Families Bought £180,000 Homes In Bradford Now Worth £0
13 properties in Bradford turn out to be worth £0 after a family tried to re mortgage their property only to find out it had been built without fulfilling building regulations.
Chris Oliver, who bought a home for £130,000 in 2014, said he attempted to get his home revalued as part of a remortgaging process and the documents returned with a £0 estimate.
“I’m paying for a house that’s worth nothing at all”
Owners were told the Bradford estate backs onto a former landfill site which emits toxic methane gas.
Developers Sherwood Homes built the 13 homes and had been required to fit a layer of membrane to prevent any gas escaping into the homes, but residents have no proof that this was done and then found out that the final building compliance certificates had not been issued.
Due to the neglected work, homeowners were left in debt and unfinished properties after Sherwood homes went into administration. Both homeowners complained to their conveyancing solicitors who denied any negligence but an offer was made to contribute towards completing the necessary work.
Chris and Steph outside their home (photo credit: bbc.co.uk)
There were other issues that still had to be resolved within the estate. The road had not been adopted by the council which means they have not been maintained.
References:
BBC News. 2020. Bradford New-Build Estate Homes Currently Worth £0. [online] Available at: <https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-54464159> [Accessed 15 October 2020].
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-54464159
