02/2008
Posts: 21

Message Posted:
31/05/2008 10:20

p.s. Ask your selling agent to arrange a meeting with the builder and see if they can resolve the issue.

Oxoners


Joined: 24/01/2008
Posts: 128

Message Posted:
31/05/2008 17:09

Thank you all for your advice, unfortunatley we have already spoken to HBPG and their advice was not to pay the requested amount.



However things have got worse today, our builder contacted our solicitor this morning and told her that if we didn't pay she would turn off our electricity and water this afternoon. Our solicitors advice was, if we wanted to avoid going to court we should sign an agreement to pay the additional £1130 if the builder manages to get every other owner to cough up. This she felt would avoid our electricity supply being turned off, we have not heard back from either the solicitor or the builder and are now reluctant to leave our home in case they turn up and turn us off.



It seems so wrong that we are law abiding residents of this country and have done everything we can to abide by our contract and have paid a fortune in additional solicitors fees that once again a builder can threaten us even though they have broken our contract many times.



it really grieves us that even though we have done everything in accordance with our contract and our builder has broken it many many times we are the ones who are being harassed and blackmailed and made to pay extra money for something that was not in our contract.



I am sorry but due to the harassment we are receiving I feel unable to say on this site who are builders are as we do not want any more threats from them.

Jachin



Joined: 05/02/2008
Posts: 99

Message Posted:
31/05/2008 18:56

I have just received an e-mail from my builder



" At long last all the controls were done by the Kib-Tek and the Apt will be on domestic electric. The cost for transmitter etc is £6122 to be divided by 9. Your share is £680. I am looking forward to receive this sum ASAP so that the work is done by Kib-Tek."



My contract states " The vendor hereby agrees to pay the cost of the supply of electricity and water to the property including the electric transformer."



Should I not pay and then perhaps suffer being cut off by the builder of hold out?





David

brandy sour


Joined: 09/04/2008
Posts: 310

Message Posted:
31/05/2008 19:42

Hi oxoners

We have the same problem as you in fact i thought it was our apartments you was talking about because someone has moved in and using the builders electric where abouts in nc are you

Bradus


Joined: 25/02/2007
Posts: 2641

Message Posted:
31/05/2008 19:53

oxoners, you need to find other purchasers within your complex and unite. See if all the other purchasers are taking the same stance. A united front is more difficult for the builder to deal with.

Oxoners


Joined: 24/01/2008
Posts: 128

Message Posted:
31/05/2008 22:36

Hi David



Are you on builders electric at the moment or on normal electric with a meter

Oxoners


Joined: 24/01/2008
Posts: 128

Message Posted:
31/05/2008 22:36

We have contacted all the other owners and the majority have not paid, however we are the only ones living on the site at the moment. Brandy sour check your e mails and you will see we are on your site lol.

Bradus


Joined: 25/02/2007
Posts: 2641

Message Posted:
31/05/2008 23:06

Your advocate does not appear to be representing your interests,would it not therefore, be better to change and go for one who specialises in contractual law and do this with all the residents, if you can find out who they all are? Did the estate agent recommend the advocate or the builder? You have no reassurance that you will get electric and water connection, so don't hand over any money.

brandy sour


Joined: 09/04/2008
Posts: 310

Message Posted:
01/06/2008 12:19

Hi oxoners

You must be in disguise thats why i did not recognize you we have seen the email just before we went out things are hotting up in more ways than one and not for the better does round 2 start monday?

Jachin



Joined: 05/02/2008
Posts: 99

Message Posted:
01/06/2008 13:27

Oxeners



I am on builders electric at the moment



david

cyprusishome


Joined: 31/03/2007
Posts: 2381

Message Posted:
01/06/2008 14:02

jachin,



I am not a fan of Kib Tec or builders but in the last couple of years there have been many changes in so called regulations which builders have had to follow and include extra charges to Kib Tec for up to date equipment.



In the UK you would get away with not paying because in your contract it states connection to mains etc. Here it is a different story as I think you know. It is always worth questioning and fighting to try to get at least a reduction.



Alternative is do what we are doing and use the Property Information Office as recommended by HBPG. At the end of the day supply of electric is part of the property saga. The staff did not believe the report we put in because on the whole TC's do not have so many problems with things like builders electric.



There is a form you can down load complete and either e-mail or take in person to the Prime ministry in Lefkosa. May be if more people did this the powers that be may wake up to the problems being caused by what is another government department - Kib Tec.



All the details and links through HBPG, the PR person at the office in Lefkosa, Tugce speaks excellent English and the legal eagle speaks reasonable English. Do not expect a miracle but nothing ventured. Just found this is the direct web site http://www.trncproperty.eu/

Bradus


Joined: 25/02/2007
Posts: 2641

Message Posted:
01/06/2008 14:14

A quick search of past threads tells everyone which apartments these are and the name of the builder. It also gives the names of other purchasers that were also having problems some months ago. Perhaps one that all people searching for property should avoid? Have not named and shamed the builder because I respect the wishes of those going through this dreadful experience, but people really should know who to avoid otherwise they fall into the same trap again and again. The TRNC 's reputation becomes permanently tarnished as people fall trap to the same, small number of unsavoury builders. Yes they are the minority but the same names and companies appear again and again.Time to inform people who the good guys are and who the bad ones are and point them away from those whose sole aim is to extract as much money as possible whilst doing as little as possible. Please keep everyone informed of your progress and I hope that you all find a solution that is satisfactory to you all. Good Luck



Kind Regards

Jachin



Joined: 05/02/2008
Posts: 99

Message Posted:
01/06/2008 20:45

i have already got a complaint form in to the PIO regarding unfinished work. We are driving over to TRNC tommorrow so will contact them when we arrive. Thanks for all the info.



David

saucyboy69


Joined: 09/02/2008
Posts: 111

Message Posted:
02/06/2008 16:06

Hi Jachin,

The other apartment block IVORY is supposed to be finished now and i am flying out on thursday to check and make final payments etc,,



We are assuming that we will be on builders electric for the time being,, how as it worked for you, have the builders just invoiced you for what you used or does it come direct from Kibtec..



The £680 does not sound too bad from some of the horror stories i have read about transformer costs i have heard of people on complexes paying over £3000 each. i will be fairly happy if thats what they want from us!! no doubt it will double for our though.



What work is still outstanding on Ebony,, ? i saw twelve month's ago that the bottom of the stairs and basement had the walls finished are there other issues as it would be good to know so i can check ours for the same.



Regards

Pete,

i am out from Thursday 5th to Sunday 8th june