Persimmon named Britain’s worst builder AGAIN after criticism over ‘shoddy workmanship’ and fat cat pay
PERSIMMON has been named Britain's worst major housebuilder again after criticism over "shoddy workmanship" and fat cat pay.
In a survey of 60,955 people, it was awarded three stars out of five by the Home Builders Federation (HBF) for the fourth year in a row.
Meanwhile, two of its rivals - Barratt and Taylor Wimpey - both received five stars.
Galliford Try Partnerships and Regeneration was the only other housebuilder to receive three stars.
The result of the survey - which covers October 2017 to September 2018 - comes as the housebuilder is trying to improve its reputation.
The firm has faced criticism over poor workmanship after customers said they've found pipes springing leaks and windows cracking just days after they moved into their homes.
The housebuilder has also been slammed over fat cat pay after it tried to pay its former chief executive Jeff Fairburn a staggering £110million bonus.
Last month, Persimmon caused outrage after posting record pre-tax profits of more than £1billion.
The York-based firm made a staggering £66,265 on each property it sold.
Nearly half of these were offered through the Help-To-Buy scheme, which is meant to help struggling buyers by giving them interest-free loans.
Persimmon was last in the bottom of the annual HBF survey in 2015 together with Avant Homes and Bovis Homes.
We found 700 faults in our new £280,000 house
A COUPLE used their life savings to buy their dream home, but it quickly turned into a nightmare.
Nicola Bentley, 46, and husband Phil, 48, used their life savings to help buy their four-bedroom dream-home, off plan from controversial house-builders Persimmon after viewing a stunning show home.
But within days of moving into the detached home in Kippax near Leeds, West Yorks, they found a host of problems including doors that don't fit properly and holes in the plasterwork.
The married couple, who have two children aged 10 and 15, said they had contacted Persimmon Homes on a weekly basis - but only ten per cent have been repaired.
They were allegedly not allowed to inspect the property to make a snagging list prior to the exchange of contracts because it was "against Persimmon policy".
Dalek Graphics managing director Phil said: "The Monday after we moved in we received a snagging report saying there were 500 defects. I identified a further 200."
Nicola said: "It's been awful and it's taken over our lives. There isn't one room in the whole house which is complete.
"It's been horrendous and the worst year of our lives. We wish we had never done it."
A spokesperson for Persimmon Homes has said firm is working with the couple "to resolve what we believe are the final items".
A spokesperson for Persimmon told The Sun: "The survey covers the 12 months from October 2017 to September 2018 which is before we introduced the vast majority of improvements and investments that we have made in our customer care team, operations and technology.
"Our HBF star rating score was 79 per cent for 2018, just below a four star rating which is achieved at 80 per cent.
"Last week we announced the introduction of a contracted retention to give homebuyers far greater control at the completion of the purchase.
"We are confident that the initiatives that we have introduced over the last few months are beginning to take effect, and are pleased with the early signs."
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Around a year ago, an angry first-time buyer hanged large sign on "shoddy" £220k Persimmon home warning others not to buy there.
A few months later, a delivery driver was forced to axe his business after Persimmon Homes ban him from parking on his own drive.
Meanwhile, MPs have accused Britain's biggest housebuilders of fuelling the housing crisis by delaying constructions.
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