New build homes East Lothian - 10 years old and not sold
Discussion
Hi,
Might be a bit long winded but I would welcome any opinion.
I've been looking at houses recently and came across a small development of 11 homes at Bankpark Grange in Tranent, East Lothian. I did a bit of digging and found out that they were built by a company called Jemma James Homes. I understand that this person Jemma owns/lives in the house (Bankpark House) on which part of the garden land was developed to build these homes. The planning was approved in 2005 and I think judging by google earth images they were completed between 2006 and 2009. The company Jemma James Homes is now dissolved. The houses, I think, have been on and off for sale for years in which time one sold in 2011 and they started advertising again in November last year. I did have a look at them and have seen reserved signs in a couple of the windows but I also saw reserved signs in photos from years ago and they never sold.
I quite like them but something doesn't really smell right. Possible theories I have thought of is that the builder went bust in the financial crash and sold to another party etc. but why haven't they sold? They don't seem vastly overpriced.
Does anyone know any more on these properties?
http://www.zoopla.co.uk/new-homes/details/38696349...
Thanks
Lucas
Might be a bit long winded but I would welcome any opinion.
I've been looking at houses recently and came across a small development of 11 homes at Bankpark Grange in Tranent, East Lothian. I did a bit of digging and found out that they were built by a company called Jemma James Homes. I understand that this person Jemma owns/lives in the house (Bankpark House) on which part of the garden land was developed to build these homes. The planning was approved in 2005 and I think judging by google earth images they were completed between 2006 and 2009. The company Jemma James Homes is now dissolved. The houses, I think, have been on and off for sale for years in which time one sold in 2011 and they started advertising again in November last year. I did have a look at them and have seen reserved signs in a couple of the windows but I also saw reserved signs in photos from years ago and they never sold.
I quite like them but something doesn't really smell right. Possible theories I have thought of is that the builder went bust in the financial crash and sold to another party etc. but why haven't they sold? They don't seem vastly overpriced.
Does anyone know any more on these properties?
http://www.zoopla.co.uk/new-homes/details/38696349...
Thanks
Lucas
Edited by LucasA on Tuesday 29th March 21:35
driver67 said:
I did read this when I was having a snoop about. I don't think it would put me off, you get vandals everywhere. Doesn't really explain why they haven't sold for the previous 10 years. The local area has a semi-bad reputation. My parents have lived here for the last 10 years or so with me living with them for 7 of them so I'm quite happy there's nothing wrong with it. The A1 is a good distance away and not close enough to give a lot of noise pollution unless outside where you might get a bit.
I went and had a look at them at duskish at night and no lights were on any of them bar the one that sold in 2011. SO they are not being lived in.
Basic 4 bedroom houses regularly sell for 250/270k here with the larger ones selling for over 300k. These seem worth it for the size and views of the firth of forth. Got to be something wrong!
I went and had a look at them at duskish at night and no lights were on any of them bar the one that sold in 2011. SO they are not being lived in.
Basic 4 bedroom houses regularly sell for 250/270k here with the larger ones selling for over 300k. These seem worth it for the size and views of the firth of forth. Got to be something wrong!
I'm pretty sure they have been for sale on and off a few times since 2006. I remember my mum going to see them in about 2007. They should of sold in the original marketing drive? Maybe too expensive at 500k.
The power lines aren't too near but as you say I think they are redundant now. Road noise was hardly noticeable when I was there and I think the views were worth a bit of noise.
The power lines aren't too near but as you say I think they are redundant now. Road noise was hardly noticeable when I was there and I think the views were worth a bit of noise.
btcc123 said:
OP if you are happy with then why not put an offer in for 300k subject to surveys etc.
I would be looking to buy a new place around this time next year but figured since they'd been there for 10 years already they may be an option! I just like to watch the market to get a feel for what seems a bargain or not. My brother is a building surveyor so might be worth getting his opinion.
I phoned the agent. Apparently they are being moth-balled by the client who is from Dubai. He claims they were just too expensive when they were first marketed but he did go on to say there were issues with building warrants that were being resolved currently.
He's had 5 reserved since November apparently although nobody has moved in yet - I guessed due to problems with BW.
They are mortgageable but the NHBC doesn't honour any warranties so he is organising a 4 year external warranty to make them mortgageable along with a survey. This will probably be at a higher than average interest rate though according to my brother.
He says (he's a building surveyor) the 4 year warranty will be a load of crap and he researched to find all building warrants were applied for in 1999 and expired in 2010 so none of them have building warrants. The agent will have to quickly gain warrants for each property if he doesn't want his reservations to fall through as they take months to do. Also building regs changed since granted in 1999 so all U values and air test pass limits etc will be different so this isn't a given and this may require extra work.
It all sounds a bit dodgy to me. I wouldn't be happy knowing they've been built that well if they can't even get their paperwork and marketing right. The stigma attached to them now will probably also have a negative effect on price.
He's had 5 reserved since November apparently although nobody has moved in yet - I guessed due to problems with BW.
They are mortgageable but the NHBC doesn't honour any warranties so he is organising a 4 year external warranty to make them mortgageable along with a survey. This will probably be at a higher than average interest rate though according to my brother.
