Willow

Oh well, maybe my bubble has been burst, but that is what i was lead to beileve, it was "mandatory". Maybe it's to good to be true. As for a contract before handing over cash. Of course you would need to sign one. You would be a fool not to. Guess thats why we never bulit with JHB. When a firm promotes they provide "everything, stress free." Their contract inc! Then months down the line descovering it doesn't protect the customer. Not much use if you hand over vast quantities of cash and they go out the back door. (They started asking for cash without any contract!!) Warning bells were sounding at that time.

After a lengthy stressfull carry on, trying to build a house with JHB, and failling. To many problems to mention but, mainly cash required with no decent contract, empty promises and lies. Then hearing they are in trouble and the personnel have registered two new companies. I would like to share the folowing. Hopefully it will be of use to anyone who is considering building with any firm in the future. Saving them the strife we went through. Anyone thinking of buying/building a house should hold on until after the 1st April 2010. On that date the house building industry is set to announce some long overdue consumer protection measures, the most important of which will bind housebuilders to a fixed completion date on schemes. At present, the ball is in the builders court. They can delay projects for their own convenience, or cash flow then serve a 14 day completion notice on the buyers. You could hand over the money and wait years for your house to be built, with no explination or apology. This new Mandatory Consumer Code will bring to order builders who have gotten away with to much, for to long! It will be enforced by independent arbitration. It will apply from the point of reservation, when buyers will be entitled to an agreement that sets out the terms, the price, how long the price valid for, and the reservation fee, which is reimbursed if the agreement is cancelled. I could go on but if considering a house build please check out www.consumercodeforhomebuilders.com It may save you a catalogue of problems in the future.

I just returned from Aberdeen two weeks ago. The fuel there is 1.08ltr. Big difference to the 1.25 i paid to fill up the car in LK. I usually like to support local business but with a price hike like this i wish someone like Tesco would open a fuel pump in LK. Giving cheaper more competative prices

I do not live in scalloway nor have i seen the proposed plans for the houses Hjaltland wanted to build. I would just like to say i find it funny how a local building firm can place all the blame for there financial problems purley on a planning application being turned down. JHB has been rumered to be having financial difficulties in the past, not just on this occasion. If they are short of capital now. How did they plan to build anything? No one surley with a sound mind would pay upfront for a house before seeing it built to some extent. The people i feel for are those who have been paid of and have to find alernitive employment. All because of a company bitting of more than it can chew, and yes, putting all eggs in the same basket!