Couple bought a house for £275,000: now it's valued at just £1 due to defects.

Issues with their new home have turned the couple's life into a nightmare

According to The Sun: A couple who bought their own home for £275,000 now feels trapped due to numerous serious problems. 54-year-old Dale Dixon and her partner Mark Lee report that their situation is so dire that Dale has developed post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and suffers from insomnia.

The problems are so severe that even their grandson can no longer visit. While the couple is trying to sell the house, numerous defects have caused its value to plummet to just £1. This has left the couple in a hopeless situation.

“I still cry about it because we were sold a dream that turned out to be a nightmare,' Dale shares.

They bought this three-bedroom Barratt house as first-time buyers almost seven years ago, taking advantage of the government's 'Help to Buy' scheme with a £55,000 loan.

Dale recalls how just before the handover of the keys, they noticed a crack in the hallway floor, but a Barratt representative assured them not to worry.

The couple is facing around 500 problems, including cracks in window frames, the need for replacing showers, constant dust in the house, and structural defects. When they started having issues with dampness and mold, they realized their home couldn't accommodate even aging parents or a grandson who suffers from asthma.

“Unfortunately, I don't know what to do. All we do is cry,” she added.

The couple approached Barratt, demanding the return of the house at market value of £330,000, but only received offers for much lower amounts. The situation has become so complicated that they feel trapped in their own home, paying nearly £800 per month on a mortgage.

A Barratt representative expressed regret over the situation, noting that all their attempts to fix the problems over the years have been rejected. The company called for further discussions on possible solutions.

The National House Building Council reported that there is a 10-year warranty and insurance for new homes, which should protect owners in the case of serious structural defects.

The issues with the house are so serious that their grandson can no longer stay indoors for long due to the dampness triggering his asthma.

This situation highlights the serious risks faced by new homeowners. The couple hopes their case will draw attention to problems in the construction industry and help prevent similar situations in the future.