Fuse Box in the Living Room

HungryHippos · 31 May 2013 at 11:57

Hello,

I'm currently buying a new build property, a Coach House to be specific. I wanted to seek some opinions from others on a problem I have with the build.

Early on in the process I questioned why the Fuse Box was in the Living Room, this was noted when I had a visit to a different plot that was a few months ahead of mine.

I asked for it to be moved on my plot, which was still at Foundation levels at the time, and was promised that it would be moved into the Hallway. Today I went to visit the plot to find that it's not been moved and it's right in the Living Room where I didn't want it to be.

I've emailed the Sales Manager asking them if there is anything they can do about it, but wanted some opinions on this. It's annoyed me somewhat, but am I right to be annoyed at this? Is there grounds for asking for something in compensation from the builder for the mistake?

Thanks!

HungryHippos · 31 May 2013 at 12:20

apeksdiver said:
Did you get anything in writing? I would think it could be moved how far along is the build now?

Unfortunately not, they don't seem to give anything in writing.

Currently it's at the first fix stage, so I can walk around inside, ceilings on etc., but none of the units are in, and the walls aren't painted yet.

I understand there are some building regulations around moving the unit (and the lengths of the cables), even so I was told it was being moved!

HungryHippos · 31 May 2013 at 12:35

apeksdiver said:
Any response from the sales manager? Are they a big building firm? Contact head office and complain if he doesn't get back to you.

Sales Manager has asked me to leave it with them until the middle of next week so they can investigate the issue fully. Yes they are also a big/nation wide building firm so I could go uo the chain if I need to. I won't name drop on them just yet as I'd prefer to give them the chance to resolve the problem first.

maccapacca said:
What wall is it on? if it's an internal wall then should be fairly easy to spin around without any grief but then it might be right in your eye when you open the front door.

You could ask for a recessed one to be used, it won't hide it but it'll be less intrusive.

I've gone into Ms Paint to draw it a little better for you. The Living Room is on the opposite end of the House than the Doorway/Hallway, and the Doorway into the Room is at the end of the hallway.

The Unit itself is pretty near the ceiling, quite high up.

HungryHippos · 31 May 2013 at 17:24

the_r_sole said:
I'd be very surprised if they are able to move that now, I reckon the sales folk were telling you what you wanted to hear when you were buying, was it at foundation level or floor slab level when you were looking?? as most new builds are going for solid floor construction therefore moving ducts for plumbing/electric after the slab is in, is pretty much not happening

The foundations were down, but just the brick work, and you're right they might not be able to move it too much anymore, but maybe they could move it vertically.

As it's a Coach House the ground floor is just car ports for parking, theoretically the Consumer Unit could sit inside the car port below instead of in my front room? Was thinking it could go into a lockable cabinet or something as it would be outside (but under the cover of the Living Room floor above)?

Alternatively, as someone else suggested, if they could put it lower down near ground level and within an inset space then I could simply put the sofa in front of it, and at least it would be out of the way.

Just trying to think of better ways than what they've done with it really. The unit itself is not yet on the wall, just the cables where it's set to go I guess.

HungryHippos · 31 May 2013 at 17:51

lewism said:
Probably where the main intake supply is coming in. Seems a strange place to put it but there's nothing against regulations about it.

If the cables are running ground up you can easily move it down, otherway is a bit trickier. Where is your electricity meter and isolator?

Pass on that question I'm afraid, it's still a building site there generally, didn't get time to wander around outside in the end today as we spent so much time talking about the Consumer Unit!

Yeah agree nothing on regs says not to put it in the Living Room, just you and I know it's a daft place to put it. wouldn't be so bad if it was up high in the Kitchen for example, out of the way or something.

The sales girls have been pretty good at not lying about things to me, so not sure if that was the case myself, but some info wasn't disclosed to me at the point of sale which probably should have been.

HungryHippos · 2 Jun 2013 at 20:19

Does anyone else have any advice about this at all? Would be interested to hear any further opinions if people can provide anything!

HungryHippos · 2 Jun 2013 at 21:25

It wouldn't be so bad if it was in a cupboard space, but it's just smack bang on the wall in the most visible place possible in the Living Room. All I really want is for it to be out of the way

HungryHippos · 3 Jun 2013 at 15:50

Hikari Kisugi said:
Op I'd go the cabinet and shelving route on that wall, box it in with faux cupboard at top and shelving, or further cupboard type doors below.

Problem is it's where my Sofa is planning to go, so the unit would be right above it

Not had an official response back from them yet, giving them until Wednesday at least.

If they refuse to move it, then what is a reasonable level of compensation to receive on the price of a £150k property? I would seek something in return for this mistake as it's one they told me they were going to address, then didn't!

HungryHippos · 3 Jun 2013 at 17:06

Good news everyone. Had an email from them today to say it's being moved into the utility cupboard space!

It's out of the way, result!

HungryHippos · 3 Jun 2013 at 17:17

Yeah, would be nice to say I could withhold buying it if needed, but in all honesty I needed to move out of here, and I have things on order for it around the end of the month.

Other than the Consumer Unit I was happy with everything else, I'll book another visit in, and this time pay more attention to the rest

HungryHippos · 3 Jun 2013 at 22:01

Hikari Kisugi said:
Where is the utility cupboard in relation to where it is?
other side of that wall or something?
Wonder how they can move it so easily at this stage?

No it's fairly far away (read: a few metres as the crow flies), along a different wall. No idea what's involved in the logistics but guess they must have some kind of plan?!