This website is designed to help if you own a recently built ‘new-build’ property or home (house or apartment) with serious problems or defects and you’re struggling to get the issues resolved by the house-builder or developer who sold you the property.

It will help you to understand your legal rights and, if taking legal action is the right solution for you, it can help through its association with Andrew Noble, the owner of this website.

Andrew is an experienced dual capacity Barrister at Law, Litigator, Chartered Surveyor (FRICS) and Chartered Arbitrator (FCIArb+, C.Arb). He is a member of the following Specialist Barrister Associations reflecting his practice as an experienced barrister ⁄ litigator: Chancery Bar Association, the Technology and Construction Court Bar Association, the Property Bar Association and the Professional Negligence Bar Association. Andrew is a member of Lincoln's Inn, London, and is also licensed by his professional body, allowing business clients and the public to instruct him directly. He is also a member of the Society of Construction Law and the Pyramus & Thisbe Club (Party Walls). For more information visit www.NobleADR.com.

Common defects can affect the substructure (foundations including subsidence), the superstructure (including large cracks and problems with the walls, floors, ceilings, electrics, wiring, plumbing and piping etc), as well external issues such as drainage and landscaping. In flats these can of course extend to common areas.

If your newly built house or flat has a significant problem, be it structural or otherwise, you will probably have first tried to resolve issues through the usual channels (e.g. emails and conversations with the house-builder or developer). If you feel you are getting nowhere or nowhere fast, engaging a legal professional like Andrew could be the right next step for you. Before that, though, our next page provides helpful tips on how to get prepared.