Ten Locks Village, LE16

Please tell us about the good and bad aspects of living in your local area:

Location great for walks and access to town centre. Great links to major roads and walkable to the train station.

How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:

Still under Avant but not finished to the plans shown.

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

How rubbish quality Avant build houses and don’t rectify major defects and snags

Please tell us about the good and bad aspects of living in your local area:

We have off road parking and the street is quiet with regular bin collections. The town centre is a 30min walk and the closest shop is 20mins, easier with a car. The town centre has lovely independent shops, cafes and restaurants. There is a large park nearby good for kids and walking dogs. There is a train station with direct trains to London but that is a 45min walk.

How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:

We had a gas leak and had to ring the emergency services to turn it off at the mains. We had no heating for a few days and had to ring up repeatedly to get this resolved by Avant. We are also waiting for other repairs in the home and settling cracks to be fixed.

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

As the house is shared ownership it doesn't come with an carpets only flooring in the wet rooms. We didn't realise this so it was an unexpected expense.

Please tell us about the good and bad aspects of living in your local area:

Great location, nice views, quiet area, friendly neighbours

How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:

Building management has targets of 4 days to acknowledge and 28 days to resolve to any problems or issues an owner raises with them. However, they fail every single time their own targets. They do not manage, quality check or follow up issues and rely on customer to chase and micro-manage each job. Total waste of time, nerves and resources. A problem they are made aware of could take anything between 2 months and a year (yes, a whole year!) to resolve.

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

If we knew how AVANT Homes does operate I would have avoided at all costs!

Please tell us about the good and bad aspects of living in your local area:

The development is reasonably close to the town centre meaning access to various leisure activities is good. A local farm shop adjoins the edge of the estate with a local chain mini supermarket within walking distance. Most of the properties have a drive for parking. Bin collections have been consistent. In general the estate is very quiet, especially for properties located at the back of the development and away from any of the main roads. As it stands however, the development is still on going so noise from building work is common.

How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:

They have generally responded and acknowledged any problems or issues with some resolved in time but there still remains some promises which have yet to be resolved and I’m not convinced there is anyone actually monitoring them to make sure they’re are resolved. It requires far too much chasing on our side.

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

Insist on viewing the property at various stages through the development and really think through placement of sockets, ethernet ports etc. Once you’re in ensure all problems and issues are adequately resolved prior to completing your NHBC surveys. home builders really value these so don’t feel pressured into completing it if you don’t feel all problems/issues are mutually understood and agreed.

Please tell us about the good and bad aspects of living in your local area:

There is a good range of supermarkets, schools, restaurants and bars all within walking distance. There are plenty of open spaces and nice countryside walks close by. Transport links are good and there’s is a train station in the own. On my street there is no traffic noise, parking and bin collections are good and there is no anti-social behaviour to speak of.

How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:

some issues were sorted relatively quickly, others are dragging on.

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

Thoroughly check the house for defects and ensure they are rectified before you move in.