He says (he's a building surveyor) the 4 year warranty will be a load of crap and he researched to find all building warrants were applied for in 1999 and expired in 2010 so none of them have building warrants. The agent will have to quickly gain warrants for each property if he doesn't want his reservations to fall through as they take months to do. Also building regs changed since granted in 1999 so all U values and air test pass limits etc will be different so this isn't a given and this may require extra work.
It all sounds a bit dodgy to me. I wouldn't be happy knowing they've been built that well if they can't even get their paperwork and marketing right. The stigma attached to them now will probably also have a negative effect on price.
I never went any further in this after I posted originally. I will be looking for a place this year but with all the bullsh*t I thought it was just not worth it.
The only occupied one sold again which is really strange. I dont know why they didnt just buy one of the other ones for 400k.
Would be good to keep this updated if anyone else had any more info for the nosiness value.
The only occupied one sold again which is really strange. I dont know why they didnt just buy one of the other ones for 400k.
Would be good to keep this updated if anyone else had any more info for the nosiness value.
I forgot I put this up on here. I ended up buying elsewhere in Dalkeith last year.
My brother is a building surveyor and he said it might have been something to do with the habitation certificate IIRC. As it was over 10 years old it would have been invalid. Rules for houses have changed since then so things like U values for heat loss etc would be different and the builds would have to be checked which might mean removing parts of walls etc.
Post edit - Just realised I'd said all of the above 2 years ago, never found out anything more. The agent selling them spoke a load of s
te though, as at the time they said they'd sold 3 and were selling quickly.
My brother is a building surveyor and he said it might have been something to do with the habitation certificate IIRC. As it was over 10 years old it would have been invalid. Rules for houses have changed since then so things like U values for heat loss etc would be different and the builds would have to be checked which might mean removing parts of walls etc.
Post edit - Just realised I'd said all of the above 2 years ago, never found out anything more. The agent selling them spoke a load of s
te though, as at the time they said they'd sold 3 and were selling quickly.Edited by LucasA on Saturday 5th October 17:18
BroncoM6 said:
Wow some of the nonsense on here is unbelievable, a bunch of gossiping old grannies. Worse than reading the daily record.
The person who says he knows someone involved dm you don’t know anyone involved or you would know me and know what you’re talking about.
I won’t say who I am due to the amount of silly speculation and gossiping but I’ll tell you the story so you know.
The houses were funded by a group from Dubai, Jemma James built the houses she tragically passed away in 2018.
The group from Dubai was family run and the father had a stroke, his sons took over and had a huge bust up over the fathers assets and who gets what as the father didn’t have capacity to run the day to day business.
The houses were put on hold because of this and lay empty for years, these guys are worth about 500 million so 11 houses in Tranent aren’t a huge priority for them.
By the time they got their acts together and went through court in Dubai to distribute their rights the building warrants were expired Jemma James was no longer involved and all had to be redone as well as some alterations from the building process which is normal for anyone who knows anything about building houses.
They are all rented out now as to cover the costs associated and the one empty property which has to have drains redone is the one which is the only one with issues.
The warrants once issued are from East Lothian council so how can anything be “dodgy”?
If you weren’t panic stricken by gossips you could have got a steal on those, the home reports will come in at about 450 now, and that’s the price they will go for, they are lovely houses.
I reckon a when this thread was written you could have put in an offer for 250 and had it accepted because they just wanted rid of the headache and aren’t short of cash, thanks the stay away at all cost wally for missing that one.
You should really know what your talking about before slandering peoples reputation, totally clueless.
Wow. Very angry revival. What you say was pretty much what my brother guessed who is a surveyor about the warrant but unfortunate about the families. Glad I never bought one though as it's a bit strange living beside empty houses. I think I the damage has already been done with regard to the amount of time they've been unsold for, not because of a thread on Pistonheads, though.The person who says he knows someone involved dm you don’t know anyone involved or you would know me and know what you’re talking about.
I won’t say who I am due to the amount of silly speculation and gossiping but I’ll tell you the story so you know.
The houses were funded by a group from Dubai, Jemma James built the houses she tragically passed away in 2018.
The group from Dubai was family run and the father had a stroke, his sons took over and had a huge bust up over the fathers assets and who gets what as the father didn’t have capacity to run the day to day business.
The houses were put on hold because of this and lay empty for years, these guys are worth about 500 million so 11 houses in Tranent aren’t a huge priority for them.
By the time they got their acts together and went through court in Dubai to distribute their rights the building warrants were expired Jemma James was no longer involved and all had to be redone as well as some alterations from the building process which is normal for anyone who knows anything about building houses.
They are all rented out now as to cover the costs associated and the one empty property which has to have drains redone is the one which is the only one with issues.
The warrants once issued are from East Lothian council so how can anything be “dodgy”?
If you weren’t panic stricken by gossips you could have got a steal on those, the home reports will come in at about 450 now, and that’s the price they will go for, they are lovely houses.
I reckon a when this thread was written you could have put in an offer for 250 and had it accepted because they just wanted rid of the headache and aren’t short of cash, thanks the stay away at all cost wally for missing that one.
You should really know what your talking about before slandering peoples reputation, totally clueless.
Edited by BroncoM6 on Monday 24th February 17:28
Gassing Station | Homes, Gardens and DIY | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff