Couple are ‘stuck’ in £350,000 home that has a ‘leaking ceiling, crooked doors and peeling floors’ 

A young couple say they are ‘stuck’ in a new-build nightmare after splashing out their life savings on a house that has a leaking ceiling, crooked doors, holes in the wall and peeling floors.

Alex and Dorina Marcu, 33 and 30 respectively, saved for seven years to put down a £40,000 deposit on their first home together.

But after snapping up a £350,000 property in Herne Bay, Kent, with the view of starting a family, the couple claim they were immediately faced with numerous issues.

Just days after moving into the ‘poor quality’ three-bed home, the pair say they found a leak in the ceiling and low water pressure. 

Their home is one of 50 in the newly completed Bay Square development, in the coastal town.

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Alex and Dorina Marcu in their new build house which they say is beset with flaws

The couple are stuck in a new-build nightmare after splashing their life savings on their first house that has a leaking ceiling, crooked doors and peeling floors

The couple are stuck in a new-build nightmare after splashing their life savings on their first house that has a leaking ceiling, crooked doors and peeling floors

However, Guildmore Limited disputes the claims and say they have addressed the ‘vast majority’ of issues raised by the couple since they picked up the keys in August.

Mrs Marcu said: ‘We had been so excited to move here together. We were looking to start a family and live here long term, but this is a disaster.

‘I feel so angry with the developer. We’ve been telling them for months about the issues with the house but they’re just messing us around.’

The 30-year-old, who works from home as a professional photographer, added: ‘Now I feel I have some depression, and I’m not sleeping well because the situation is so stressful.’

Mr Marcu, who works as an estate manager in London, says some of the windows and doors have been installed crookedly – meaning wind blows straight through the house.

The 33-year-old said: ‘I don’t remember the last time I had a smile on my face at home. I feel like I’ve been cheated.

‘Herne Bay itself is a beautiful, amazing place to live but the quality of the house is extremely poor.’

Mr Marcu claims poor quality laminate is peeling off the floor in several places around the two-storey property.

But days after moving into the brand-new three-bed they found numerous issues. These included a leak in the ceiling, low water pressure and peeling flooring

But days after moving into the brand-new three-bed they found numerous issues. These included a leak in the ceiling, low water pressure and peeling flooring

The pair snapped up the £350,000 property when they relocated to Herne Bay in Kent with the view to starting a family

The pair snapped up the £350,000 property when they relocated to Herne Bay in Kent with the view to starting a family

The couple say even though the property is still in warranty, the developers have failed to fix the issues they have raised

The couple say even though the property is still in warranty, the developers have failed to fix the issues they have raised

Mr Marcu says poor quality laminate is peeling off the floor in several places

Mr Marcu says poor quality laminate is peeling off the floor in several places

The husband and wife purchased the house directly from the developer, Guildmore Limited

The husband and wife purchased the house directly from the developer, Guildmore Limited 

He added that the landings are squeaky and the water supply is also a problem, explaining: ‘The pressure is so low it’s almost impossible to take a shower, and if someone flushes the toilet it stops completely.

‘When the wind blows, water drips from the ceiling in the kitchen and the floor below has now bulged because of water damage.

‘So now we just leave a bucket there – but this really isn’t what you expect from a brand new, £350,000 property.

‘I just hope my story can open the eyes of other people who are thinking of buying a house here.’

The husband and wife purchased the house directly from the developer, Guildmore Limited.

The couple say even though the property is still in warranty, the developers have failed to fix the issues they have raised.

Alex and Dorina Marcu in their new build house. They say that: 'Herne Bay itself is a beautiful, amazing place to live but the quality of the house is extremely poor'

Alex and Dorina Marcu in their new build house. They say that: ‘Herne Bay itself is a beautiful, amazing place to live but the quality of the house is extremely poor’

The couple say even though the property is still in warranty, the developers have failed to fix the issues they have raised

The couple say even though the property is still in warranty, the developers have failed to fix the issues they have raised 

A spokesperson for the developers said: ‘As a builder of new homes we take comments such as these incredibly seriously.

‘We are well aware of our obligation as a developer to quickly respond to any unforeseen issues with the homes we build and have an in-house maintenance team who deal with any problems.

‘We have addressed the vast majority of issues raised by Mr Marcu and are currently liaising with the manufacturers in order to rectify the outstanding issues.

‘Guildmore have a long and proud reputation as a builder of quality homes and aim to maintain that reputation.’

The Bay Square development has previously come in for criticism over the ‘communal garden’ at the heart of the estate.

New homeowners expecting a lush green space say they feel ‘short-changed’ by the ‘ugly urban desert’ they have been left with.

Local Green Party campaigner and Herne Bay resident Michael Vince wrote to Guildmore’s CEO Engin Ertosun to complain about the difference between what the town was ‘promised’ and what the firm delivered.

He said: ‘It is an ugly urban desert in the middle of our town which does not match your company’s promises.

‘I don’t think Bay Square is a bad development, but I feel very sorry for the people who live there – given that they don’t have gardens of their own, they should have a green space that is nicely maintained.’

And another resident, Kay Blacker, told KentOnline that the development ‘really doesn’t look great compared to the leaflet’ they were given by the estate agents.

A spokesperson from Guidmore Limited told MailOnline: ‘We are sympathetic to Mr and Mrs Marcu’s disappointment and can confirm that a number of defects raised have been resolved. 

‘There is an active action plan in place to rectify remaining snags. 

‘We continue to liaise with Mr and Mrs Marcu to ensure that outstanding works are completed in an acceptable timeframe and to an acceptable standard.’